STP with zddp or modern additives

LOL! The ol' STP oil treatment scam. Always lot's of anecdotal stories with aftermarket oil additives, I really like the one about the guy who ran only SAE 90 grade gear oil + STP in his engine. Nice!

FYI, look up the SDS from STP, you can find it here: http://www.stp.com/sites/default/files/STP Oil Treatment (2015-06).pdf

What does it say the product contains?
60 - 100% Mineral oil and Petroleum Distilates, plus <5% proprietary Calcium based long chain alkylphenate sulfide.

Basically, it is mostly all high viscosity mineral oil blended with a long chain polymer (viscosity modifier). This is basically the same stuff used to form multi-viscosity motor oils. That's a problem, these polymers do provide a benefit when blended in an engineered lubricant, but that doesn't mean that pouring a can of some cheap $&!t into your engine is a good thing. Excessive amount of these polymers most certainly does lead to problematic deposit formation. When these deposits build up around the piston rings and in the grooves and ring lands they prevent free movement of the rings, which leads to bore polishing, which leads to increased oil consumption, which leads even more piston deposits and stuck rings, etc, etc, etc. You're really screwing the pooch by using this ****.

Oh! But what about the zinc? Well, how much zinc is in it? Somebody above posted that 3 times they tried to get STP to tell them the zinc content, and 3 times they refused. Somebody else said that they asked STP and were told it was enough zinc to bring the zinc level of 4 - 5 quarts of oil up to the zinc levels used prior to the reduction in zinc in motor oils to protect catalytic converters. Really, how much would that have to be?

Well, some guy on another forum sent a sample in to a lab for ****ysis. The results came back showing 569 ppm. Read that again, 569 ppm! That's less than the SN oil you want to add it to. In effect, you'll be DILUTING the zinc content in your oil and end up with less! Ha!

https://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2701357

Also note the viscosity, 2875.9 cSt @ 40C and 199.9 cSt @ 100C, is off the charts, about twice as thick as the heaviest industrial grade gear oils. Not good for your engine, not good at all.

At the most this could be considered a really ****py bandaid for some engine in really bad condition, in a desperate attempt to eeek out a few more miles. Ironically, the same medicine used to help it will eventually kill it. Using it in a perfectly good engine in an attempt to help preserve it is insane.

 

again

 

interesting read

 

Someone did some research on a motorcycle forum and came up with how much ZDDP was in certain oils,it showed the Chevron Delo 15w40 had more then the Rotella I have been using in some of my motors so that is what I will be using until I find out it has been lowered and will use that STP as ***embly lube.

 

jnaki - has been stated that a main part of STP is mineral oil - maybe that is why it worked as a temporary wound protection

 

Keep in mind that all ZDDP compounds are not all the same, and a lower amount of one kind may offer increased protection vs a higher amount of a different kind. I'm going to end up writing more about this in that other motor oil thread, just wanted to post a quick reply to this. Delo 400 and Rotella are both good oils that meet the CJ-4 specification.

 

Hey JJ,
What ever it was/is made of, it made my night at the drags memorable and while we were racing, I did not notice a thing. I am sure it looked funny because people saw a teenage kid walking around with a sleeve rolled up and STP on his bicep. When it got colder later, I had to put on a jacket, so I found a clean rag to wrap around it and slide it into the sleeve of the jacket. It was a conversation starter all of these years, but it is almost faded out. A 56 year reminder of racing at Lions.
Thanks,
Jnaki

 

to maybe help understand all of this info a little bit more - all types of ZDDP function in the same manner. Zinc is a poplar molecule, so it is attracted to steel surfaces. Under heat and, load the Zinc reacts with the steel and creates a Phosphate gl*** film that protects the steel surface by forming a sacrificial film that covers the peaks and fills in the valley of the steel surface. reason that you need "enough" but, "not too much" ZDDP. also, the same for detergent and other similar agents.

 

bottom line is, every motor is different and has special needs - buy whatever is best for your motor - do some research first, and possibly be ready to spend a little more $ than you are used with "old school" reclaimed oil

 

It's a good thing I never knew about any of this stuff or I would have been worried sick about something that doesn't matter? Although bombing down wintertime Colorado mountain p***es with a single pot brake system and 50 year old brake fluid/lines...