Yeah, it's actually just the opposite. I don't know the answers to your questions, but there are many base oil refineries all over the world that ship their products globally. And there are hundreds of lubricant blenders all over the world, probably more than a hundred in the US alone, and I would guess there are dozens spread across Canada. The Majors alone have multiple blend plants spread out geographically, then there are many independent lube companies, and then there are thousands of distributors from small mom & pop stores to major distributors that are large enough to challenge the major oil companies. And many of those distributors have their own blend plants where they blend up their own house brand, and many even blend for the majors for the local market (though they blend to the majors formulations & specifications). Most of the majors have their own proprietary formulations, so Shell (who owns Pennzoil/Quaker State) has their own engine oil formulations that are different from Chevron, which is different from Valvoline, etc. But getting your own blend approved by and licensed by the API is very expensive (>$1M for a new license) so many of the independent lube companies simply buy a base oil and an additive package that was developed by one of the additive companies (who pays for the testing and licensing) and blends them together and packages up their own brand. That's how Walmart and the others do it. It's just a package deal, it meets the spec and it carries the license, and it meets the minimum performance requirements. So the oil you buy at Walmart may be the same formulation as the oil you buy at Tractor Supply (if they have their own brand, I don't know that). But, I am sure that Walmart (or Tractor Supply) doesn't have all their oil blended in one place and shipped from that one place all over the country and all over the world. They have blenders spread out geographically who blend the oil more locally to where it is going to be sold, to reduce costs related to shipping. The oil you buy at a Walmart on the east coast is likely not from the same blend plant as the oil you buy at a Walmart on the west coast. And the majors do the same thing, they have blend plants located geographically to reduce costs and to be able to be competitive. And the majors might even have some of the independent blenders, or some of their larger distributors, blend and package the oil for the local market, using the major's formulations. So rather than just a few refineries and plants producing all the different oils, it's the opposite, there are blend plants all over the place blending and packaging oils to different formulations, some proprietary major formulations, some additive company formulations. Some very high quality, some average, and some are not very good. The API has it's hands full monitoring it all and trying to keep everything above board. And some states do their own monitoring as well. It's not unusual to hear about somebody getting busted for selling something that doesn't meet the specs that are on the label, but generally (not always, but generally) it's smaller companies and cheep, inexpensive brands. And the fines can be pretty hefty when they get caught. Stick with the major brands and your pretty safe from that.
That is correct. I was just reading a technical paper on this the other day, still have it up on my computer, the film created by the zddp compound is from 50 - 150 nanometers in thickness, and that is all. Higher levels of ZDDP in the oil will not result in a thicker protective film. It simply maintains that thickness longer. As some of the film is worn away due to contact between moving parts more of the zddp in the oil will replace it and keep the film present. And once the zddp is activated, or plated out onto the surfaces, it undergoes a physical change and when it is removed from the surfaces it is no longer active and cannot reform onto the surface again, it's done; it did it's job and is no longer available to do it again. So eventually as this process continues the amount of active zddp is depleted.
Any idea on timeline it depletes, say 800ppm compared to 1200ppm? I guess I’m wondering how long 800 ppm will supply sufficient film thickness. I realize there are probably way too many variables to actually answer that. I’m more thinking out loud now.
I don't have anywhere near the knowledge you have on oils, and your inputs here over the years have been beyond helpful when making decisions about it and how and where to research. I'd love to see what you're referring to as to ZDDP consumption. My instincts tell me temperature and pressures (load) would be the primary factors in the rate of additive breakdown. Put simply, a flat tappet high zoot street motor will use it up faster than an old flathead Packard that sees limited use and has lower spring pressures. The early Packards had roller cam followers and high zinc is almost moot. The only hard point is where the valve touches the follower. Then again a flathead V8 has all the action hidden in an "oven" under the intake and would demand a little more attention, even with lower spring pressures than a solid lifter small block. Like I said, instincts.
interesting notes on the oil industry. been buick since i was a kid. buick probably has one of the worst oil systems. starting playing w/semi syn backin the late 80's. never had any luck with them. i run a fed with the 350 and a 671. had a blower cam made and had it polished. i installed it w/o any fancy cam lube. i use regular 10-30 amsoil, not race oil. only wear issue is the cam/dist wear(hi oil pres) which has been a problem for buick racers forever. i think its more of a parts issue. real good quality parts are getting harder to get which leads to many long term engine problems. my old '51 ford 8n gets plain old 30 non-det oil. its in better shape than this '51 model. lol
The Jalopy Journal
