Hello CF Gurus,

One of our club members recommend adding a ZZP/ZZDP additive to my 78 stock 350 with most likely very high but unknown mileage..

Any pro's con's or in betweens are welcome before I try and find a source to purchase it..

mk's78
mike

 

Just run a better oil like Valvoline VR1 conventional.

 

You don't need it until you install a hot cam.

 

Find the correct oil for your application and skip the additives. I like synthetics, and use Amsoil. There are other good oils out there, but I'm very satisfied with the research that I have done on oils. It's a complex topic. Many who have strong opinions are not well educated. Good luck!

 

I use ZDDP Plus in both my 427 Corvette and my Grand National. Google Richard Clark + zddp. Richard was instrumental in bringing this product to the market. http://zddplus.com/

 

By the time you buy your regular oil and then buy the additive, you're at or over the price of oil that already has ZDDP added.

I use Lucas Hot Rod & Classic Car Motor Oil SAE 10W-30.

You can get a 5 quart container at Jegs for $30.99 shipped.

 

I use ZDDP Plus in both my 1980/350 & 1969/427 Corvettes

 

That is impossible to answer.

how much ZDDP is in the oil you are using?
How much does your engine require?

You need to know that before messing with the oil chemistry on your own. then decide if diluting the oil with additives to get a specific ZDDP level is a benefit or not...

 

run a oil designed for diesel engines and for get about

 

I like your line of thinking. Double blind studies are really the gold standard, followed by certified independent lab testing.

These discussions periodically arise and usually those with chemistry backgrounds chime in that PAO/PE synthetic blends are best. Years ago I was studying how to best balance maintenance and longevity and asked Mobil 1 for any testing and studies they conducted. At that time they had fleet studies only so I declined looking at them because it was not similar to how I was using my vehicles. They may have studies now, and I do believe Mobil 1 is an excellent oil.

Oil tribologists have a technical letter and their job is to reduce maintenance costs and maximize longevity. I subscribed to their letter for several years and trust me, this subject is very complex. I had trouble comprehending some of the data and I have 4 years of college chemistry.

Most of us are old enough to have seen graphite and Teflon added to oil. Lots of stuff comes and goes, so at some point unless you are going to spend years studying this stuff you are going to have to pick someone to trust. I use Amsoil and ask questions via their tech department. This does NOT mean others are not trustworthy, only that I'm satisfied with my informed decision, and have more knowledge than 99 percent of the average car guys I talk to. And no, I am not an Amsoil dealer so I have no conflict of interest.

 

there's also the "best" vs. "good enough", or "somewhere in-between" debate and the cost/benefit ratio.

always strikes me odd that folks think there is only one way to achieve something. before spending all the money and trying all the additives, maybe just change the oil a little more often before you ever need the added protection? or is that too easy...

 

Actually using synthetic will give you additional protection and need to be changed less often, so it's less expensive. You need to pick the right synthetics, but who doesn't want better and cheaper?

 

I completely agree with lurch here. Using an oil designed around high ZDDP content is key, and much much better at protecting your engine than simply adding and additive to oil that was not designed around it. If you go with a diesel oil at least use one that is API approved for gasoline engines as well.

Race oils like Valvoline VR1 do not contain ANY detergents or cleaners to protect against dirt buildup. This is because race cars get the oil changed much more frequently. Those detergents and cleaners are a must for any street driven engine, unless you want to do oil changes in a few hundred miles instead of a few thousand.

A synthetic will definitely help protect the engine more, but due to the EPA limiting the amount of ZDDP used in modern engines, a lot of synthetics have less than 1000ppm of ZDDP to meet OE specs (like GM Dexos1, 6094M, etc.) and be certified as a replacement oil.

I too like AMSOIL and they have a high zinc synthetic formula for older cars with flat tappet cams, and high performance engines. This is what I use in my older engines:

AMSOIL Z-Rod Oil
http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produc...-EA?zo=1934716

It is also good for storage as it "soaks" into the metal pores and keeps uncoated surfaces from rusting while the car is sitting.