I have a early/mid 70's Olds 455 in my Buick. In your opinion, should I be adding a zinc additive or using an oil that has an advertised zinc content? Right now I am using Castrol 10w40 conventional oil.
Engines that are well broken in are a lot less susceptible to cam/lifter damage from low zinc levels than newly rebuilt engines. The exception is modified engines with performance cam profiles and high pressure valve springs. Having said that, better safe than sorry and if it was mine, I'd increase the zinc level in the oil. Bob
the car has lived on regular oil for the last 40 years and hasnt died yet. i betting you are over thinking this. what about lead in your gas it hasnt seen that since the 70s, and its made it this far, drive the old girl with a bit of mercy and she will run down the road for a long time
Check out www.bobistheoilguy.com - more info than you'll ever need on oil, additives, etc. Good stuff but get ready to read...
Well broken in cam with stock profile/low spring pressure regular oil will be just fine. Super duper cam with lots of spring use extra zink.
you should do some research before giving advise....maybe you didn't get the memo...you lost the bet FYI if you could buy "old" oil you would be OK. the lubricating ZDDP's have been drastically reduced
yeah, i think your out of the loop. If the motors broken in there is alot less of a chance of you having trouble, but finding oil with zinc again isnt too hard and not that much more money so it hardley worth the chance of not running it. I was running a machine shop in an auto parts about the time they started removing zinc from the oil, we knew this and were on it, when i did customer stuff i would tell them they needed zinc additive because the oil didnt have it anymore and they might have trouble, some listened and didnt have any problems, the ones who were to stubborn and cheap to get it were back to get a new cam and lifters! JEFF
Valvoline VR1 has the highest ZDDP of the conventional motor oils you can find at pretty much any parts store. Joe Gibbs, Brad Penn, and Kendall are other oils with high zinc content, but would have to be ordered or maybe found at a performance parts store. I use the VR1 in everything I own, never had an issue, even in the old SBC's, SBF's, Y-Blocks, and OHC inliners I've driven daily. I prefer an oil that has the zinc already in it as opposed to a zinc additive. Depending on the engine, I'll usually add some Marvel Mystery Oil during oil changes, and a cap full of it in the gas tank everytime I fill er up. The MMO helps keep the lifters from sticking and in the gas it helps fight the negative effects of the ethanol.
Motor has never been apart except for the new timing chain, water pump and fuel pump last year, its just a cruiser, no high performance stuff at all. Thanks for the imput so far
Castrol is absolutly fine.... I am runnin it and have been in race engines turning Mid RPMs ( up to 8500) for years, never any significant wear, after the season. DO not run Valvoline. You will sludge up. I dont know why its still formulated this way and not changed. There is a new guidline as a result of GM and their alluminum high HP stroked engines coming out of the factory. It is called Dexos. Read up on it, cuz I think its the future of the oil ratings...Its a joint effort between Mobile 1 and GM. It is light years ahead of the rest.
I have been using Valvoline racing oil in all my cars and drag boats for over 25 years and never had sludge, Ever.
I also used Valvoline in my modern engines for a very long time and have NEVER had any sludge problems at all ! I have no idea where mustang6147 got that one from but you would be the ONLY ONE I ever heard that one from that uses Valvoline oil ! As for the zddp or zinc , it's very easy to find the many good quality oils that have the ZINC in them that is needed for your engine . If you can't find them for some reason , just add a bottle of zddp or engine break in additive from Lucas that you can buy at Advance Auto and that will work also . there are so many oils and additives out there now there should be no reason why you can't find any . You can also order them on-line as well . If you do a search you will find lots of posts on this very subject . Personally I don't care how many miles you have driven without the zddp in your oil but I would take precautions and use the oils with zinc in them to make that engine last a lot longer ! Retro Jim
I've used Valvoline in all my personal cars, race cars, and a company fleet of vehicles. Never had problems or sludge. Yes, use zinc oil or zinc additive every oil change in older vehicles.
in my beater stuff I run walmart oil with a bottle of zddp. its pretty cheap. Nicer engines I use brad penn.
X2. Over 30 years for me with standard Valvoline and VR-1. I've never seen sludge formed on any engine using Valvoline.
From what i am told, the newest type 'n' formulas has a zinc blocking compound to negate the effect of an additive. The additive are good with type 'm'. The reason is taht zinc goes to the catalyic convertor and contaminates it. When people started useing additives and to replace the zinc the epa came back to the petroleum industry with newer standards (type 'n') to moimize contamination. I understand that you don't have a cat convertor in your hot rod but that makes little difference if the oil is blocks the effects of the additives. The best solution is to get teh right oil with zinc in it to begin with. Joe Gibbs or Brad Penn and others. This will be a good subject for a tech thread/article. I will see if i can't contact Lake Speed at Joe Gibbs racing and see if he'll come on here and do us a proper tech thread. He is p***ionate about the oils and what the gov has done.
I use the Brad Penn oil and its great, but a little pricey. Cheaper in the long run tho. $75 for a case
Most of the guys here have nailed it with Valvoline VR1, Brad Penn, Joe Gibbs & the zinc additives, but you pay top dollar for these. Another option is Rotella T for diesel engines. You can pick it up for about $12-$15 a gallon and has plenty of zinc for a cruizer. As long as you don't try running regular oil in it you should be fine.
wow hadn't heard that they block the ZDDP additive. it would be great to see some proof. I was talking to Scott Davis VP of AMS-oil he is all about ZDDP and the loss of it in oils and what it has done to the "old" cars! I'd love to hear the guys from Joe Gibbs about ZDDP. maybe i can get the same from Scott!
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