Oil with added Zinc

[splischke]

I talked to Steve at Great Plains today and he mentioned that I may want to switch to a racing oil that contains higher levels of Zinc (zinc dialkyldithiophosphate). He recommended either Brad Penn (http://www.bradpennracing.com) or Joe Gibbs (http://www.joegibbsracingoil.com) brands.

I found this interesting so I did some poking around on the internet and learned that in 2005, the American Petroleum Institute mandated a reduction in Zinc from 0.15 percent to 0.08 percent in an effort to increase service life of automobile catalytic converters and emissions systems. While this is good for our cars, it's not so good for our VWs since a lower Zinc concentration apparently offers less anti-wear and anti-scuffing protection.

Steve mentioned Brad Penn and Joe Gibbs brands but I see that Amsoil, Redline and even Valvoline offer non-street legal racing oil blends with high Zinc content. Of course the "non-street legal" part is not important unless you're towing your Sonerai .

So what do you guys know about these racing oils with added Zinc? Is it marketing hype or is it really worth using?

-Scott

 

[privatepilot03]

You can also just add some STP oil treatment to your regular oil for less money. STP has a high Zinc content. Lucas makes an additive as well.

Chad

 

[Sonex522]

Oh no! An oil thread!


I think the term "zinc" might come from the use of zinc phosphate based additives for anti-scuffing purposes.

Basically, you want to avoid the use of oil that has the Energy Conserving label on it.

I used to run Spectro oil in my air cooled motorcycle engines when I road raced way back when. Spectro has the zinc thing figured out pretty well - I don't think it's necessarily a more is better kind of thing. Motorcycles are particularly hard on oil, not just from high RPM and specific HP output, but they have a transmission in there shearing the oil and a filthy clutch polluting it, and Spectro (and other brands) specializes in motorcycle oils.

I plan to run Shell Rotella in my engine, tho.

 

[Schmleff]

I am using Mobil VR-1, which is a high zinc oil.

 

[privatepilot03]

I am using Mobil VR-1, which is a high zinc oil.

I could be wrong, but I think VR-1 is a Valvoline product (valvoline racing).

chad

 

[Schmleff]

I am using Mobil VR-1, which is a high zinc oil.

I could be wrong, but I think VR-1 is a Valvoline product (valvoline racing).

chad

Nope, your right.

 

[phzabriskie]

Interestingly Scott has Amsoil in the recomendations from Steve. I have been running it in the Jeep for 1 year. I plan to run it in the Sonerai. Greats stuff as far as I have seen.
-Pete

 

[quickbobo1]

OK, while zinc is an important additive for the prevention of scuffing, magnesium, is also important to prevent premature wear, and failure of the flat bottom tappets we use in our engines. Be sure in the API rating of the oil you buy, it has the SM specification listed.