Guys,

I just ran across a "New item" in the Speedway Motors gift catalog.  Right in the middle of a bunch of scrub racing stuff was Champion Racing Oil. It is listed as Racing XP 20W50 oil. A synthetic Blend with high levels of premium zinc (ZDDP). I have been running Rotella ( old fumula 15W40 ) with Zinc.  The new formula is low on ZINC.

It is priced at $5.99 not bad if it will work.

Will this be a suitable replacement for the Rotella?  Ted, Hoosier and Pegleg let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

Jim

  Jim Rowe Elkhorn, NE

Thanks for letting us know about Champion.  Several of the racing oils have levels of ZDDP higher than the new over the road stuff.  AMS for one.

TC

You gotta have the right tools and know how to use 'em.

TC - Austin, Texas

Does any one know what is an acceptable limit for zinc - PPM???? I have heard that the new formula diesel (CJ) is still within the acceptable limit, something that in the past was said not so. What sayeth all you engine pros?

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Thanks for the heads up on the Champion oil. I’ve been using the Valvoline Racing Oil for the race engines and not just for the higher levels of ZDDP (Zinc Dialkyl Dithio Phosphate), but also for the higher ash content which provides additional protection against piston scuffing when running the clearances on the loose side.

.

As far as using racing oil for a daily street driver, I have mixed feelings about this. Racing oil would need to be changed more frequently as its additive package does not have those attributes desired for extended driving. You’d also have to shop around to find the correct viscosity for a tighter clearanced street engine as much of the racing oil in my neck of the woods is of the higher viscosity variety and not suitable for short hops or winter driving. Oil with a higher viscosity will naturally give a higher oil pressure but oil flow through the bearings is reduced and the potential for a bearing failure increases as the heat that’s being generated is not being adequately transferred away with the slower moving oil.

.

I did recently pick up a case of ZddPlus which comes in 4oz containers. Based on their sales literature, adding this to a 5 quart oil change restores the levels of ZDDP to the SF (1988 and earlier) levels. The level of ZDDP supplied by this 4 oz container far exceeds the ZDDP supplied by the 16oz container of GM EOS which has recently been discontinued. All my older vehicles, excluding my ’50 with it’s Flattie, has higher than stock valve spring pressures so I’m doing what I can to keep the ZDDP levels at the old SF standards. No camshaft failures yet and doing my best to keep it that way.

.

Here’s the website for ZddPlus giving some content numbers and a previous link on the topic.

http://www.zddplus.com/

  Oil additive 

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Ted,



Because of what Verne Schumann said ('05 YBM interview) about aftermarket high-zinc anti-scuff additives not mixing well, I emailed ZDDPlus re: any testing that would indicate their product stays in solution. NO REPLY in over two weeks!

So, if the stuff settled to the bottom of the oil pan and just stayed there, how would you know? Wasn't the GM EOS largely a break-in product? Was there ever any proof that IT stayed in solution over time?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Daniel.  GM recommended their EOS product to be used only as an assembly lube and during break in.  The labeling on the remaining bottles I have is very clear about not using it as an oil additive but I’m aware of several individuals that are using it as a supplement with their oil changes.  Gut feel says GM did not want the EOS used as an engine oil additive strictly because of issues with catalytic converters but that’s a guess on my end.  Like others, I’ve had concerns about the base stock oil that was being used in the EOS to whole heartedly support using it as a regular supplement but did like it for break in purposes.

 

The ZddPlus coming in a 4oz container at least alleviates some of the worry about a large quanity of ‘unknown’ base stock being used as a carrier.  As far as ZddPlus’s ability to stay in suspension, some of that may depend upon what brand oil this is being added to and the compatibility with the additive packages within that oil.  But their literature pretty well states it’s compatible with most modern oils.  The ZddPlus pours out of its container with no residue remaining so I’m not concerned about any sedimentation or lack of suspension issues.  Snake oil?  Could be but I doubt it.  Take a bath in the stuff?  No way!

 

As far as emailing companies, I don’t get hung up on companies that don’t respond.  Nothing is as effective as a phone call to actually talk to someone that knows about the product anyhow.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Ted,



You're right about corporate email response.

Lately I have been trying to sort out several defective digital electronic products. When I email, if they DO bother to answer I am always refered to a tech service # where you get put on hold forever, and then talk to a minimum wage call-center employee who is clueless. I think it must be a legal thing (they want nothing in writing, so they can maintain deniability). Usually though, if the inquiry suggests a product defect, or something that puts the company in a bad light, they will just ignore it, because unlike a phone call, they can deny ever receiving it!


6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

g'day ted

what about std oil treatment ive been putting that in my oil i dont know about the rest of australia but in geelong its the only one on the shelf with zinc would you think it would seperate being as thick as it is ?

moz. geelong victoria australia.

graduate 1980, bus, truck, car, hot rod, boat, submarine, hovercraft, hydrafoil, firetruck, mobile home, jet, helicopter, cruise ship, motorcycle, bicycle, santa's sleigh, clock, alloy bullbar, alloy fuel tank, lens, dr who's tardis, matter - anti matter warp drive buffer & y-block lover

By std do you mean STP?  As long as the oil is initially brought up to standard operating temperatures, the varying oil viscosities are expected to mix just fine and stay mixed.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

thanks ted

yes i did mean STP a little typo though i dont know how i managed it p is up one end of the keyboard d is down the other

moz. geelong victoria australia.

graduate 1980, bus, truck, car, hot rod, boat, submarine, hovercraft, hydrafoil, firetruck, mobile home, jet, helicopter, cruise ship, motorcycle, bicycle, santa's sleigh, clock, alloy bullbar, alloy fuel tank, lens, dr who's tardis, matter - anti matter warp drive buffer & y-block lover