Flat tappet lifter failure

Alan Roehrich · 10-29-2023, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L.Fite

So...
Does someone make an oil with the proper additives package?
Looking for that "Goldilocks" zone...
Not too much...
Not too little...
But JUuuST RIGHT!

One person you might talk to is Lake Speed Jr. He works at Total Seal, he's a tribologist.

I have had good success with Royal Purple. Others speak highly of Amsoil, which is an oil that David Vizard says works well with Oil Extreme. As Doug said, some have had good luck with the Driven products. I have also used both Lucas and Brad Penn successfully.

340Cuda · 10-30-2023, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

One person you might talk to is Lake Speed Jr. He works at Total Seal, he's a tribologist.
.

I agree and he is very good about quickly answering emails.

lake@totalseal.com

Eman · 10-30-2023, 02:57 PM

I know stockers must be running higher spring pressures and more exotic cam profiles then the average circle track or bracket car. I've never owned a roller cam, maybe someday. The last 2 I broke in I did use "break in" oil, in the past I used non detergent 30w or regular 30w with GM EOS additive. Break in is always high anxiety no matter what especially after all of the failures you hear about.
As far as oil goes I've used just about everything on my last bracket motor. I used regular Mobil with Lucas ZDDP additive, Valvoline VR-1, Lucas Hot Rod oil, Mobil 1 10w30 with Lucas additive, Mobil 1 15w-50 no additive and I've run it on AV gas, 110 and Methanol. Valve lash was always spot on. Howards solid flat with the laser hole on a Howards tight lash cam.

Doug Hoven · 10-30-2023, 04:23 PM

I'm sure it depends from combination to combination, as well as the "harshness" of the cam profile, but it seems like on .390/.410 small block Chevrolet stuff, once the duration @.050 gets into the 270s, cast cams and regular lifters don't seem to last very long. This mostly being down to the added spring pressure in order to control the more radical lobe. I've had good luck on multiple engines with solid lifters from Clay Smith Cams. I asked over the phone who manufactures them, and I got the response Howards/Johnson.

10-30-2023, 02:57 PM	#3
Eman Member Join Date: May 2014 Location: E TN Posts: 474 Likes: 16 Liked 133 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Flat tappet lifter failure I know stockers must be running higher spring pressures and more exotic cam profiles then the average circle track or bracket car. I've never owned a roller cam, maybe someday. The last 2 I broke in I did use "break in" oil, in the past I used non detergent 30w or regular 30w with GM EOS additive. Break in is always high anxiety no matter what especially after all of the failures you hear about. As far as oil goes I've used just about everything on my last bracket motor. I used regular Mobil with Lucas ZDDP additive, Valvoline VR-1, Lucas Hot Rod oil, Mobil 1 10w30 with Lucas additive, Mobil 1 15w-50 no additive and I've run it on AV gas, 110 and Methanol. Valve lash was always spot on. Howards solid flat with the laser hole on a Howards tight lash cam.

10-30-2023, 04:23 PM	#4
Doug Hoven Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: Jersey Posts: 213 Likes: 195 Liked 870 Times in 165 Posts	Re: Flat tappet lifter failure I'm sure it depends from combination to combination, as well as the "harshness" of the cam profile, but it seems like on .390/.410 small block Chevrolet stuff, once the duration @.050 gets into the 270s, cast cams and regular lifters don't seem to last very long. This mostly being down to the added spring pressure in order to control the more radical lobe. I've had good luck on multiple engines with solid lifters from Clay Smith Cams. I asked over the phone who manufactures them, and I got the response Howards/Johnson. __________________ 1189 F/SA Defunzalo Racing Enterprises