Engine oil

joehooper wrote: Facts about motor oil

Here is a little bit of information about oils that we at Pit Stop Performance put together to provide our customers. It gives a little history on why oils that used to protect your flat tappet camshaft may no longer do so. Flat tappet camshafts have a very high pressure point between the camshaft lobe and the tappet. The contact surface is just a thin line as the lobe rotates to actuate the valve. This high pressure area requires a high pressure lubricant to combat premature wear and failure. ZincDialkylDithioPhosphate (ZDDP) is a high pressure lubricant. ZDDP used to be present in most motor oils in the amount of .18%-.20% by weight. Most experts agree that this is the optimum concentration of ZDDP in oil used in flat tappet camshaft motors. The oil companies, at the urging of the automobile manufacturers, removed the critical zinc by removing the additive ZDDP. They did this since automotive motors are almost all equipped with some type of roller tappets and no longer need a high pressure additive and the presence of the zinc in ZDDP was contributing to exhaust gas emission problems for the automobile manufacturers government required emissions tests.
You have some options available to you to be sure that your oil has the desired concentration of ZDDP. If you have any doubt, e-mail, write or call the manufacturer and ask.
(1) A limited production racing oil in your desired viscosity. There are a number of them available in the US including (but not limited to) Brad Penn, Schaffer’s and Valvoline racing oil. You will have to check around to see what is available in other countries. Since these are racing oils, no manufacturer would have them on their list of acceptable oils for their cars and therefore they still contain ZDDP.
(2) A good diesel oil like Shell Rotella T, Chevron Delo 400 or Mobil Delvac can be used in a pinch, but diesel oils contain a lot of additives that act as detergents. Diesel oils should only be used as a last resort.
(3) Any automotive oil that you prefer with a four ounce bottle of ZDDPlus engine oil additive added to each oil change. This four ounce bottle is sufficient when mixed with five quarts of oil to yield a concentration of at least .18% zinc by weight. This additive is available on Ebay from a number of vendors.
Now, having said all of that, let me touch on one more thing that it appears has been overlooked. The automobile manufacturers who threw their weight around and basically forced the oil manufacturers to remove the ZDDP from the oil are only interested in oil weights that are for automotive use. Depending on your geographical location, I have seen auto manufacturer’s recommendations to use weights from 5W-20 to 10W-40. I am lucky, I live in a hot climate and I can run a 20W-50 weight oil all year long. This weight is not recommended for any automotive engine made and is exempt from the requirement to remove the ZDDP. As of this writing in 2011, Castrol GTX 20W-50 still contains .18% ZDDP.
This is not intended to sway anyone one way or the other, simply to make you aware of the options.

Nessism wrote: .........I would not use automotive oil of any type in a motorcycle because they all have drastically reduced ZDDP (check the SM levels listed above). And 20W-50 is affected just like the lighter weight oils.

Street Fighter LTD wrote:

joehooper wrote:
(2) A good diesel oil like Shell Rotella T, Chevron Delo 400 or Mobil Delvac can be used in a pinch, but diesel oils contain a lot of additives that act as detergents. Diesel oils should only be used as a last resort.

Thanks Joe
I wasnt aware that Castrol GTX 20w50 was any good for our KZ motors anymore
I will have Bill save this wisdom to our technical section we are building for our membership
Dave

P S Keep em coming

daveo wrote:

Street Fighter LTD wrote:

joehooper wrote:
(2) A good diesel oil like Shell Rotella T, Chevron Delo 400 or Mobil Delvac can be used in a pinch, but diesel oils contain a lot of additives that act as detergents. Diesel oils should only be used as a last resort.

Thanks Joe
I wasnt aware that Castrol GTX 20w50 was any good for our KZ motors anymore
I will have Bill save this wisdom to our technical section we are building for our membership
Dave

P S Keep em coming

Sounds like I may be wise to continue burning Brad Penn V2, considering that Shell Rotella T4 Diesel Oil may be less-than ideal.