Maybe I've started a trend... I have been preaching this for years now. I
even wrote about it breifly in my 6PACK articles (as well as mentioning it
on this list a bunch of times_ and I have a pretty detailed write-up about
it on my website:
http://www.wbclassics.com/eng102-t.htm
In short, yes the reduction in ZDDP in passenger car engine oil can lead to
accelerated wear of camshafts and flat tappets. This is not the only reason
that flat tappets fail though... there are a multitude, including a) they
are soft and b) they're ground with the wrong profile. Overly aggressive
camshaft profiles and excessive valve spring pressures are also contributors
to early tappet failure. So don't just blame the oil.
The entire community of flat tappet engine experts feels the same way. The
problem even reaches to NASCAR where Joe Gibbs' Racing now has their own
line of in house formulated oils, which are super heavy on ZDDP for the
extreme flat tappet setups that they run in NASCAR (over 1" lift with valve
spring pressures exceeding 800lbs at full lift and 9500RPM!).
You can buy the Gibbs oil yourself, although I am perfectly happy with Delo
(usually under $10/gallon). The Delo gear oil is some good stuff too...
Oh, start stocking up. Diesel oil is next on the hit list for reductions in
ZDDP. Only buy the diesel oils with the older CI-4 designation... CJ-4 has
lowered levels of ZDDP. CI-4 should be available in most places through
2010.
Kai
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Kai M. Radicke
Wishbone Classics
* British Car Parts *
www.wbclassics.com
Ph: 215.945.7250
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