Since there's been so much discussion in the recent past about which oils do
and don't contain adequate ZDDP, I'm forwarding this brand new post from the
MG-TABC list.
Karl
Hi all. As stated months earlier, I report on the data received during the
SEMA convention in Las Vegas 6-9 November.
First, there is still much smoke and mirrors about the ZDDP in our flat
tappet oils. From the data I received at the SEMA show, it is clear that
there is a different specification applied to the oil in 20W 50 oils that most
of us use in our MG's. Also applies to 50W and above. The bottom line seems
to be that oils with a 20W 50 grade can get away with the SM API donut on
the container. Even though that oil will have up to 0.110% ZDDP. The
rational is that the 20W 50 oils will not be used in the modern cars requiring
5W
10, 20 30, since those cars warrantees will be void if anything heavier is
used. Not a very good case, but the plan. I did talk to many of the
current oil suppliers and all had different stories about how much ZDDP was
currently in the oils they supplied. All seem to agree that any oil that was
shown as "off road" was free to do whatever they wanted. I did find that there
was a significant difference between the companies as to the amount of
ZDDP they were supplying in the current oils. Castrol stated that their 20W 50
oils will still have 0.110% ZDDP for the coming year, but that will
probably change if the requirement drops to 0.06% from the current 0.08% in
2010,
as they believe it will. I did find that most of the brand names,
Valvoline and Castrol, will still be supplying their motorcycle oils at the
SJ/SG
levels of ZDDP, re 0.130% for the near future, but that will change with the
introduction of cat converters on motorcycles in the near future.
I did have an interesting conversation with the Lucas oil people,
indicating that they will be introducing an oil that will contain over 0.20%
ZDDP
for the racing crowd. Not for the flat tappets, but rather for the high
bearing loads that come with blown engines. They indicated that the oil will
be
available in a few months. They said it would be marketed for racing
engines, and will be on the market for around $7 per quart.
Both Valvoline and Castrol reps said their motorcycle oils still contain
all of the ZDDP needed for flat tappets ( 0.13%, or more ) and as long as
the SJ/SG was shown on the API donut that would be so.
The bottom line is that even with the "lots of ZDDP" on the container, I
could find no one that would say that it is more than 0.110%. That is not
enough to be safe with flat tappets.
I have been promised a complete update of the specs that Castrol is
working to and I will pass that along ASAP.
Cheers....Bill
donker@aol.com
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