Motor oil is one of these Scorching buttons that is certainly always able to starting up a debate among automobile men. Most gear heads have a particular brand of oil that they feel is the best,
Microsoft Office 2010, and will debate the merits at length with anyone who doesn’t concur with their opinion. But this latest debate amid vintage car folks over ZDDP is widespread and touches everyone addicted to motors designed more than 20 years ago. You see, 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), 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, 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,
Office Professional 2010!) Automobile oils have a two letter service designation, which always begins with the letter “S”,
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Office 2010 Product Key, the newest designations have constantly 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 beginning with SG oils in 1988,
Microsoft Office 2010 Product Key, 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.