Can anyone suggest a good Zinc additive for use with my regular oil changes for my 312 engine.
Thank you for your time.
Oldgasser ( Ron)
Why not use an oil that's already formulated for flat tappet engines and skip the additive. There are quite a few choices nowadays from conventional to full synthetic to suit whatever type of use your engine may see.
We drag raced VW's for many years with flat tappet cams/lifters. We ran very high valve spring pressures, and also high ratio rockers to make the cam break in on new engines critical. We always tossed a bottle of GM (a Chevrolet dealer part) zink lube for flat tappet cams. It was an liquid additive. I think it used to be about ten bucks a bottle. Sorry, I do not have the part number. Our local GM dealership always had it in stock, so it must have been a popular seller.
The last few years we raced, we gave up on the flat tappet cams and had our cases welded and machined to run roller lifters.
I see no reason why this lube would not work in a Y Block.
I threw Rislone 3X in my 292. Just because it said it had ZDDP in it. Added it to 10w-30. Hasnt locked up yet.
Found it at AdvanceAuto.
I use ZDDP Plus additive when changing the oil in my 57 with 312 engine. I don't know if it is absolutely necessary, but I have used it on my present car and a previous 57 Ford with 292 engine.
https://www.amazon.com/ZDDPPlus-Engine-Additive-Phosphorus-Bottles/dp/B006LB70SW/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=SOV5CV4NKFI8&keywords=zddplus+zinc+oil+additive&qid=1572398837&sprefix=ZDDP+Plus+%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFXSlQySEc0NkRBOE0mZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA2MjA5NzUyR1VJNkJXRkszV0kzJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2OTE4NjgyUElDS0FaTkJFRzZJJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
I run Lucas oil (engine break-in oil additive)
I run the Lucas Hot Rod and Classic oil that already has a high zinc level, so no need to run an additive.
I am with junior58..I use the Lucas Hotrod oil or when I can find it... Brad Penn. All the additive and zinc in each.
I avoid the snake oils and use Driven HR 10-30. Some of the bottled additives have been proven to mess up the oils chemistry and most oil manufactures recommend not adding them..
Jim, I'm with you driven HR 10-30 is all I use in all my cars.
This is great information. Will try to buy Lucas Hot Rod and Classic oil.
Thank you Gentleman for your input on the Zinc related alternatives out there.
Mush appreciated advise.
Thank you all for your time.
Cheers Ron ( Oldgasser)
I'm going to guess that once the engine is broke in (3000 + miles) the zinc content doesn't seam to matter. I make this controversial statement based on the engine in my 36.
It is a 351C pulled from a wrecked 72 Ranchero in 1974. No idea how many mile were on it, not many I suspect given it was only two years old. It was given a rattle can overhaul in 1974, started again for the first time in 1980 and has provided 140,000 reliable miles ever since. The oil was changed regularly, no special brand, just 10W-30 at first then 20W-50 later. It uses a quart every 1,000 miles, gives a solid 16 -17 MGP on the road. Does not smoke or leak so I suspect it is just flat wore out all the way around. The only issues with the engine has been two broken exhaust valve springs.
Never gave zinc a thought with this engine.....
Oil and zinc issues have been going on for ever. In my opinion any oil you buy today has less zinc then a few years ago, but the PPM on the lowest amount in some oils today is still more then what the oils had in the 50-60s. Unless you have some HiPo engine with extreme spring pressures any stock motor from that era can use the newer oils. The only down side is some of the additives in Synthetic type oils don't always play well with old rubber seals.. I won't go into the Zinc Myth that started it.