Please explain new motor oils to me - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

85Bowtie · 08-21-2009, 12:58 AM

I am reading all kinds of articles about premature wear on flat tappet cams because of the lack of zinc and phospherous in new motor oils.

I always thought that if you have a motor oil like Castrol GTX 20w-50 that doesn't say "Energy Conserving" on the back, it means it still has the zinc and phospherous. Is this true? Because on the 5w-30 and 10w-30 they do say "Energy Conserving".

Can you use Castrol GTX 20w-50 and not worry about a zddp additive on your flat tappet cammed engine?

Also, what about Rotella Shell 15w-40?

I don't want to ruin the cams in my vehicles but if you listen to everything you read it sunds like it's already ruined.

What's a good additive available off the shelf?

Thanks

INSIDIOUS '86 · 08-21-2009, 02:01 AM

diesel oil has alot of zinc in it as well. some people use it to break in thier flat tappet cams on a new engine. here is some usefull info pertaining to zinc levels in oil http://www.carcraft.com/howto/ccrp_0...cam/index.html

**78 Big10 454** · 08-21-2009, 02:25 AM

The reason that conventional motor oils lack zinc and phosphorus (ZDDP Zinc Dialkyl Dithiophosphates) is that it can greatly shorten the life of your catalytic converter(s). Use a quality SAE 5W30 motor oil and forget the additives. That's all hype. If you have a high performance engine, I would definitely go the synthetic motor oil route (Mobil 1, etc.). Quality conventional motor oils contain all the additives you need.

pig rig · 08-21-2009, 10:33 AM

well I've been doing some resreach on this, and what I've found is even your quallity oils don't have enough zddp in them for break in and initial running of a flat tappet engine.
alot of cam manufactures recomend kendall gt1 but its not the same as it used to be. its now being refind by some one else, but brad penn oil is using the sam pennsylvania crud once used by kindall http://www.bradpennracing.com/
here's what I run in all my new engines as an additive
http://www.zddplus.com/
I will say one thing do your research because its cheeper to read about cam failure then to pay for it yourself
yea bad pictures but you get the idea thats less nthe 30k on a new engine

08-21-2009, 12:58 AM	#1
85Bowtie Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: TN Posts: 410	Please explain new motor oils to me I am reading all kinds of articles about premature wear on flat tappet cams because of the lack of zinc and phospherous in new motor oils. I always thought that if you have a motor oil like Castrol GTX 20w-50 that doesn't say "Energy Conserving" on the back, it means it still has the zinc and phospherous. Is this true? Because on the 5w-30 and 10w-30 they do say "Energy Conserving". Can you use Castrol GTX 20w-50 and not worry about a zddp additive on your flat tappet cammed engine? Also, what about Rotella Shell 15w-40? I don't want to ruin the cams in my vehicles but if you listen to everything you read it sunds like it's already ruined. What's a good additive available off the shelf? Thanks __________________ '69 Dodge Charger R/T 440, 727, 3.55 Sure Grip '68 Plymouth Road Runner 383, 727, 3.23 Sure Grip '89 Dodge Diplomat ex cop car 408, 727, 3.55 Sure Grip '77 Dodge Monaco ex cop car 440, 727, 2.71 '79 Dodge 'Lil Red Express pickup 360, 727, 3.55 Sure Grip '12 Dodge Challenger SRT8 392, M6, 3.92 '85 Chevrolet C-10 SWB 2wd 305, TH350, 2.73

08-21-2009, 02:01 AM	#2
INSIDIOUS '86 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: washington Posts: 4,178	Re: Please explain new motor oils to me diesel oil has alot of zinc in it as well. some people use it to break in thier flat tappet cams on a new engine. here is some usefull info pertaining to zinc levels in oil http://www.carcraft.com/howto/ccrp_0...cam/index.html

08-21-2009, 02:25 AM	#3
78 Big10 454 78 Big10 454 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Pismo Beach, CA Posts: 839	Re: Please explain new motor oils to me The reason that conventional motor oils lack zinc and phosphorus (ZDDP Zinc Dialkyl Dithiophosphates) is that it can greatly shorten the life of your catalytic converter(s). Use a quality SAE 5W30 motor oil and forget the additives. That's all hype. If you have a high performance engine, I would definitely go the synthetic motor oil route (Mobil 1, etc.). Quality conventional motor oils contain all the additives you need.

08-21-2009, 10:33 AM	#4
pig rig Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: washington the state Posts: 730	Re: Please explain new motor oils to me well I've been doing some resreach on this, and what I've found is even your quallity oils don't have enough zddp in them for break in and initial running of a flat tappet engine. alot of cam manufactures recomend kendall gt1 but its not the same as it used to be. its now being refind by some one else, but brad penn oil is using the sam pennsylvania crud once used by kindall http://www.bradpennracing.com/ here's what I run in all my new engines as an additive http://www.zddplus.com/ I will say one thing do your research because its cheeper to read about cam failure then to pay for it yourself yea bad pictures but you get the idea thats less nthe 30k on a new engine Attached Images __________________ my sports car rolls on six wheels only because I'm to fat to get in and out of new corvette http://hubgarage.s3.amazonaws.com/ph...ped_detail.JPG

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