OIL

[profaqualung]

LNENGINEERING.COM/OIL.HTML

This is a great article [4-17-07] on what properties to look for in the oil that you choose. There was also an article in an issue of HOT ROD magazine about 8 months prior to this article, dealing with the same thing.

Basically, it has to do with the low amounts of Zinc and Phosphorous in many of todays automotive petroleum lubricants.

The bottom line being, if you are running a new engine that has a flat tappet valve assembly, low amounts of Zinc and Phosphorous ARE going to lead to severe and rapid camshaft wear, resulting in engine failure.

This is a very detailed article - but I hope it will prevent some of you from going thru some of the problems a few of my friends have had over the last couple of years.

THOMAS

[Gunslinger]

I frequent other forums as well, primarily Corvette forums and the discussions are quite lively on this subject. There's also a lot of misinformation out there as well.

Essentially, due to EPA regulatory changes, auto manufacturers have required zinc (ZDDP) to be nearly eliminated from motor oils. This is not a big deal for new cars as roller rocker valve train assemblies are used now which eliminates the need for the extreme pressure protection ZDDP provides. Older design engines with flat tappet valve trains need this, particularly with new camshafts which need to be broken in properly. The last few years have seen a spike in early camshaft failures, often with less than 1000 miles on them. Part of the problem has been poor quality cam castings and lifters, particularly from China, and lack of proper lubrication due to not enough ZDDP in the oils.

In short, if you have a flat tappet engine, many say you need an oil with sufficient ZDDP, which is being completely or almost completely phased out of modern oils. One of the most popular additives has been GM EOS, which contained the additives required. Now, even EOS has been reformulated and may not be sufficient. The parts manager at a local GM dealership told me that EOS is simply GM's version of STP. STP has ZDDP additives...especially the red container made for four cylinder engines. Since all this controversy has been going on, STP in the red container has been difficult to find from so many buying it up. The law of supply and demand rears its ugly head!

Even Shell Rotella, which has been a very popular oil for its ZDDP contents is being reformulated with less to meet future EPA requirements. There are some other oils that do carry the proper amounts of ZDDP, but are on the expensive side...racing oils such as Joe Gibbs Oil. Mobil is also coming out with a synthetic oil for older engines.

It's not enough we have such problems maintaining and rebuilding older cars, much less orphans such as Studebakers and Avanti's, but now we'll have headaches with finding the proper oils for them. Or...just go buy some STP which Studebaker was doing all along!