Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

An oil question

18 views
Skip to first unread message

RedNeck TookOver Hell

unread,
May 11, 2001, 2:07:30 PM5/11/01
to
I recently read that zinc in both petroleum based oil and synthetics has been
dramatically reduced. Flat tappet cams and lifters need zinc for a "long and
happy life" Since most all new cars & trucks have roller lifters, there is no
problem with them.
Does anyone know of a "zinc rich" oil additive to keep those flat tappet
cams(hydraulic & solid) & lifters, living a long and happy life?


God, Guns, Mopars, Sex & Rock & Roll!!!


Steve

unread,
May 11, 2001, 2:19:13 PM5/11/01
to

RedNeck TookOver Hell wrote:

> I recently read that zinc in both petroleum based oil and synthetics has been
> dramatically reduced.

Hmmm.... hadn't heard that yet...

> Flat tappet cams and lifters need zinc for a "long and
> happy life" Since most all new cars & trucks have roller lifters, there is no
> problem with them.
> Does anyone know of a "zinc rich" oil additive to keep those flat tappet
> cams(hydraulic & solid) & lifters, living a long and happy life?

Nope, haven't heard of one. Zinc only comes into play as a "last resort"
additive. It protects when metal-to-metal contact has already begun, and plays no
role at all so long as the oil film hasn't broken down. Obviously, flat-tappet
camshafts are one of the first places in an engine that will see metal-to-metal
contact if the oil starts to break down or if pressure drops temporarily. I have
read before that the better film-strength of synthetics pretty much rendered zinc
useless in them, but the fact that its being scaled back in non-synthetics does
worry me a bit.


RedNeck TookOver Hell

unread,
May 11, 2001, 4:05:16 PM5/11/01
to
> I have
>read before that the better film-strength of synthetics pretty much rendered
>zinc
>useless in them, but the fact that its being scaled back in non-synthetics
>does
>worry me a bit.

If you have an engine builder with the experience of Keith Dorton, telling you
that Mobil 1 and all the other synthetics have had the zinc removed because it
damages catalytic converters, would you believe it?
You can read the story in the new Circle Track magazine for yourself

rifter

unread,
May 11, 2001, 5:47:42 PM5/11/01
to
I think STP additives have zinc in them, as well as Marvel Mystery Oil.
I could be wrong about the Marvel stuff though. I'm about 75% positive
about the STP. I think the engine "restore" additives have a little
zinc in them too.

Of course, I'm sitting pretty high on paint fumes right now, so my
memory is kind of foggy...

-josh

Steve

unread,
May 11, 2001, 6:21:00 PM5/11/01
to

RedNeck TookOver Hell wrote:

> > I have
> >read before that the better film-strength of synthetics pretty much rendered
> >zinc
> >useless in them, but the fact that its being scaled back in non-synthetics
> >does
> >worry me a bit.
>
> If you have an engine builder with the experience of Keith Dorton, telling you
> that Mobil 1 and all the other synthetics have had the zinc removed because it
> damages catalytic converters, would you believe it?

Yeah. But it matters little WHY they removed it, just that they did.

Joshua S

unread,
May 11, 2001, 7:28:25 PM5/11/01
to
Golden Spectro motorcycle oil still has zinc and other additives that prevent
metal to metal contact.

Joshua Skinner

Neil Nelson

unread,
May 12, 2001, 12:35:43 AM5/12/01
to
In article <3AFC2D1F...@spam.thanks>, Steve <n...@spam.thanks> wrote:

> RedNeck TookOver Hell wrote:
>
> > I recently read that zinc in both petroleum based oil and synthetics
has been
> > dramatically reduced.
>
> Hmmm.... hadn't heard that yet...

Part of the OBD2 regulations to help the cat-con last 80,000 or 100,000
miles. Mileage depends on which emissions schedule the manufacturer is
signed up for. Zinc = heavy metal which = plugged cillia(sp?) the oxygen
holding material in the cat.



> > Flat tappet cams and lifters need zinc for a "long and
> > happy life" Since most all new cars & trucks have roller lifters,
there is no
> > problem with them.
> > Does anyone know of a "zinc rich" oil additive to keep those flat tappet
> > cams(hydraulic & solid) & lifters, living a long and happy life?
>
> Nope, haven't heard of one. Zinc only comes into play as a "last resort"
> additive. It protects when metal-to-metal contact has already begun, and
plays no
> role at all so long as the oil film hasn't broken down. Obviously, flat-tappet
> camshafts are one of the first places in an engine that will see
metal-to-metal
> contact if the oil starts to break down or if pressure drops
temporarily. I have
> read before that the better film-strength of synthetics pretty much
rendered zinc
> useless in them, but the fact that its being scaled back in
non-synthetics does
> worry me a bit.

I don't recall seeing Zinc in the make-up of Mobil 1 for a long time now (CRS)
To answer Reds question, GM Engine Oil Suppliment (EOS) was supposed to be
high in Zinc.
It's a vendor item with their (GM) label, IIRC the other two domestics
have their own versions.

John Kunkel

unread,
May 12, 2001, 12:43:28 PM5/12/01
to
RedNeck TookOver Hell wrote:
>
> I recently read that zinc in both petroleum based oil and synthetics has been
> dramatically reduced.

Anyone who cares to register at http://www.msdsonline.com can gain
access to the chemical properties of just about anything made.
John

RedNeck TookOver Hell

unread,
May 12, 2001, 2:40:29 PM5/12/01
to
>
>Mmmmm, just the excuse I was looking for to convert everything in sight
>to hydraulic roller. :)
>--
>Brad Felmey

lol, or "real" roller cams with some "racy" specs!!!! :)

Hemi4268

unread,
May 13, 2001, 9:11:45 AM5/13/01
to
Hi

I just had GTX 20/50 analized by Blackstone labs. The zinc level was exactly
correct.

Larry

GEOMET11

unread,
May 14, 2001, 4:49:01 PM5/14/01
to
>> I just had GTX 20/50 analized by Blackstone labs. The zinc level was
>> exactly correct.
>>
>> Larry
>>
>I had my belly analized by Budwiser,they said exactly correct. I said
>bullshit,it's a work in progress..

A document called a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) contains the chemical
properties of all chemicals sold or used in the USA. These documents are free
for asking at the time of purchase from the seller. The seller is required to
present one by law at the time of purchase. Facts settle disputes.

Joshua S

unread,
May 14, 2001, 5:20:19 PM5/14/01
to
If the Budweiser is a chemical used in a place of work then yes, they should
make available an MSDS.

Joshua Skinner

mopar...@home.net wrote:

> So Budwiser should be providing me with an msds when i purchase beer ?
>
> --
> **moparholic**

GEOMET11

unread,
May 15, 2001, 1:48:01 AM5/15/01
to
>> So Budwiser should be providing me with an msds when i purchase beer ?
>>
>> --
>> **moparholic**

You can get the MSDS from Budweiser, the place of purchase or msdsonline, they
are also available for water.

Nico Over

unread,
May 16, 2001, 12:06:32 PM5/16/01
to
FWIW, I posed this zinc level question to the folks at Amsoil and below is what
they had to say:
From:
"Selbrede, Byron" <byr...@amsoil.com>
To:
"'no...@pinn.net'" <no...@pinn.net>
Subject:
RE: Technical Service Contact Form
Date:
Mon, 14 May 2001 16:18:15 -0500

Actually it's the amount of phosphorus that is regulated-- but that is directly
related to the amount of zinc that can be used as they are combined as zinc di
thio phosphate (ZDP). This is only regulated in 2 viscosity grades, 5W30 and
10W30. Other than the Series 7500, AMSOIL lubes all contain more ZDP than can be
used in an API licensed oil. For examples of our ZDP levels refer to data sheets
for AMO, ARO, AMF or AMV.

Hope this sheds a little light
Nico Over

0 new messages