Flat tappet issue

[Jdcooper]

I'm a Guzzi newb here. Owned my 09 Stelvio for less than a week...and love it.

As w most new owners I'm trying to learn everything I can as quickly as I can, and the flat tappet
problem is high on the food-chain of issues I'm studying.

Moto Guzzi's are far from the only brands which suffer cam/tappet damage. Many vintage cars
have the same issue. Within the motorcycle world the KLR250 and Suzuki Savage do too. Most owners
accommodate for this problem by adding ZDDP into their oil. This compound has been deleted from "modern" oils
because it coats the catalytic converters of "modern" engines.

Has anyone looked into oil additives to prevent damage ?  SOMEONE has to have "been there..done that" .

Here is a short quote from a pertinent article:

Motor oils designed for vintage engines have more ZDDP than API-SN. The ZDP family decreases wear on highly loaded rubbing surfaces. In the vintage engine this is most prominently the camshaft-lifter interface. The problem with ZZDP in API-SN oil is that the phosphorus in the zinc dithiophosphate coats the active substrate in catalytic converters.

The full piece is here:  http://www.classiccarmotoroil.com/articles.html

I am NOT trying to start another oil war....just wonder if anybody has researched the problem.
Thanx !         Coop

[Chuck in Indiana]

I'm a Guzzi newb here. Owned my 09 Stelvio for less than a week...and love it.

As w most new owners I'm trying to learn everything I can as quickly as I can, and the flat tappet
problem is high on the food-chain of issues I'm studying.

Moto Guzzi's are far from the only brands which suffer cam/tappet damage. Many vintage cars
have the same issue. Within the motorcycle world the KLR250 and Suzuki Savage do too. Most owners
accommodate for this problem by adding ZDDP into their oil. This compound has been deleted from "modern" oils
because it coats the catalytic converters of "modern" engines.

Has anyone looked into oil additives to prevent damage ?  SOMEONE has to have "been there..done that" .

Here is a short quote from a pertinent article:

Motor oils designed for vintage engines have more ZDDP than API-SN. The ZDP family decreases wear on highly loaded rubbing surfaces. In the vintage engine this is most prominently the camshaft-lifter interface. The problem with ZZDP in API-SN oil is that the phosphorus in the zinc dithiophosphate coats the active substrate in catalytic converters.

The full piece is here:  http://www.classiccarmotoroil.com/articles.html

I am NOT trying to start another oil war....just wonder if anybody has researched the problem.
Thanx !         Coop

Hi, Coop.. welcome to WG. Yeah, a search on here (upper right) will probably give you a fair amount of information on ZDDP.. flat tappets, and roller conversions. 
 

[canuguzzi]

While some additives can provide some benefits, rarely can they prevent or fix design or manufacturing problems.

The fix is rollers. Well, that and some money on your end.

Given the cost of most additives, they might cost more in the long run than additives that might only postpone the problem anyway.

[pyoungbl]

OP has an 09 Stelvio.  That's a 4V lump.  The flat tappet/roller tappet issue only applies to the 8V.  There is no roller conversion for the 4V engines.  The sky is not falling!  Worry about running out of gas or some other problem that applies to the 09, not the tappets.

Peter Y.

[Bisbonian]

OP has an 09 Stelvio.  That's a 4V lump.  The flat tappet/roller tappet issue only applies to the 8V.  There is no roller conversion for the 4V engines.  The sky is not falling!  Worry about running out of gas or some other problem that applies to the 09, not the tappets.

Peter Y.

I thought all Stelvios had the 8V engine?

[ohiorider]

I thought all Stelvios had the 8V engine?

Biz - think you're correct re all Stelvios came with 8v engines. I believe the Stelvio was the only CARC bike not to have been initially powered by a 4v engine.  There were 4v Breva and Griso 1100s, 1200 Sports and Norges.  So I think the OP's 2009 may be "Version 1.01," 8 valves with flat tappets prior to the DLC-coated flat tappets.

[Aaron D.]

Pretty sure an 09 is a 4v

[Vasco DG]

OP has an 09 Stelvio.  That's a 4V lump.  The flat tappet/roller tappet issue only applies to the 8V.  There is no roller conversion for the 4V engines.  The sky is not falling!  Worry about running out of gas or some other problem that applies to the 09, not the tappets.

Peter Y.

Peter, all Stelvios use the 8V engine. The 4V/8V thing is just a naming oddity.

Pete

[Wayne Orwig]

OP has an 09 Stelvio.  That's a 4V lump. 

What have you been smoking?



My 8V 2009 is waiting on kit C.
Of course, maybe I'm goofy and that is why I am still waiting.

[Demar]

What have you been smoking?



My 8V 2009 is waiting on kit C.
Of course, maybe I'm goofy and that is why I am still waiting.

You will get the kit when pigs fly.

[Wayne Orwig]

You will get the kit when pigs fly.

Awesome..

[rodekyll]

You will get the kit when pigs fly.

That's an empty threat where Wayne's concerned.