Motor oil is one of those HOT buttons that is always capable of starting a debate among car guys. Most gear heads have a particular brand of oil that they feel is the best, and will debate the merits at length with anyone who doesn’t concur with their opinion. But this latest debate among vintage car folks over ZDDP is widespread and touches everyone addicted to motors designed more than 20 years ago. You see,
Windows 7 Home Premium Product Key, for most of the last century, the almost universal method to open and close engine valves was via flat tappets (solid or hydraulic lifters if you will),
Office Pro Plus, and the ZDDP additive was there to prevent or reduce wear between the lifters and the camshaft (#6 and #7 respectively in the diagram to the right). But ZDDP in the minute amounts of oil that will get burned and exit through the exhaust system will shorten the life of catalytic converters. Thus the EPA mandate to eliminate ZDDP from engine oil, and the auto makers have responded by designing engines that utilize roller lifters or overhead camshafts, and have no need for the protection offered by ZDDP.
Motor oil has carried a performance rating from the American Petrolium Institute (API) since the days of horseless carriages. Pick up any quality motor oil at your local auto parts store,
Office Home And Student 2010 Key, and you’ll see the API logo on the bottle. (I grew up with oil cans, and I’m still having trouble getting used to this oil ‘bottle’ thing!) Automobile oils have a two letter service designation,
Office Home And Student 2010 Key, which always begins with the letter “S”, and then works its way down the alphabet for the second letter. Historically,
Office 2007, the newest designations have always met the performance specifications of the previous ones, and so there was never an issue with using the latest technology motor oil in vintage autos, until now. While ZDDP levels have been gradually reduced starting with SG oils in 1988, it is the latest SM designated oil with the nearly total elimination of ZDDP has raised the concerns of all vintage auto enthusiasts who fear the worst for their cams and lifters.