Flat tappet cam life

[4pipes]

Originally Posted by clayfoushee

Dave, I previously used Valvoline Racing 20w-50, and my oil pressures were 80 psi and above cold AND at RPMs above 3K warm, and only down to about 50 psi at warm idle. I switched to Rotella 15w-40, and they dropped about 10 psi on each end, which I felt more comfortable with, particularly at cold start-up.

Thanks Rick, it was your previous excellent research on solid flat tappets cams that motivated my change last year.

Clay, I'm a work in progress! Now I'm researching Brad Penn 20W50. This is the old green oil that Kendall used to make (they bought the refinery). This is the oil that so many engine builders used to recommend, including mine.

[rdorman]

The Brad Penn 20W-50 is a good Group III oils with 1200+ ppm of zinc and will work nicely for a flat tappet motor. I went the rotella route because you can get it at any truck stop or walmart in the country. With the recent reformulation of oils I don't know if the Brad Penn oil has changed, you may want to verify.

[Ant]

I am curious as to how often it is necessary to change valve springs to try and avoid catastrophic failures? With sprint race events of 7000rpm over 15mile races x3 per event and some much easier road miles. So not sustained high rpms!!

My camshaft is flat tappet with 180Ibs seated pressure!