Technical Pennzoil with Z-7, question

quick question for the HAMB chemists...

I have some Pennzoil 10W40 HD with Z-7

I'm assuming the Z7 is zinc? Which is good for the old engines. I usually add the ZDDP to my oil changes.

Thanks-

 

I would not assume that Z-7 is anything more than a marketing ploy. Check the MSDS on the oil you have, that should tell.

 

Not likely to find a MSDS sheet for a product that old.

However, they didnt start taking all the Zinc out until about the early-mid 1990s when they found the particles carried out in the exhaust clogged catalytic converters. By then all the mfgs had gone to plastic bottles. Anything that old will have Zinc in it.
The Z-7 could be Zinc, or just another natural flavor.

 

Joe,

Thanks for the info, totally makes sense.

 

Ditto. Also, I remember that brand of oil having a bad reputation for gunking up engines back then. Never used it myself.

 

Hey, if I were you, I would find a new oil, Pennzoil has Paraffin Wax in it and that is why if you have ever opened an engine up that run Pennzoil, that is why there is all of that build up of gunk inside the engine. In MY Book Pennzoil Is Very Evil Stuff. Just my 2 cents worth, very bad stuff!!!!!!!!!

 

Pete, go with the straight-weight rotella found @ tractor supply or, if you must, wallmart. This oil has no additives (plastic) which will F-up your flattie. Good luck and I will see you on the beach. Leavin thurs am

 

I would not run oil that is that old. The "Experts" will tell you that when oil sits for that long of a time the additive package separates and loses its effectiveness. On top of that, those can were known to absorb condensation diluting the oil with small amounts of water. Just good garage art now, although I'm sure someone will run some and rave about how good it worked.

 

I got the oil for free from a customer.... Figured I'd at least ask before using it.... I'll pass it along.
I typically use Rotella and do have some ready to go.

Thanks for the info fellas.

 

I might use it to kill weeds along the fence line or maybe pour some on your brush pile to facilitate burning.
I worked testing engines at a salvage yard for 4 years back in the early 70s. When I'd find an engine that was totally gooped up with hard gunk, I'd write down the stock number of the car and go looking in the yard for it. 9 times out of 10 it would have Pennzoil stickers in the door posts.
Bad shit! Paraphin based oils have no place in an automotive engine.

 

Yep, the only other oil that bad is Quaker State, also paraffin-based. I wouldn't use either in my lawnmower...

Had a customer in the early 70s (when I was still mechanicin') who insisted on bringing his own Pennzoil in for oil changes. He used two quarts of oil between 3K miles changes, regular as clockwork. Finally talked him into changing to Chevron oil, the oil usage stopped....

 

but, the paraphin will keep your lucious lockes looking lovely while blasting down the beach course!

 

Bright side , glass half full kind of guy.

 

Myths:

- Paraffinic oils cause engine sludge.
- Oils from paraffin-based crude are loaded with wax and create engine sludge.
- Paraffin base stocks cause sludge.
- Some brands of motor oil cause sludge, varnish and/or engine deposits.
- "Paraffinic" motor oils cause wax-like deposits on the underside of the oil fill cap.

Fact:

There are two basic types of crude oil, naphthenic and paraffinic. Most conventional engine lubricating oils today are made from paraffinic crude oil. Paraffinic crude oil is recognized for its ability to resist thinning and thickening with temperature, as well as its lubricating properties and oxidation resistance (sludge forming tendencies). In the refining process, the paraffinic crude oil is broken down into many different products. One of the products is wax, and others are gasoline, kerosene, lubricating oils, asphalt, etc. Virtually every oil marketer uses paraffinic base stocks in blending their engine oil products.

Many people believe the term paraffinic to be synonymous with wax. Some have the misconception that paraffinic oils will coat the engine with a wax film that can result in engine deposits. This is not true. The confusion exists because paraffinic molecules can form wax crystals at low temperatures. In lubricating oils, this wax is removed in a refining process called dewaxing. Wax is a premium product obtained from crude oil, and in order to insure the highest quality base stocks available, as much of the wax as possible is removed during the refining process.

 

... We now return to our scheduled programming....

 

All the ZDDP was never removed from the oil.. Non specialty oil today has about half the ZDDP of 20 years ago....And in the 40's and early 50's many oils had no ZDDP....