Zinc Oil Additive for Engine/Cam Break-in

[Legacy777]

It was recommended by Delta Cams to add a zinc additive to the oil for engine break in. I've done a little bit of research, but wanted to see if you guys had any thoughts on the matter or preferred products.

Thanks

[SLODRIVE]

That's great stuff, I would use it for break-in with new camshafts for sure. In non-emissions cars with flat tappets, it's pretty much mandatory these days to keep cams from going flat (unless you run diesel oil, which still has some zinc).

Not good for your O2 sensor though! In a Subaru, I'd only run some for a half hour or so.

[93forestpearl]

Rotella has a high zinc content. That is what I'll be running.

[Legacy777]

Yeah....after doing some more reading, it sounds like I probably want to remove the cat and put the test pipe in if I was going to run this stuff.

I had not read anything regarding it fowling O2 sensors, but I suppose that is a possibility as well.

[Legacy777]

Rotella has a high zinc content. That is what I'll be running.

Isn't the Rotella diesel rated motor oil? From what I had read, the additive FAQ's were recommending against running diesel rated oils in a gasoline engine. Not sure if it was their pitch to sell their product or not.

Need to probably check out BITOG forums....

[Apex3]

I don't know a whole lot about it, but Zinc has been in motor oil for a while, and they've been removing it somewhat recently because of pollution, so if nothing else it can't be bad for the car.

[Legacy777]

I've done a little looking on bob is the oil guy forums. Seems like I need to find a balance between too much and too little zinc. Still reading...

[SLODRIVE]

I could be wrong about the O2 thing, it might be the convertor (which means no worries if you're catless )...but there's a reason why they removed zinc from everything but diesel oil. It's no big deal for most vehicles except for flat-tappet pushrod engines, which have especially high loads on the camshaft due to the rocker arm's multiplication of force. I know for a fact that most older domestic cars' camshafts are going flat due to the absence of zinc in the oil and the lack of this knowledge on the part of the general population.

[93forestpearl]

What I've gathered talking to the master students in the automotive department at my school is that zinc in your oil is bad for the environment, so gasoline oil has been cutting down on its use. The diesel market plays by a different set of rules, so their oil still has a high zinc content.


Derek has been running Rotella for a couple years without the wideband freaking out.



I'll probably run 15w40 since its a summer only car now. That and an oil cooled turbo adds heat to the system.

[Buffman]

Personally unless you're rolling in a flat tappet motor, I don't see the need to have tons and tons and tons of ZDDP in your oil. I'd run it per their recommendation for break in, but i see no need after that to constantly use it.

[Legacy777]

I'm not sure if the zinc directly relates to emissions from itself, but it causes issues with catalytic converters. As the years have gone on, the government has mandated emissions equipment like converters last longer, 50,000 mi, 75,000 mi, 100,000 mi, etc. As a result of these regulations zinc has been steadily removed from oils.

I'll pick one of the zinc additives and use it for break in. I don't plan to continue using it after break in.

[93forestpearl]

Makes sense with the converter thing.


I'll keep it in mind if I ever get a metal substrate cat for the car.

[IronMonkeyL255]

I am running a zinc additive (Lucas makes a break-in additive with a high amount of zinc) for the break-in period only. Then again, i am already catless........