- Joined
- March 13, 2005
- Messages
- 7,283
- Reaction score
- 21
- City, State
- Martinsburg WV
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 84 BII "Li'l Samson"
This is my lifter out of my Edelbrock heads with high valve spring pressure. Completely wiped.
And here is the associated cam lobe wiped out. It's the first lobe.
Seems there are a rash of lifter and cam related problems in the past couple of years.
It was driving my engine builder crazy along with other engine builders across the country.
The problem...removig Zinc from motor oils. It puts a tremendous strain on the cam and lifters now.
So much so that Comp cams, which I ran won't warranty their products with out adding their additive.
My cam and lifters were installed 4 years ago when they still contained Zinc.
But when it was not added anymore to the oils, that's when I started noticing that I had to keep tighting my rockers down more.
So I called up Summit and they said, yes there has been a tremendous surge in cam related failures. They even told me when I place the order for new cam and lifters to make sure to add one of the additives that they carry. He recommended one by Comp Cams, no matter what cam I run.
I did some research and found that people are running diesel oil which most contain Zinc in lieu of the new oils.
My own son who I called today is a Certified Honda repairman in DC and said the same thing. He runs 5w-40 Turbo diesel in his highly modified Honda.
I really don't want to add a $10 to $15 bottle of additive if I don't need to, but don't want to go through the same lifter problem.
Might mention also that mine are hydraulic lifters also, not solid.
With that said, I called up Amsoil and they knew what I was talking about,rightfully so, I would think.
They say they have put in an additive that addresses this problem.
Now we all know that Amsoil oil can go longer between changes, but in fact if they do already contain the additive, then this would be even more cost effective.
But I need some official statement or add from Amsoil addressing this problem before I use their product without adding an additive.
Anyone else heard or have had problem with non-zinc oils? And if you did in the last 2 to 3 years, have had cam related problems, then this might have been the culprit.
Here is a link to Comp Cams that I got from Summit.
Interesting to read the bottom paragraph.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-159