Oil Additives

[M60TC]

Does anyone have any suggestions or experience with ZDDP or Zinc rich oil additives? What is the best for the money and best for the engine cams and lifters?

Don

[tbone1004]

Don,
If you're running diesel oil you shouldn't need the additives. Rotella T6 is what I run in mine and it has a very high zinc content around 1200ppm I believe so you wouldn't need an additive with that. Amsoil has high zinc oils as well, and if you're a mobil1 guy here is the chart with all of their additives. Royal Purple has something that fits the bill but I have been using Rotella on my M37 as well as my Jeep with the 4.7L V8 and have had no issues with either so far.
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/Mot ... _Guide.pdf

I am no oil expert, but mobil1 has the 15w50 designed specifically for flat tappet engines in that chart up there, but with running the diesel oils I haven't had a need for a ZDDP additive and I don't think a lot of other guys are using it either

[M60TC]

T bone

Looking over the oil specifications I note that under the governmental emission control regulations all oil companies will reduce the zinc and ZDDP additives. The additives level for oil must now be less then 800 PPM to protect the Catalytic converter and other equipment. I see where the specialty brands of race oil produced by the Big Corporations like Amsoil Z-rod, Valvoline VR1, Mobil 1 and Shell still have about 1300 ppm of additives. In your view what is the least smallest amount of Zinc and ZDDP that our 50 to 60 year old engines can survive on and still keep going over the long haul??

Don

[Tuko]

I use a bottle of zddplus with each oil change. I run 15-40 diesel oil. I also use the additive in my trucks with the cummins diesel as they are flat tappet also.

[tbone1004]

Like I said in the initial post, I run Rotella T6 which is formulated for the diesels and I really don't see a need for additive in my engine as it is spec'd at 1200ppm. I have read that the chemists prefer at least 1200ppm for the older engines and as the detergent levels go up the frequency of oil changes goes up as well as the zinc gets used up. The expensive as hell Classic Car Motor Oil has 1600ppm in it, and the common ZDDP levels prior to regulation were around 1400ppm. I think the biggest thing is if you broke it in properly with a high zinc content oil and additive package, and continue to run an oil like T6 or that Mobil1 15w50 that has 1300ppm in it you'll probably be fine. Charles recommended Royal Purple 15w40, Shell T 15w40, and Chevron Delo 400 a while back but I think he has switched over to Amsoil products now.

[M60TC]

Thanks for the advice----I am just trying to look past all of today's "Smoke and Mirrors" and make sure the engine gets the right stuff.

Don

[MSeriesRebuild]

Pressure from the Fed's has brought about the removal of zinc from Rotella and Delo diesel oils, 2 of the better brands. You must realize that in the eyes of the Fed, anything built prior to day before yesterday is a klunker, and should be in a short line at the crusher. They will mandate any regulation they can in order to insure your engine is destroyed soon. It's the same with the 15% ethanol mandate in gasoline they are pushing as we speak. Do your homework, don't assume anything. Most suppliers will not blend an oil especially designed for older engines, AMSOIL has done that. There are lots of unanswered questions about the zinc additives that are advertised today. One can't say they are compatible with any oil, you never know about the chemical make up of differing products or what reaction could occur if improper chemicals are combined. This is why we choose the Amsoil product with zinc already blended in, it all comes out of the same jug. Been using it for a while now, great result thus far.

[tbone1004]

Charles, when did Rotella pull zinc out of T6? I've seen reports going back to mid-late 2012 that still are indicating the 1250ppm of Zinc that they spec and it is still CI-4 rated so it has to have at least 1200ppm of zinc to pass that.

[W_A_Watson_II]

I use it in my bored and stroked 4.0 6cly AMC/MoPar in my YJ, added to the Valvoline MAxLife 10W30. Will likely start using in my other gas engines with flat tappets as well.

[MSeriesRebuild]

Charles, when did Rotella pull zinc out of T6? I've seen reports going back to mid-late 2012 that still are indicating the 1250ppm of Zinc that they spec and it is still CI-4 rated so it has to have at least 1200ppm of zinc to pass that.

Late in 2013 is when word came to me. I'm not aware on an exact time, or it may have been a situation that was to be effective Jan. 1, 2014 when the new engine tier ratings came into effect. Since we had already stopped using it, I didn't bother to check into it further.

[tbone1004]

yikes, didn't realize there was a change this recent. Will have to keep an eye on what that means for me. I've been using Rotella in my Jeep since the detergent packages helped keep the sludging down and it is convenient to buy by the case for my WJ and the M37

[M60TC]

Here is a good example of "Smoke and Mirrors", unless you are reading about the Federal Changes and Laws----You will not know what is going on day to day. Oil and fuels are changing and we need to be looking at what goes into our old engines over the long haul. What you like today may not be available tomorrow.

Don "M60-TC"
Jackson, Wyoming

[MSeriesRebuild]

I'm going to make it a point to check with our Amsoil Rep to see if and when they plan to change anything.

[Chris P]

Which Amsoil oil is recommended for the M37?
-thanks

[MSeriesRebuild]

Which Amsoil oil is recommended for the M37?
-thanks

They offer several, if you will email me at mseriesrebuild@windstream.net I'll send you a list of Amsoil specs.