Skip to main content

Reply to "Engine Oil Testing Results"

The 351C was designed to use 20W40 motor oil.

ZDDP additives reduce the wear protection properties of motor oil. Hard for some to wrap their mind around, but true still the same. Don't use additives. I remember people sharing that advice back in the 1960s! It hasn't changed.

I recommend Valvoline VR1 10W30 synthetic straight out of the bottle, no additives, for low mileage engines or fresh engines. If its an old engine, petroleum based 10W30 VR1 shall be good enough, but still with no additives. If the bearings of the old engine are in bad shape 20W50 petroleum based VR1 may be a better choice. Let the "hot" oil pressure be your guide in that regard.

Hot oil pressure should be 50 psi minimum at 2000 rpm, anything less than that means your Pantera's engine has bearing clearance problems over taxing the capabilities of the oil pump. The OEM 351C oil pump was a high volume pump, it had a thicker rotor than the oil pumps of other Ford engines. If the hot oil pressure runs low all you can do is use 20W50 and live with it.
×
×
×
×