Zinc additive

[Dan LeBlanc]

Dan that is a great price. Is the weight OK?

I usually use 10W-30.

For the 1970 engine, the 15W-40 weight is acceptable for summer operating temperatures according to the owner's manual.  I've never tried it in a 390.  I used 10W-30 with a bottle of Cam Shield added.  It would probably work just fine.

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

<-  Was told by my mechanic (alky funny car crew) Lucas Hot Rod Oil has the highest amount of zinc
already mixed in. Somehow that's important when your car is hitting 3500hp and has a larger engine than
a top fuel or fuel funny car. What do I know, its what I'll use too.
Laurie!

[Jim Miller]

For the older cars do any of you use Classic Car Motor Oil made by D-A Lubricants? supposed to have the proper levels of zinc and additives. Been using it in my '41.
Jim Miller

[fishnjim]

Couple points;
* -The early engines (pre '61) did not have oil filters or used partial filtration and may have used non-detergent oils and that's why you had to clean out the "pan".  (A design based on cheap oil)   
* - One of the SAE articles says that about 10% of the zinc is lost during the maintenance period. (that's what kills the catalytic convertor)   So the engine only needs enough to coat the surfaces and allow for the loss.   Anything extra is waste.   There are other materials that do the same thing.    It's not just simply going back to what they had in the old days.   It's adapting to today.   I know that's difficult for the average owner with all the marketing hype and reliance on word of mouth...
* - The T4 Rotella is formulated for diesel engines.   
ps:   We're only stewards, no mortal owns anything in the long run.

[jmscan06]

To verify the amount of zinc that is in your oil you can have your oil analyzed.  I use Blackstone Laboratories.   The report that they provide gives you the amount of zinc in your oil in parts per million.


John Scanlan
CLC #28099