Write up on Engine oil additives....

UpSideDownDesi · Aug 3, 2008

Found this on Rx-7 forums:

howard coleman said: ↑

I posted the following july 06….

the June (06) issue of Hot Rod magazine (p 125) contains an article entitled: "When Good Cams Go Bad." while the report discusses an alarming 3 year trend in camshaft/lifter failures the significance of the primary culprit probably should be considered by all rotary owners.

a major engine builder is quoted as seeing more camshaft/lifter failures in the last 3 years than the prior 30.

while a number of reasons are considered one of the key conclusions is the recently reformulated standards for motor oil.

unfortunately i wasn't able to copy the article but here's an executive summary:

approx 4 years ago the auto manufactures, oil companies and the government (always bad to get them together) met to discuss an issue the regulators had re the effects of the PRIMARY ANTI-WEAR ADDITIVES in oil and their effects on catalytic converter life.

the additives are primarily zinc and phosphorus (referred to as ZDDP) they act as sacrificial items and take the mechanical wear in lieu of the engines components.

due to the fact that current motors use roller rockers/followers the industry didn't need as much wear protection as in the past, and didn't want to fight it out w the govt auto companies capitulated, er agreed.

the article features a table showing % of the 2 elements going from .13% in 1996 to .087 in 05 (Zinc) and .12 (Phosphorus) to .08 in 05.

all engines benefit from these additives and that includes rotaries. the law going forward removes more ZDDP until there is almost no remaining ZDDP.

racing oil does not fall under the restrictions.

Quaker State Q Racing, for example, contains .2 of Z and .18 of P. Over the road trucks are exempt until 07. you can buy Shell Rotella T at Walmart (Truck oil) and it contains .14 and .13. Pennzoil Racing oil is .196 and .18.

you can tell which oils have reduced wear additives.... a Gold Starburst label and designation ILSAC GF-4. it is safe to conclude all non racing ex-trucks oils now fall into the reduced anti-wear category.

rotary owner had best steer clear of street legal oils.

or...

another option is to add GM Camshaft and Lifter Prelube PN12345501 4 ounces about $6 at the time of your oil change.

the article states, "If running API SM/GF-4 street oils, consider adding a 4 ounce bottle of GM camshaft and lifter lube Part Number 12345501 at every oil change."

NOVEMBER 06

i considered the Hot Rod article to be important and am happy it drew lots of reads. based on the article and the fact i am very happy w Mobil 1, i elected to retain the Mobil 1 and add the GM Camshaft and Lifter Prelube at every (3000 mile) oilchange during my 06 season.

i have 2 observations...

during approximately 3000 miles of mapping, logging, testing i noticed my compression rising on a linear basis. based on my AVCR vacuum readings in mm/Hg at idle i increased vacuum almost 10% during the 3000 miles. the highest reading was my last reading. was the additive responsible? i have no idea. my motor started the season w 7800 miles so it wasn't in the break in process during 06.

the second observation was when i dumped the oil i noticed that i could see the additive... it was a darker non-mixed fluid within my fairly clean oil.

there have been lots of comments as to whether the rotary needs antiwear (no camshaft etc) but i will continue to spend my $6 at each oil change until i feel real lucky.

JULY 08 update

i don't recall the specific anti-wear additive removal schedule but it is safe to say we have less protection each year.

since last i updated this thread (Nov 06) my motor has remained in my car and was busy on the Beyond Redline Performance dyno in 07. we did 43 2000-4000 4th gear full power runs and lots of on the road fun. thanks in part to my methanol AI system the motor made 364 foot pounds of torque at 15.8 psi.

when i put the car away for the winter last Nov it showed the highest vacuum ever.

same deal in 08. my motor now pulls just over 17 inches of vacuum at 937 rpm idle. this is w large primary and secondary extended ports and a big exhaust port.
12,000 miles and built by me.

as mentioned before, i run Mobil 1 5-30 weight oil and i add 4 oz of GM's Camshaft/lifter prelube part number 12345501. about $6 per.

i have been specifically directed by my go to guy, who recently made over 1000 rwhp w his 100% methanol NHRA drag 13 BREW to run nothing but 5-30 weight. until i run faster than 7.58 at 186 i will follow his advice as his motors last.

i solicited Mobil 1 for sponsorship when i was racing and they were a primary sponsor for 6 years. all i have to say here is i use all of Mobil 1's products and they have worked for me. if my friend says 5-30 i say "thanks for the advice."

i do think that a great deal of the reason my motor is still gaining compression is the GM additive. i use it in all my cars and my Correct Craft ski boat. i have a Mazda Millenia (winter car) w 198,000 miles and prior to using the GM additive had just a touch of lifter noise on startup. since i started using the additive that noise is history.

so at this point our options are to run race oil w the anti wear in it or regular oil w the additive.

and please, don't give me the "our motors don't have high wear requirements because they don't have camshafts."

go to GMPartsDirect.com and order yourself a case.

then watch your compression rise

howard coleman
Click to expand...

http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=770726&highlight=rebuild

And a article on it:
http://www.racingheadservice.com/Information/ArticleDetails.asp?ID=-1228096506

nicad · Aug 3, 2008

this has been known for a LONG time over at nasioc as well

FRCFED4 · Aug 3, 2008

if i read that right about the Q, its a good oil.

hope so cause just changed mine yesterday

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Write up on Engine oil additives....

UpSideDownDesi Active Member

nicad Yes I am a troll

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Write up on Engine oil additives....

UpSideDownDesi Active Member

nicad Yes I am a troll

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