Zinc Removal from Oils and Zinc Additives

[GreenNYellow67]

I have been reading a lot of articles lately that are talking about the removal of zinc from motor oils and that it wears out camshafts in older engine. To my understanding the zinc being removed from the oil is like when gasoline went from leaded to un-leaded and you would have to run a lead additive in the older engines. What I have read says the zinc additive is for flat tappet cam and lifter designs. I have a 1995 3800 engine and was wondering if I should look into running a zinc additive in my engines oil (Hyper-Lube or Rislone) or is there nothing to worry about?

[crash93ssei]

Your engine has roller lifters for the cam, no need for any zinc additive.

[00Beast]

You have absolutely nothing to worry about on your 95.

This isn't really like going to un-leaded, since that was a slow process that it damaged the engine, wore the valve seats out on the exhaust valves. This is a quick and violent death of the cam and engine. The OEM's went to roller cams in the late 80's/early 90's.

[Bob Dillon]

If you need ZDDP, use Shell Rotella motor oil for diesel trucks. That's what I use in my '72 455. No wear issues that I'm aware of.

[rrounds]

Sorry, but the Fed's took most ZDDP's out of diesel oil to.
If you want more Zinc you have to use motorcycle oil or the high Zinc oil from Amsoil
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/zrt.aspx

ROD

[Bob Dillon]

Sorry, but the Fed's took most ZDDP's out of diesel oil to.
If you want more Zinc you have to use motorcycle oil or the high Zinc oil from Amsoil
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/zrt.aspx

ROD

Yeah, I heard that, but crafty ol' Uncle Bob has 5 gallon bottles in his garage.

Was it all removed or did they just decrease the zinc? I don't recall.

[00Beast]

They didn't remove it all, just severely decreased the amount. I run tractor oil (15W-40 diesel oil) in our 67 C20 and I have no problems. Of course it's always fresh oil, since it leaks/burns it so bad...

[SSEiMan01]

course it's always fresh oil, since it leaks/burns it so bad...

Check the gas fill the oil?

Oh wait, it's a 67 C20...Fill the gas, Fill the oil.

[00Beast]

course it's always fresh oil, since it leaks/burns it so bad...

Check the gas fill the oil?

Oh wait, it's a 67 C20...Fill the gas, Fill the oil.

Yup, the latter. That *dang* 250 I6 drinks like it's a 454. Probably because it's either idling or WOT due to the lack of power and super low gears, LOL.

[SSEiMan01]

course it's always fresh oil, since it leaks/burns it so bad...

Check the gas fill the oil?

Oh wait, it's a 67 C20...Fill the gas, Fill the oil.

Yup, the latter. That *dang* 250 I6 drinks like it's a 454. Probably because it's either idling or WOT due to the lack of power and super low gears, LOL.

LMAO, Why not just put a 454 in it then?!?

[00Beast]

LMAO, Why not just put a 454 in it then?!?

I have plans, you'll just have to wait and see.

[SSEiMan01]

Nobody likes a copycat...
J/K, it's the best way to mod when you know what you want...

[00Beast]

If you must know (now that the thread is de-railed anyways):

The plan is to pull the 327 that's in our old grain truck, have it cleaned and inspected, rebuilt with new bearings, pistons, etc, probably better heads, cam, an intake and 4bbl carb, etc.
Install with a new clutch and get a Dana 60 rear end, preferably with 3.55 or so gears.

We'll see what this actually ends up being, lol.

[SSEiMan01]

Sounds like a cool plan... Im waiting for a project thread...

[00Beast]

http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 9&p=265435

That's as close as it gets for now, lol.

[renchjeep]

Nice truck! I have a 71 Cheyenne Longbed 2wd 350 with a Holley 650 vac secondaries, old-school Edelbrock Street Dominator intake, HEI, stock 4-speed with granny low, and a 4.11 12 bolt open diff. Only 80k original miles. I use the Delo 15/40 diesel oil as well, for the additives, plus the thickness slows down my front seal leak. I LOVE MY TRUCK, all she needs is a little rust repair and a paint job. Oh, and the wooden bed floor is shot to heck! That bed will be a pricey resto, so it's on the back burner.

A decent 350 (or 327) with 3.55's or lower will give you a lot of punch! Trust me. Go with a dual-plane intake. Mine is single-plane, and the power is pretty high in the rev range!

Oh yeah, almost forgot the Bonneville part--new Delphi knock sensor on it's way to me from Rockauto. We'll see if it fixes my lack of power and mileage issues, I will keep you all posted.

[00Beast]

Yeah, a single plane is more for the drag-strip or a high-rev screamer, lol. I'd like to use the Edelbrock Air-Gap intake. We'll see.