engine oil zinc article

[mrspeedyt]

helpful oil article in october 2010 popular mechanics.

[busycoupe]

There is an article on pg 104 of the Nov. issue of Classic Car magazine that addresses this. One of the suggestions the author makes is to use diesel truck oil, as it still has some zinc in it. - Very interesting articlle.

Dave

[55 Fargo]

I am currently using Shell Rotella T conventional 15 W 40, still has 1250 PPM of ZDDP.

A lot of forum memebers use house brand oils, and some Valvoline ,Castrol etc.

I have not seen a lot of complaints related to flat tappet/cam wear because of a lack of zinc.

Oil of the last 20 years is far superior to any oil of 1948.

The mettalurgy in our engine is of high quality too, now chinese made metal, would wear down quick.

I wonder how much of the ZDDP or lack of it, will affect our engines with moderate use, and with regular oil changes...........Fred

[Plymouthy Adams]

I believe you will find that Valvoline Race has the higest content of zinc in PPM at .20 compared to 10.5 to 13.0 on the average oils that do have zinc content..this is some

.070 more than the Rotella..

[austinsailor]

it's true Rotella had more zinc than gas engine oils, but the current version has a much lower content.

I bought a drum of the old formula to hold me for a time.

if you can find a drum it'll be far cheaper than the valvoline or additves. I paid about $7 a gallon. of course, you'll have 55 gallons, but it'll fo quicker than you think.

[Tom Skinner]

I buy ZDDP 4oz. Bottles (Zinc) additive and add to my Oil Changes.

It only adds about $9 to an Oil Change and gives me peace of mind.

As Don C. has pointed out in the past though its all a matter of personal prefference - a snake oil remedy some say. Marvel Mystery Oil was my old favorite until recently.

ZDDP can be purchased on ebay. Some do, some don't, some will, some won't.

Oil is in fact better today than in 1948. Das ist mir egal -

(Its all the same to me)

Tom

Huntersville, NC

[55 Fargo]

it's true Rotella had more zinc than gas engine oils, but the current version has a much lower content.

I bought a drum of the old formula to hold me for a time.

if you can find a drum it'll be far cheaper than the valvoline or additves. I paid about $7 a gallon. of course, you'll have 55 gallons, but it'll fo quicker than you think.

I spoke to a Shell Canada Chemist about 2 weeks ago, it still has 1250 PPM of ZDDP in Canuckland, cannot speak for the USA. At 1250 PPM i is down from 1350 or so, in Canada..........

[55 Fargo]

Again is there any scientific data on Mopar flathead 6 ( or another older type flathead gas engine) co-relation engine wear and zinc studies.

I would be interested to see anything of that nature, I also had been adding Lucas Oil Stabilizer, until this oil change, now it's pure Rotella T 15 W 5 40 Oil........Fred

[Young Ed]

I've got 17k miles on my rebuilt 218 using Napa 10w40. No zink additives. I have heard of guys having trouble. Most of them were rodders with rebuilt 350s and aftermarket cams made out of cheap china steel.

[Mustang6147]

ZInk is an important additive in oil however it is expensive, and by removing it from oil it lessons the consumer costs. Better engine shops will sell High Zinc oils. Most racing engine run them, and better engine builders mandate their use. Pennzoil makes a race formula you cant get at a big box store, that is good. I am a Castrol fan and use theirs in my cars.

I might also add that I dont know what kind of Rotella T you all are using, but if your enigne has an egr system, I would advise against it. It will plug and trash a gas engine with a EGR system. The forula is being changed because diesel engines now are equied with EGR systems. This is relativly new technology in the diesel market.

Edited September 18, 2010 by Mustang6147