Zinc Oil For Older Cars

This means that not all current oils are appropriate for antique autos or even for those.

Zinc oil for older cars.

Thanks to hugh ashburn for asking on our facebook page about using high zinc oil in older engines. Ilsac multi viscosity oils that are rated sm even feature special additives used for older engines that experts recommend for use in. Recommended for pre 1980 cars their multi grade 20w 50 is formulated with high quality mineral oils plus selected additives for older technology and classic car engines. Then there is the question of mixing high zinc phosphorus content oils with sm to give necessary protection.

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. Lucas oil hot rod classic car sae 10w 40 hp high zinc petroleum high performance motor oil for use with racing fuels synthetic non synthetic oils 5 quarts 4 7 out of 5 stars 92 38 61 38. Chances are your classic car needs zinc oil additive to stay running strong. Read on for details.

What is high zinc. In general synthetic motor oil offers owners of newer cars trucks and suvs multiple benefits from extending component life to reducing cost of routine maintenance if you have heard about the benefits of synthetic motor oil in vehicles you may be inclined to switch. In classic car and hot rod engines use a high zinc motor oil all the time. This mono grade oil can also be used in most types of manually operated gearboxes.

There is no guarantee that a quart or two of older oils sj or sl or even a specially formulated high zddp content oil will homogenize with sm oils to produce the correct or desired level of zinc phosphorus for older engines. 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. Higher zinc levels in oil typically are for performance cars on the whole. Zinc acts as a friction inhibitor and research suggests that older engines using flat tappet lifters in the engine pretty much any v6 or v8 older than 1988 need to have zinc present in the engine oil in order to keep the camshaft and lifters from wearing prematurely.

Specifically should you use a motor oil with zddp additives only during engine break in or throughout the engine s lifespan. Also in the classic xl line is a 30w oil for pre 1950 vintage and classic cars.