Marty, That response from Quaker/Shell/Pennzoil is shameful. It doesn't address the technicalities at all.
Wear is wear. It doesn't matter if one is driving at 10 MPH or 100 MPH. Wear still occurs. What these jamokes failed to explain is the ***reason*** for the zinc and phosphorus additives and the different metals in the engine that either require it or don't require it. These jamokes just want to sell oil and admit nothing. Modern engines with roller cams and lifters have the cams and lifters made from finely machined billet alloy steel. The surface finish is very tight with literally no porosity. Our older engines use cast iron alloy billet cams and lifters. Even though the machined surfaces might look very bright and smooth, microscopically the surfaces are quite porous. The zinc and phosphorous provide lubrication that sticks to those pores and gives a sacrificial coating to the contact surfaces. That leads to very long life, when the proper break-in procedure is used. Alloy steel billet cams and lifters, whether they are roller or flat tappet (special racing cams), do not need zinc and phosphorous for anything. The lubricating oil is sufficient. This crap about weekend driving, stop-and-go driving, racing use, is just that, crap. The determining factor is whether or not the engine in question has a cast iron cam and lifters or a steel cam and lifters. Nothing else. Many pro racers using alloy steel cams and lifters run aviation oil, such as Shell Aeroshell W100 50 weight. Aviation oil has zero zinc and phosphorous, for aviation reciprocating engines use silver bearings and alloy steel cams and lifters. Zinc and phosphorous will destroy silver bearings. The pro racers like the extremely intensive detergent package in aviation oil. That's why they use it, and they aren't concerned about their alloy steel cams and lifters. As to what oil to use in our older engines, I've had to drop the Kendall GT-1 Racing Oil that I've been using since 1964. The zinc and phosphorous content was lowered. Kendall is no longer serious about racing. I am switching to Pennzoil Racing 20/50 dino oil. Mobil 1 20/50 has just as much zinc and phosphorous as Pennzoil Racing Oil. Shell Rotello, in both straight weights and 15/40, have that high level of zinc and phosphorous, due to the lubrication required for the piston wrist pins and the internals of the fuel injection pump of all Diesels. If the new emission controls and cats for new Diesels require the zinc and phosphorous to be lowered in Diesel oils, then the materials for the pistons pins and their bosses and the internals of the fuel injection pumps will need to be changed, or wear failures will occur. Milton Schick 1964 442 Cutlass [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Marty McLeod" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Olds Mailing List" <oldsmobile@chebucto.ns.ca> Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 5:48 PM Subject: Zinc levels in oil >I know this was discussed in the past so I wanted to get in touch with the > source directly. I emailed Quaker State today, who must be owned by Shell > because that is who the email went to, but I explained to them that I was > using there product. I have used the Quaker State full synthetic 10W30 in > both of my 455's for about 2 years now. Right away I noticed a difference > in valvetrain noise being much quiter. I was really impressed with it and > have continued to use it. After reading all the discussion about the zinc > levels being reduced I wanted to find out if I was going to have any > problems with using this product. Attached are the emails we have > exchanged > over the day and I was just wondering what you guys think of their reply, > whether it has any validity or not. Also, what is everybody else running > in > their engines. Thanks for the help and I want to wish everybody a Merry > Christmas. > > Marty McLeod > > 69 Cutlass S Convertible 455 > 69 Vista Cruiser > > > Dear Mr. McLeod; If the vehicle is going to see a great deal of driving or > if it is going to be used for racing or other applications where the > engine > is going to experience high RPMs, an oil with a higher zinc and > phosphorous > content might be necessary. If the vehicle is used for leisurely weekend > drives or cars shows then the additive package in the synthetic oil will > be > more than adequate to protect the engine. > Product Techncial Service > > -----Original Message----- > From: Marty McLeod [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 1:43 PM > To: PrdMktTechServices, SLUBE-OGML/1 > Subject: Re: Full Synthetic Question > > > Thanks for the help. Why does it make a difference if it is just a > weekend > driver or a everyday car. If you think I should consider changing it if > it > is a everyday driver then why would it be OK to use if it is only driven 2 > times a week, maybe 3 at the most per week. Could you please explain. > Those other oils that you mentioned, are they synthetics or just regular > oil. Thanks again for the help. I want to make sure my cars run a long > time without failure so I want to get the best product in there that you > think suits my needs. > > Marty McLeod > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, December 22, 2006 11:15 AM > Subject: RE: Full Synthetic Question > > > Hello Marty, > Depending on what kind of driver the vehicle is used for will determine > you > need. If the vehicle is just a weekend toy then the Synthetic is fine. > If > the vehicle is a daily or almost daily driver or a street/strip car then > you > may consider changing oils. > If you are seeking a higher zinc and phosphorous contents you may have to > look to a racing oil. We have a product that is called Pennzoil Racing > Motor Oil and is available in SAE 50, 60 and 25W-50. It has approximately > 1800-2000 ppm of zinc additive for extra wear protection. Other engine > oils > with comparable anti wear protection would include Shell Rotella T 15W-40 > and Pennzoil Long Life 15W-40. The zinc and phosphorous levels were > recently reduced (from the API SL levels) as there has been concern that > the > oil that makes its way in to the combustion zone of your engine, carrying > these anti-wear metals was burning and poisoning the catalyst in the > catalytic converters. > Should you desire to speak with a technical representative to discuss this > issue in more detail please call Pennzoil-Quaker State Technical > Information > at 1-800-458-4998. > > Sincerely > > Product Technical Service > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.26/594 - Release Date: 12/20/06 > 3:54 PM > > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.26/598 - Release Date: > 12/22/2006 3:22 PM >
