Castrol GTX Magnatec for flat tappet break-in?
 

As the title states, I've been seeing lots of commercials for the new Castrol GTX Magnatec oil. They say it protects your engine for the crucial first 20 minutes of run time which would suggest it is suitable for a flat tappet cam break in time. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this oil for a flat tappet cam break in as I cannot find any zinc/zddp content info.

Re: Castrol GTX Magnatec for flat tappet break-in?
 

I wouldnt use any full synthetic for breakin

Re: Castrol GTX Magnatec for flat tappet break-in?
 

I dont think full syn oil would have enough zink products to help with break in.With what a engine cost Joe Gibbs break-in oil would be money well spent, and probably not much mone money.

Re: Castrol GTX Magnatec for flat tappet break-in?
 

Synthetic or not isn't the determining factor for ZDDP content - emissions regulations are. ZDDP isn't friendly to emissions equipment like catalytic converters so there's a continual push to reduce the amount of it in oil. For instance, the current API service spec SN will generally have a bit less than the previous spec, SM.

Using synethetic oil during break-in has no benefits that I can think of - it's slicker and protects better so it can actually hinder break-in which is the intentional, controlled wearing of parts to one another. I would either use an oil specially intended for break-in on flat-tappet engines, or a name brand conventional with break-in/high ZDDP additive. While I've never used it Amsoil makes an SAE-30 break-in oil, and I've been very pleased with their other products.

Re: Castrol GTX Magnatec for flat tappet break-in?
 

I have used amsoil break in oil with success. It is actually their only oil that isn t synthetic

Re: Castrol GTX Magnatec for flat tappet break-in?
 

I've used traditional oil with comp cams break-in oil and also had success using mobil delvac diesel oil and break-in additive, just curious if there are any possible success stories with the new oils and flat tappet camshaft life without any break-in additives or break-in specific oil. Until I hear some success stories I'm going to keep spending the whopping $8 for additive on top of conventional oil

Re: Castrol GTX Magnatec for flat tappet break-in?
 

ZDDP is not the only thing your engine needs for break in. A oil with a high film strength is most important from my research.

Read here:https://540ratblog.wordpress.com/

It has been covered here before. So in a nutshell use this, Valvoline VR-1 Racing Oil.

70k on a top end rebuild that was not going to work according to a certain number of sources speaks to me.

Re: Castrol GTX Magnatec for flat tappet break-in?
 

Cam Brake-in instructions that came with my crate engine states "Do not use synthetic oil for initial cam break-in".

Re: Castrol GTX Magnatec for flat tappet break-in?
 

Non-detergent straight 30 weight oil, plus GM EOS and lots of black cam lobe on assembly. for break-in and first 500 miles. Then detergent oil.
Forget the fancy stuff, it ain't for our vintage technology.