Noise problem

[Harvy]

AN interesting and enlightening discussion:

http://motorcycleinfo.calsci.com/Oils1.html

Harvy

[markmartin]

Another fan of Rotella here.  I ran Castrol Actevo 10-40 for the first 1-1/2 years --I always thought the transmission was clunky, but, oh well, it worked.  I changed to Rotella T 15-40 when I couldn't find any Actevo.  I'm sticking with the Rotella---much smoother gearbox now --a very noticable difference.  I wouldn't have thought it. 

Mark Martin '89
Hampden Me.

[racerrad8]

Interesting... I may have to give it a try. I normally run Rotella 5w-40 synthetic which runs appx $19.99 a gallon. The local autozone has the VR1 at 7.59 a quart which isn't too far off the mark for my budget if its a better product.
Randy, you guys run wet clutches in the legends cars, correct?

Yep all stock clutch components. Check with Kragen's, Napa, etc. I bought a case of 12 for $3.99 a qt. Check around and see if they will price match; that $7.59 seems a little steep.

Randy - RPM

[ren-dog]

How have you arrived at your conclusions as stated above?
Is this just your gut feeling, or do you actually have empirical evidence to support those claims?

Many years ago ...
I was lucky enough to do a stint at CPF Detroit with a bloke called Frank and a mechanic who was deaf and mute.
They taught me more about tuning engines than I care to remember now, but that was when the Bandag Bullet was still a White.
Detroit diesel engines are not FJ's, which is why I wrote that someone with more FJ specific knowledge should chime in.
I have seen inside hundreds of engines, boxes and diffs over the years, mainly commercial diesels.
But all fleets have delivery vans, and cars for suits.
Being a mad commodore nut I have also been inside quite a few 202's, 308's, RB30's, L36's & LS1/2's.

Remember also that I am down under and our fuel, up until very recently, was different to your fuel in the northern hemisphere.
Sparafucile is also in southern hemisphere.
Everything in Oz is now mandated to comply with Euro spec III, soon to be IV.
I am no longer employed as a mechanic since 2004, I only do it for my own pleasure now and teach others how to.

I say this without reservation, every engine I have seen inside of that ran on Valvoline had;
hard seals, scored bearing shells, carbonised piston tops, scuffed piston skirts, and manifolds full of carbon due to poor valve sealing.
I have never seen inside an engine that ran VR1.

I have never seen or heard of Rotella.

I have only ever seen ELF used in drag cars. One supercharged L67 spun camshaft bearings
and a turbo Barra 186 disintegrated an oil pump gear.

Every engine that ran Penrite or Royal Purple I have seen inside of had consistent and even wear,
with very little evidence of oil burn and negligible varnish.

I am still coming to terms with running one oil in engine and box.
So if you want to tell me an FJ runs on this or that oil
I'm willing to listen because I'm more than eager to learn from other people's experiences.

[the fan]

Interesting... I may have to give it a try. I normally run Rotella 5w-40 synthetic which runs appx $19.99 a gallon. The local autozone has the VR1 at 7.59 a quart which isn't too far off the mark for my budget if its a better product.
Randy, you guys run wet clutches in the legends cars, correct?

Yep all stock clutch components. Check with Kragen's, Napa, etc. I bought a case of 12 for $3.99 a qt. Check around and see if they will price match; that $7.59 seems a little steep.

Randy - RPM

I was pricing the synthetic version. I did not realize that there was a dino version until I went back to check pricing.

[rktmanfj]

But Valvoline's info sheet for VR1 advises against use with wet clutches...

Randy T
Indy

[racerrad8]

But Valvoline's info sheet for VR1 advises against use with wet clutches...

Randy T
Indy

It says it right on the bottle too; but I have used it without any trouble since 1996 in our race cars. The cars not only weigh more but have more traction and I still am running a double spring stock clutch without any slippage or failure.

With that said, I have also been running VR1 in both my wife's and my FJ's without any issue since I got them a couple of years ago.

Randy - RPM

[rktmanfj]

But Valvoline's info sheet for VR1 advises against use with wet clutches...

Randy T
Indy

It says it right on the bottle too; but I have used it without any trouble since 1996 in our race cars. The cars not only weigh more but have more traction and I still am running a double spring stock clutch without any slippage or failure.

With that said, I have also been running VR1 in both my wife's and my FJ's without any issue since I got them a couple of years ago.

Randy - RPM

Hey, if it works, it works...     

Randy T
Indy

[Sparafucile]

I have now changed the oil to 15w40 shell helix, and the noise seems to have gone away, but I havent taken her for a long run yet, so who knows, Im holding thumbs.

BTW as ren-dog stated I am in the southern hemisphere ie South Africa and out of all the oils named we only seen the castrol and shell brands. Never heard of any of the others, shows you that we are still for behind the rest of the world here in South Africa.