So roday i Was buying rings for my 327, when the clerk informed me that in 2003 they stopped putting the zinc additive in motor oil because everthing is roller cam these days, which could translate to a deth sentence for your hydraulic valve system. You now need to add a zinc additive to your engine oil on your hydraulic set up to give it a lOng life! Ive worked for GM for 10 years and ive never heard of this...how about you???any thoughts?
It is true. Not so much for the hydraulics of it but for flat tappet lobes and lifters. Its especially critical during cam break in but can't hurt to keep adding with each oil change. Learned this the hard way when i only got 10 minutes into a break in with a big solid lifter cam and it started chewing a lobe off Personally I've used crane cams stuff and Lucas brand stuff and they both worked. I know Comp cams and GM also make stuff
Yup, it's a pain in the ***. I have used Zinc Hyperlube before, but it says right on the back that is is just an additive and does not actually contain zinc. I have heard people use diesel oil, but I have never tried this. Not sure what I should be running in my Y-Block???
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After wiping a brand new cam in my small block I went looking for a zinc additive but it looks like most auto parts places quit carrying that as well. Then I found Amsoil's Z-Rod engine oil.
I've used the Lucas or GM additive to break-in and then add half a bottle of STP, which contains zddp, with every oil change. Brad-Penn racing oil (the green stuff) has zinc in it too, got a buddy that uses it and so far so good.
There are quite a few posts on the subject. Lost 2 new engines in less that 50 miles. Flat tappet cam's are the issue. Convert to roller cam is available or I now use "Lucas oil breakin additive" on all new motors and a additive to my Y Block.
GM EOS is also a good option. Last time I went to the dealer they had to dig some up and talked like they were not going to carry it any more so I bought all they had. But, I am sure some dealers still have it.
Spoosedly EOS was reformulated a few yrs ago, reportedly reduced zddp.. There's also ZDDPlus additive.
Its really easy to buy the correct motor oil for an old engine. Look at the container. If it says on the bottle,"For gasoline engines", DONT BUY IT! There are oils from Shell, Pennsoil, Quaker State, Brad Penn, that are easily avaiable at every auto parts place, or truck stop I ever checked. Its made for diesel pickups. My flathead and my Y block get Shell Rotella 15W40. My Y block gets used in anger once a year, shifted at 6600 to 6800 RPMS. It runs great and beating the snot out of it for years has not bothered it.
OOPS!!! the EPA now requires low emission diesel engines, hence it has been removed from diesel engine oils. Ive been useing ZDDPlus additive I hope it works, when do you find out?? to late?
Try Brad Penn be sure to get PENN-GRADE 1 It has everything you need and it is ALL AMERICAN MADE no foreign crude!!!
The after market is catching up with the need. I can't say if it works or not but it claims to replace the ZDDP that has been removed from the modern oils. At least this spells it out so there is no guessing. This is a moving target. 10 years ago it was a big deal on the flathead boards and we learned what oils kept it but many of those have changed their formulation and those recommendations are obsolete. They don't tell you when they change the formula. There are specialty racing oils that still have it today but they are pricey. I'm trying this for my new engine. I have had good luck with their products.
We use Brad Penn oil in ALL the cars that come through our shop (vintage/cl***ic British stuff ... flat tappet , etc.) . We're actually looking into becoming a dealer for the stuff .
Low emissions for diesels means the sulfur content in the fuel has been lowered . Older diesel engines need sulfur to lube mechanical injectors . We run 15w40 diesel oil in every thing on the farm. Brigs auger engines , 390, 361 Fords ,slant 6 Chryslers , 292 ,327 Chevys so far no cam failure .
The problem is...there are gallon jugs marked SM/CJ. To meet SM it has reduced zddp, & it would seem that CJ would have to be also for it to be marked that way.
this right here (motor oil 101 through motor oil 109) should be required reading for all car junkies.
I use Brad Pen for break in and then after the break in I use a ZDDP added to regular oil. I use this is my diesel pick and in my stock cars and have not had cam or lifter failer since I started adding Zinc and Phos to my engine oil, and since I have been adding it to my ford Diesel I have not lost an injector on it. So yes the EPA has reduced the levels of Zinc and Phos from todays motor oils to ensure the coverters in modern cars last 100,000 miles and it has hurt the hobbiest, car builder, ect, but just add it to your standard motor oil and all is great.
Lol, nope... 1st off the zddp in diesel oil has been lessened as well. Look for the ratings on it. 2nd, it's diesel oil and is formulated for diesels, the additive package is all wrong for regular gasoline engines. As Hombres Ruin stated, this has been done to death, a quick search would have netted a ton of relevant threads that have beaten this like the dead horse it is.
Hi Everyone.. Like my friend Okie Pete posted here...farm oil might be an answer. I use that Walmart Super Tech UNIVERSAL 15w-40 in my GMC truck... API Service Ratings on it is CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF-4, CF-4 SL, SJ I add a 1/2 quart of Lucas on top of that.. It was reported last year, that this oil was good for zddp.. But as you know, things change.. This oil is cheaper in price somewhat and says it is engineered for "Fleet and Farm" requirements.. It is hard to get premium oils out here, without giving up the "first born child".. It is 64 miles to closest WalMart for me.. and the auto stores are not any cheaper.. Farm stores might be a good source. No easy answers.. Stay cool today, everyone.. Already 100 in the shade here.. duane (NM Sandrail) PS.. This oil will be getting the old "Jimmie" to Joplin, later this week, for the HAMB Drags!
As I understand it the zinc was removed or lessened to keep from degrading the catalitic converter. Some diesel engines now have a cat, so could you ***ume that the zinc was also removed from oil for diesels?
That is my understanding too. Of course that is why we lost the lead in 1974. The converters changed with OBDII also but the oil didn't change until recently. Many of the old posts on this subject contains out of date information due to the formula changes.
though a lot of them also discuss the changes as the spec was already in place, there just seemed to be some overlap with the old formulations still on the shelf and the new ones coming in.
I've been adding ZDDP to straight 30 or 40w. in my pre 1981 engines for years. It helps prevent dry starts after they sit for a year (sometimes) without being started. It runs about $10 per bottle, delivered to my front door. http://www.zddplus.com/
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