The Good Oil

Some of you migh know I'm getting my Suabru Brumby EA81 fully reconditioned ATM with rebore, cam grind etc.
I emailed Penrite as to what they advise to use for engine oil. Penrite have been going for a few decades now. They emailed back their answer and hence deserve a plug for that.

Reply-

lubetech@penriteoil.com

Your enquiry:

Have a Subaru Brumby engine EA81 being totally rebuilt with rebore etc. New oil pump, asling what oil you would recommend. Older style design engine, rockers, OHV, flat 4 etc. originally Subaru recommended 15W-40 when new. Synthetic??

Based on your enquiry regarding your vehicle our recommendation is:

Following the running in period (500 km on our Running In Oil SAE 15W-40) I'd go to a semi synthetic, rather than a full synthetic. HPR Diesel 15 fits the bill, despite the word "diesel". The diesel detergent properties will not be an issue in the "dirty, older engine" as it is clean and new. Petrol rating is API SL, so this is fine for the engine given its year of manufacture. Another advantage of HPR Diesel 15 is its availability -it's a widely used oil, with lots of protective zinc.

You can go synthetic later on perhaps.

Regards,
Alan Jeffery

HPR 15 diesel is 15W-50 semi synthetic. Seems the go for me. Retails around $38 for 5 litres. Tony (Tweety)

Main thing is to stick to the same manufacture of oil, all of that engine work can come undone with using say castrol break in oil then penrite for final oil.

I have used only penrite break in oil then variety of their semi and full synthetic oils on liquid cooled engines. I have done some UOA ( used oil analysis) to monitor wear metals to keep an eye on various components of the engine( pays to know what metals your engine parts are made of for this)

ZDDP levels are high and spot on to their claims. Had very very good results of the analysis. very low wear metal levels despite giving my engine absolute hell for eg. redline power shift 1st to 2nd 2 min after starting on a 5ºc day.


only problem I have had is due to 2 factors. Non OEM cork gasket( OEM is silicone gasket) and full synthetic, that cork gasket leaks like a screen doored submarine. 🙅

I am currently on penrite break in on my current project car to mainly break in the new timing chain and sprockets and oil pump as well as cleaning out any traces of unknown brand of oil previously used. Then going to try out 10 tenths race oil 15w50 and go for a UOA after the 3 change or there abouts. Quite excited about the anti wear additive package in this oil. Can't wait to see the results.