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Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:45 pm

Anyone adding zinc to their WBX to protect the flat tappets? I have a long hot freeway trip to Oregon tomorrow and was thinking about it.

Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:46 pm

Just use the right oil and you won't need to add any.

Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:48 pm

I've been using Shell Rotella 15W40 for years now. It is the highest zinc oil I could find and I never have sticky lifters unless the van has been sitting for more than a couple of weeks.

Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:50 pm

photogdave wrote: I've been using Shell Rotella 15W40 for years now.
Actually a few years ago Shell reformulated it and it has less zinc.
You should look at Brad Penn oil.

Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:52 pm

I use only top shelf oils, but the lack of zinc has been on my mind. I'm going to add some Lucas Zinc Plus to it I found on my shelf from when I broke the motor in. Says its for an additive use as well as the breakin use.

I guess this will be a short cycle thread - pardon the bandwidth. Wandered to the garage after I posted with a Tangerine popsicle thinking "Hmm...do I have some of that left over...?" Yep.

I don't like traveling on freeways and this is unusual for us.

Doug

Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:52 pm

Doug I changed to Mobile One synthetic and my engine temps dropped about 5-10 degrees compared to Moly-Lube last year. Running at 180-185-190 now on long hot daze. (On the flats anyway, the up ramps in the multi story cars parks are not long enough to get good readings here in Florida!)

Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:56 pm

Here is a thread about zinc in engine oil which I would normally encourage it be built upon......

But alas......

It is locked.
Still an interesting read.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...p;start=60

Dave

Thu Jul 11, 2019 7:46 pm

I've used STP oil additive for my GW2.2 ever since I switched to synthetic. Before that I used VR1 which has a zinc additive.

For what it's worth, drain pan has been very clean so far. This motor only has 20k on it.

Thu Jul 11, 2019 9:22 pm

Yes, we use the Redline break in additive with conventional oil.

Fri Jul 12, 2019 12:08 pm

Doug, people have done this on sports cars (which likely need the ZDDP more than a vanagon due to higher forces on the cam lobes/tappets) with no ill effects reported

But it is easier to just buy the right oil with adequate ZDDP in it (~~1000 ppm) - Mobil One, Delo and Shell Rotella all make oils with plenty of ZDDP and there's a list on the internet somewhere made by LN Engineering

I can dig up a link if you need it.

Many boutique oils also have plenty of ZDDP (Joe Gibbs, Swepco, etc.) but the Mobile One synthetic should be fine as should the others.