Good reading about zinc and oil

[Ricko1966]

Don't just read the start,don't read it as an endorsement or condemnation of restore,read further in,like the first couple of pages.Read why zinc,how it started,There is some very good info in there,regarding zinc and flat tappet cams. Like how too much is bad. And some reading between the lines mixed with some common sense comes into play. Made me realize just as important as having the right oil but keeping it changed often enough is important for a performance engine,with a flat tappet cam. But relatively stock flat tappet cams higher than 800ppm zinc isn't necessary.

https://go.skimresources.com/?id=130832X1595926&isjs=1&jv=15.7.1&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chevelles.com%2Fthreads%2Fvalvoline-restore-and-protect-full-syn.1185413%2F&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbobistheoilguy.com%2Fforums%2Fthreads%2Fgm-debunks-zddp-myths-for-flat-tappet-cams.81269%2F&xs=1&xtz=360&xuuid=4b866b3a597e53afd264cc7384ce225c&xjsf=other_click__contextmenu%20%5B-1%5D

 

[Goldie Driver]

Cool ! My Restore and Protect 5W30 is at 850 PPM.

US_Val_RestoreProtect_5W30_MO_EN.pdf - Docusign CLM

sharena21.springcm.com

 

[squaredeal91]

My dad used to buy Schaeffers oil for years when I was growing up. The rep/local sales guy would send off a sample of your oil off to a lab and give an oil analysis if you wanted for free and I always thought that was cool. The rep had an all original like 94 chrysler fwd car with over 400k on it and no smoke.

 

[Doppleganger]

Watched a vid of a guy that builds 800hp asian motors - this is the only stuff he will use. Found out the guy who built my motor has cases of this stuff on hand - only thing he will use. Its what will break in my motor....vitamin enriched.

Zinc + phosphorous.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/BPO-71206

 

[Ricko1966]

Watched a vid of a guy that builds 800hp asian motors - this is the only stuff he will use. Found out the guy who built my motor has cases of this stuff on hand - only thing he will use. Its what will break in my motor....vitamin enriched.

Zinc + phosphorous.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/BPO-71206

Read that article if you didn't,too much zinc causes damage also.

 

[Fat 454]

Roller cams for the win !!.. Ha ha

Not sure about oils, but I do know ( here at least ) that the bulk of all "brand" Mo-gas ( petroleum spirit ) comes off the same 2 - 3 importation distribution racks - ie. its all from the same few big manufacturers, behind the label.

Worked for Exxon-MOBIL-Esso for a while, and my old boss was an "oils" guy. Lots of stories about sourcing and marketing, so don't know how much I worry about brand these days. We ( personally , not company ! ) buy motor oil by price mainly - which can vary retail by as much as $10-12 per litre / quart !. Big issue is regular maintenance / proper engine run-in procedures for new builds etc. And buying in filters on special when ever possible, so that I can afford to change them regularly!

Regular changes are the thing. I have read a bit about changing the filter more often, and retaining the oil. Have also been experimenting with bypass flow high micron filters, in addition to the regular full flow circuit - I think there are a couple of threads on here about that if anyone is interested in the technicalities ..

 

[ChuckN]

Read that article if you didn't,too much zinc causes damage also.

I used to run Lucas 5000 ppm zinc additive in our old ‘54. That was a bad idea. But I got away with it. The fact that I started it up frequently and ran it probably helped keep the corrosion away. That, and the cam was 50 years old and probably so well broken in on old oil that it was more tolerant.

Lake Speed Jr has lots of YT videos on zinc that I’ve watched. And also how zinc additives don’t work well because the detergents render them useless. (Also maybe another reason that engine survived). I’ll define read that article.

That old 327 got pulled out of the ‘54 by my cousin and is now in someone’s Nova, still cruising the streets.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

I put absolutely 0 thought into any of this, never lose a cam, and just manage to bumble my way through life without issue lol.

 

[Baker11b]

Yeah I think it's all a load of gobbledygook. Being a myth, it sprung from some truth but it's mostly overblown.

 

[Jrgunn5150]

People for sure wipe out cams, same as they smash converters into pumps, break head bolts off in blocks, stab distributors so wrong they wind up scrapping a vehicle over it...

But I have no idea out, because I just manage to use the cheapest tractor supply oil, run bolts down with an impact, never torque anything, put engines together and run them without a timing light, totally use bellhousing bolts to draw transmissions to engines... And haven't had any of these problems at 45 years old lol.

So who knows wtf people are really doing out there.

 

[xm20k]

A lot of oils that have zinc are rather high in content.

https://static.speedwaymotors.com/images/SMI-Oil-Chart.pdf?_gl=1*rtzp96*_gcl_aw*R0NMLjE3NjkwNDMxMTQuQ2p3S0NBaUFqOExMQmhBa0Vpd0FKamJZNzYzVm45TGxRTW5zUHRzN3pnVU9GNnJrc2JaNlVPR0s3SkdpSk5hY19zTTVaTDZTZlE2VURSb0M1Y3NRQXZEX0J3RQ..*_gcl_au*MjExMjI1ODE4My4xNzcyNDg3MDQz*_ga*ODMyMjk1MDk2LjE3NDYyNzg2MDE.*_ga_9NTXM7BJK3*czE3NzI0ODcwNDMkbzMzJGcxJHQxNzcyNDg3MDgyJGoyMSRsMCRoMA..

 

[Ricko1966]

Some of those oils are actually too high and will cause problems. More than 14% causes wear more than 20% causes camshaft spalling.

 

[jcperformance]

Helpful informations!