[TR] Science of the "Oil Issue" Part 1

[Randall]

---- Larry Griffin <larrygriffin.nc at gmail.com> wrote: 

> Hope my posts do not lead anyone astray. I was most interested in the
> idea of the possible interaction of the ZDDP and detergent levels. But
> I guess that doesn't make much sense either, does it?

Actually, I believe that part does make sense.  Perhaps not exactly in those terms, but there is no doubt that various additives can interfere with each other's operation.  The literature is full of "This seemed to work by itself but didn't work when we combined it with that." stories.  The oil manufacturers put a lot of work into finding just the right amount of each additive, it is an engineering specialty all unto itself.  

And as I think has been pointed out before, even too much ZDDP can lead to problems.  That is why I think it makes far more sense to buy an oil already formulated to whatever your specifications are, than try to "improve" any old oil by dumping your own additives into it.

Randall