Crane Cams now offers a specially formulated 10W-40 conventional engine oil (#99300-1) to cope with the stresses created using flat-faced follower camshafts. This oil will ensure that the critical first hour of your camshaft’s life will lead to long-term reliability. A formula of advanced petroleum base, combined with an additive package used in Crane Cams Super Lube, using a proportioned zinc (ZDDP) component (such as contained in Crane Cams Super Lube), this oil is intended for use with all conventional fuel types, with no additional oil additives required.
Once your flat-faced lifter camshaft is properly broken in, you should continue to use a performance type ZDDP content oil for the remainder of the engine’s life, to ensure longevity. It’s more important than ever to use the properly formulated oil for the initial break-in of your flat-faced follower camshaft and lifters, either hydraulic or mechanical. Oils specified for today's hydraulic roller engines no longer contain the additives necessary to provide the optimum environment for sliding surfaces, especially for cam lobe and lifter interface of a flat face follower design. Fresh rebuilds also need load carrying protection in lifter bores, distributor gears and valve guides. Even in roller lifter equipped engines, this break-in oil is highly recommended and this oil’s additive package is mandatory for flat-faced follower designs.
Crane Cams Break-In Engine Oil (99300-1) or Crane Cams Super Lube (99003-1) MUST be used when installing a new Flat Tappet Camshaft and Lifters.
Noisy Hydraulic lifters can be caused by several reasons, none of which are due to a defective lifter and as a result, are NOT covered by warranty.
1. The most common cause is particles in the oil getting jammed between the lifter plunger and the lifter body, causing the plunger to become “stuck down”
The clearances between the plunger and body of a Hydraulic lifter can be as little as .00012”, .003mm. or 3 Microns (1/30th of a Human Hair) Any particle larger than this circulating in the oil has the potential to flow through the lifter and jam the plunger in the body. This is especially common after a rebuild where particles are left in oil galleries or crevices, and find their way into lifters. Replacement of the lifters usually fixes the problem, as all the initial dirt has been captured by the lifters or the filter.
Note some “Racing” oil filters only filter down to 27 Microns and may not be suitable for Hydraulic lifter engines.
2. Aeration of oil in the pressure chamber of the lifter can cause noise. This may be the result of air in the high pressure chamber of the lifter affecting valve train lash. When this occurs, valve closing velocity is increased, which causes the noise. Air can be present in the lifter at shutdown due to an aerated oil condition, or it can be ingested into the lifter during a cold start from a suction side leak at the oil pump or oil pump pick up tube o-ring. Oil aeration level, oil viscosity, time to achieve oil pressure, engine speed, and lifter design all play a part in whether lifter noise is observed. Once air gets into the high pressure chamber, it will slowly be expelled through the very tight clearance of the plunger and body. Aeration can be caused at high RPM by low oil levels or an incorrectly designed oiling system. This will result in lifters becoming “spongy” and will significantly affect the valve train operation.
3. If the engine has been off for a few hours or more, the valve spring may cause the lifter to leak down where the valve is open. This is normal and the noise should stop after a few seconds, and at the most after several minutes.
4. “Lifter” noise has also found to be caused by loose Piston Wrist Pins, Piston slap or Roller Rocker arm noise!
Powering Australia’s TOUGHEST HOLDEN V8s for over 30 years!
**UPDATED 1/8/16**
NEW - Flat Tappet Camshaft Break-in Procedure
NEW - Reasons and Causes for Cam Failure
New Aluminium Roller Rocker Arms Available
New Generation Of Enhanced Hydraulic Roller Lifters
Steel Distributor Gears for use with Cast or Billet Cams
Flat Tappet Camshaft Break-in Procedure
Adjusting Hydraulic Lifter Pre-load
Three Distributor Models Cover Most Everything from Street to Speedway!
Ignitions for Racing and Street Applications
Crane’s Always Known How to Make Cams Go Rump, Whap and Thump!
Valve Spring Retainer Height Chart!
Mechanical Roller Lifters For Street & Competition!
Automotive Performance Distributors
167 Railway Tce
Mile End South
5031 South Australia
Ph. 08 83635566
[email protected]
Automotive Performance Distributors Pty. Ltd.(Formerly Crane Technologies Pty. Ltd) was set up in 1997 as a Joint Venture with Crane Cams in the USA, to distribute the range of Crane products to retailers & wholesalers throughout Australia.
Automotive Performance Distributors is 100% Australian Owned and Operated.