Which Oil Would You Use?
4th Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,188
From: 1984
There's a lot of information and confusion in the air over this issue. Bottom line is that if you've got flat lifters, you should have the zinc level at or above 1000ppm.
The oil companies don't really seem to be reacting all that forcefully with marketing high zinc content "off road" oils. It would be nice if they splashed the level across the label, or put a big old FLAT TAPPET COMPATIBLE on the bottle so dummies like me could figure which oil to use.
Here is a link to the Mobil 1 oils. (dated 11-08)
MOBIL 1 OILS
The oil companies don't really seem to be reacting all that forcefully with marketing high zinc content "off road" oils. It would be nice if they splashed the level across the label, or put a big old FLAT TAPPET COMPATIBLE on the bottle so dummies like me could figure which oil to use.
Here is a link to the Mobil 1 oils. (dated 11-08)
MOBIL 1 OILS
6th Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,896
From: Elk Grove, CA
As a side-note, Valvoline's VR-1 is actually street legal, it's just not API certified. The zinc content is the same between the VR-1 and their "off road" racing oil (which I don't recommend outside of racing because it doesn't have much in the way of detergents and anti-corrosion agents).
Basically, if you see an "API Certified" logo on the bottle, it doesn't have any significant amount of zinc in it.
Basically, if you see an "API Certified" logo on the bottle, it doesn't have any significant amount of zinc in it.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,007
From: Citrus County, FL
star, my whole family has used pennz since as long as i can remember and i can't recall a single engine failure that was oil related. got 365,000 miles from a 300 I6 using it and that was even with 4-5k change intervals. when it popped a head gasket (due to a popped radiator hose and being stuck in chicago traffic) we looked at the cylinders and you couldnt catch your fingernail on the ridge. inside of the motor was very clean too, the only reason you'll ever see a motor with build up is because people didn't change their oil on time.
not bad if you ask me.
not bad if you ask me.
6th Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,896
From: Elk Grove, CA
Not true. I've heard several horror stories from several different racers (people I know personally, not on the forum), all the same. They had to run Pennzoil at the track because they had nothing else on hand, had crap for oil pressure by the end of the race, pulled the vc's and saw nothing but foamy sludge. Nobody I know will touch Pennzoil, including every racer and shop owner I talk to.
Aside from aeration problems, Pennzoil has a high paraffin content. Wax does not belong in your engine. That's what they use in 'lifter quiet' solutions to quiet down engines with excessive lifter tap, and exactly why I don't recommend using such products.
On top of that, both Pennzoil and Quaker state oils have a very high sulfer content. What happens when you mix sulfer and exhaust gases? You get sulpheric acid. Also not something you want in your crankcase.
Aside from aeration problems, Pennzoil has a high paraffin content. Wax does not belong in your engine. That's what they use in 'lifter quiet' solutions to quiet down engines with excessive lifter tap, and exactly why I don't recommend using such products.
On top of that, both Pennzoil and Quaker state oils have a very high sulfer content. What happens when you mix sulfer and exhaust gases? You get sulpheric acid. Also not something you want in your crankcase.
Last edited by Starfury; Jan 25, 2009 at 11:23 AM.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 300
From: Arizona
You can also get zinc and phosphorus additives to cover the bases.
Here is one, there are a couple more.
http://www.zddplus.com/
Here is one, there are a couple more.
http://www.zddplus.com/