jux
Full Access Member
- Joined
- Sep 14, 2013
- Posts
- 136
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- PA
- First Name
- Z
- Truck Year
- 86
- Truck Model
- c10
- Engine Size
- 350
I'm wondering how many members here use oil with high amounts of zinc and phosphorus (aka zddp). For those that don't already know, oils today are not like oils of yesteryear, and oil companies have slowly been taking away ZDDP from engine oils because it clogs up catalytic converters.
This is not a big issue for roller cam engines, but for most of us with flat tappets, there have been many reports of cam failure because of a lack of ZDDP. Zinc and phosphorus, in combination, provide high levels of protection against surface abrasion. It is recommended that these engines get at least 1,200 ppm ZDDP, whereas most oil today ranges from 500-700 ppm or less.
I personally use Valvoline VR1 Racing oil synthetic in 10w30. It is blue in color, has a high level of zddp, and also has a great detergent package. Although it says racing oil, it is also good for street use due to it's detergent package. It has been performing extremely well in my engine, and as a side note has cleaned my engine very well since I switched from conventional.
It is a thinner oil, which reduces wear at start up, among other benefits. One drawback is that because it is so thin, it was making its way out from between one of my valve covers above the #1 cylinder. I fixed the issue by using spreader bars on the tops of the valve covers as well as the bottom, and now I have no leaks.
So how many of you guys seek out high zinc/phos oils?
This is not a big issue for roller cam engines, but for most of us with flat tappets, there have been many reports of cam failure because of a lack of ZDDP. Zinc and phosphorus, in combination, provide high levels of protection against surface abrasion. It is recommended that these engines get at least 1,200 ppm ZDDP, whereas most oil today ranges from 500-700 ppm or less.
I personally use Valvoline VR1 Racing oil synthetic in 10w30. It is blue in color, has a high level of zddp, and also has a great detergent package. Although it says racing oil, it is also good for street use due to it's detergent package. It has been performing extremely well in my engine, and as a side note has cleaned my engine very well since I switched from conventional.
It is a thinner oil, which reduces wear at start up, among other benefits. One drawback is that because it is so thin, it was making its way out from between one of my valve covers above the #1 cylinder. I fixed the issue by using spreader bars on the tops of the valve covers as well as the bottom, and now I have no leaks.
So how many of you guys seek out high zinc/phos oils?
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