Zinc Additive

Been reading the posts about wear on cam and lifters due to not enough zinc in some of the oil. There is a zinc additive that is available and can be added to oil to provide up to two times the wear protection, so the claim is stated. It's about $13 for a 12 oz bottle. Any merit in using the stuff?
Norbert Long

I'm using Brad-Penn oil that has the needed zinc.

Norbert, the STP oil additive in the red bottle labeled for "4-cylinder cars" has the zinc you are looking for. The blue can is ok too but doesn't have the amount of zinc as the red bottle.

Any parts store is supposed to stock the red bottle according to STP but I couldn't find it anywhere. Yesterday I found a site that sells it on line and I bought a case. If you can't find the stuff write me and I'll give you the web address of the co I bought mine from.----Jack

http://www.zddplus.com/

im using a synthethic 20/50 made for air cooled v-twins, plenty of zinc

Bob---so what is it?---Jack

Find a copy of "Dune buggies and Hot VWs" for November 2008 and January 2009. Under Tech Talk they discuss ZDDP oil additive in considerable length.

In short, ZDDP was (is) a very effective lubricant additive that tended to wipe out catalytic convertors before the Federally mandated warrenty expired. Hence it was removed from most main-line oils that sold to OEM. Several oils still have it and it is highly useful in air-cooled engines for their higher running temperatures. The article lists oils that still have it, including Jake's favorite Brad Penn. Others include Royal Purple, Rotella, and many motorcycle, racing, and ATV oils, including Briggs and Straton! Basically, anything WITHOUT a catalytic convertor.

Get those articles and ut them in your personal library.

Need zinc? "Rotella" diesel oil has the zinc

New Rotella "T" does not have the Zinc level that it has had for years. The formula was changed last year to make it compatible with the new Diesel engines that have stricter emission requirements. I do not have the info to support my position, but if you check the Samba site there is a real long, boring oil discussion. The Pelican Parts forums also have extensive oil discussions.

i use the rotella t 15-40 and the red stp. works great. bill

Personally, I wouldn't trust my engine to a lot of Oil RFI, but I would trust Charles Navarro's work:

http://www.lnengineering.com/oil.html

Rotella CI-4 oil is now at 1200 ppm down from 1300ppm of zinc. It is still considered to be high in zinc content.
Brad Penn oil still has all the good stuff in it.
Some synthetics have the zinc but be prepared to have some leaking.
~Alan

I've heard/read enough to convince me to switch to Brad Penn - which I did last week when we re-plumbed the oil system and fixed my leak. It's reasonably priced, but you may have to order it online as I did.

lane ask for a list of vendors who sell in your area
that is how i get it

I did. The nearest one is in North Carolina. That's who I ordered it from.

AHHHHHHHHHH
I SEE

Gee, Lane....

I wonder if you switched to Brad Penn long ago if your leak would have stopped back then??????

naaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh........

Nope! It leaked before I went to the Royal Purple (synthetic).

Thanks for all the input. Guess I better look for the STP since I just changed oil and used 30W HD Castrol. I believe I can find Royal Purple locally and will go with that in 3000 miles.
Norbert

Watching Speed this AM Valvoline racing oil supposed to have 1200 ppm zinc anyone know anything about it?

4 stroke Kawasaki motor bike oil is nearly perfect and available everywhere at reasonable prices.

Rotella CI-4 oil is now at 1200 ppm, it was at 300ppm but was reformulated to meet the '07 mandated diesel emission. It is available at truck stops and most other auto parts stores. ~Alan