Oil again

Mar 02, 2008 12 Replies

I know everyone has their own opinions on oil but a while back we were warned about the new oils and the fact they do not have zinc in them anymore. I have read several articles on the problems we can have with old flat-tappet style engines with the new oils without zinc. I have used synthetics for about 16 years now and have found only one which blends an oil for older engines requiring a high zinc formula. Amsoil makes one but only in a 10 w- 40 or a 20w-50 weight. It has an AMO stock number for ordering. Does anyone else have a listing of conventional and synthetic with zinc except for Lucas break in oil? Just wondering what you guys have found. By the way,it looks like the engine we took out several years ago with a bad knock has severe lifter/ cam wear. Dennis


What about some of the diesel rated oils? This is the first that I have heard about the lack of zinc causing wear in the VWAC engines. I have heard quite a bit about it with the American flat-tappet engines though.

I found the following reply from a Castrol rep:

Castrol is aware of articles in enthusiast magazines and web-sites, as well as after-market parts manufacturer discussions concerning GF-4 engine oils and cam-shaft durability issues in older performance vehicles. Some consumers suspect the lower level of ZDDP in GF-4 oils may be causing these failures. Castrol is currently investigating this issue.

If you wish not to use a GF-4 oil in your 1970 Cutlass, Castrol does offer the following products that contain Zinc at a level that is higher than the Zinc level found in oils (API SG) marketed during the "muscle car" era of time:

  • Castrol GTX 20W-50 (SL,SM)
  • Castrol GTX Diesel 15W-40 (CI4,CH4,CG4,CF4,CF,SL)
  • Castrol GTX High Mileage 20W-50 (SL,SM)
  • Castrol HD 30 (SL,SM)
  • Castrol HD 40 (SL,SM)
  • Castrol Syntec Blend Truck 15W-40 (CI4,CH4,CG4,CF4,CF,SL)(Semi- synthetic)
  • Castrol Tection Extra 15W-40 (CI4Plus, CI4,CH4,CG4,CF4,SL)
  • Castrol Hypuron S 15W-40 (CI4Plus,CH4,CG4,SL)(Semi-synthetic)

I guess I'm the one who started that topic 19 months ago.

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Torco, located in SoCal, makes a 12 oz. additive costing $12.95 that treats 4 to

6 quarts of oil. So for a VW it's good for two oil changes. They also sell synthetic oil in quarts containing zinc. Any of their products that are listed as having MPZ (Molybdenum Phosphorous Zinc) are those that have the miracle ingredients.

The link for the 12 oz. additive is:

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product page says it is an "Excellent replacement for the now-obsoleteGM EOS." I didn't know EOS was obsolete. EOS was mentioned in the Hot Rodarticle. There is also a link for Dealers in the 50 states and Canada.

Randall

Maybe one of the reasons that ACVWs don't seem to have the cam/tappet problem is that we change our oil at 1500 miles. There is still zinc in the new SM oil but it is at a lower concentration than the oils from years past. The additive boosts the concentration which allows you to drive more miles between oil changes before the zinc is no longer doing its job. But for me, I think I'll change from Castrol

10-40 to 30w

vw's have been having cam/lifter wear issues for years now.... No one can pinpoint why, but plenty blame it on the oil.... some folks with same parts, and same oil experience very different things...some have no problems, some end up with an engine with 1000 miles on it that needs a rebuild...

again, for years folks have been recommending just that for aircooled engines... due to higher zinc content....now our regulations seem to have even the diesel oils being reformulated with less zinc... hell i've read that the oil i use isn't near the top of the "good" oils to use, but have never had a cam/lifter failure...guess the next one could be the charm...we'll see.... i break em in, and run em all with castrol gtx.

Pop over to Mr.Raby's forum, he has been doing some oil testing, and come across the renamed Kendall(sp?), works wonders for thy in the U.S.

J.

Ps. Cheap too!

Do you mean here?

Jake Raby

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Visit my forums at
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thanks!

If I remember correctly it should be amongst the "Sticky" labels here:

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J.

om...

thanks!! You made finding it very easy. ;-)

If I remember correctly it should be amongst the "Sticky" labels here:

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J.

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