Zinc In Oil For Old Cars

While the formulations of modern oils have changed along with the innovations that keep the automotive industry moving forward your older car s specific lubrication requirements were frozen in time the day it was built.

Zinc in oil for old cars. But the reduction of zinc levels particularly were a threat to old car engines. The effects of zinc oil additives on older engines. This means that not all current oils are appropriate for antique autos or even for those. With the government setting mandates on manufacturers covering the service life of catalytic converters over 100 000 miles this caused nearly every oil manufacturer over the last 10 years to slowly remove zinc from the ingredients in their oil.

Higher zinc levels in oil typically are for performance cars on the whole. Castrol markets a classic xl line of retro oils. Using a high zinc oil with a high dose of zddp additives helps protect classic car and hot rod engines. Amsoil z rod synthetic oil contains 1400 ppm zinc.

Zinc zddp and zdtp is especially useful for cars with flat tappet camshafts which means a lot of classic cars hot rods and older muscle cars need zinc more than other cars. Today many of the well known oil companies are offering oils formulated for vintage and classic cars. Recommended for pre 1980 cars their multi grade 20w 50 is formulated with. The changes forced many enthusiasts to look for alternatives to the api approved oils that were fine for modern cars but scary to use in older cars and muscle cars with flat tappet cams in high compression v 8s.

Whether it s the feeling that they get behind the wheel or the way the car looks parked in their driveway they pour their time and effort into maintaining the car and keeping it looking like it s just been driven off of the lot. Diesel oils soon followed suit until today no oil that is approved for on road use contains zinc. When it comes to older engines and classic cars high zinc content is a must and some oil manufacturers even sell special engine oil that comes with elevated zdtp or zddp zinc dialkyl dithiophosphates content. Admin almost everyone who s into cars has an older vehicle that they love.

Regardless if you are purchasing off the shelf oil for your classic car ilsac multi viscosity oils rated sm or cj 4 should have stated zinc and phosphorus additive supplements for use in older engines or an additional separate additive should be purchased and used with the new oil. These oils balance zddp detergent levels and corrosion inhibitors. High zinc oil for classic cars. Under new governmental emission control regulations the anti wear additive zddp zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate and a related family of similar zinc salt additives zndtp or zdp and others are being severely reduced in the newest passenger car engine oil so that the zinc and phosphorus will not damage new catalytic converters.