Any - Beware newer 'fully synthetics' with older engines

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Sun 13 Nov 2011 20:59
Any - Beware newer 'fully synthetics' with older engines - balleballe

I was ding some research into oil and what to get for my car when I stumbled by the whole zinc/phosphorus issue.

If your car has flap tappets then it is wise to stick to an oil higher in ZDDP (Zinc Dialkyl-Dithio-Phosphate) - and not the newer synthetics which only have a fraction of the older oil (to preserve CAT life). Any new oil which carried API spec only has 400 ppm of ZDDP, older oils or those not speeced to API should be fine

It comes from a question I asked castrol asking why they recommended magnatec 5w30 as opposed to edge 5w30 for my mazda. They were quite honest and told me to stick to higher ZDDP oils to prevent cam wear.

This may be old info to some but it was news to me, so may help another!

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Sun 13 Nov 2011 21:58
Any - Beware newer 'fully synthetics' with older engines - RT

API gradings have no place in Europe, we all use (or should use) the ACEA grades - the clue is in the name American Petroleum Institute (API).

Quoting viscosity grades on their own also has little place here - both viscosity and ACEA rating should be specified.

Find out what ACEA grade is specified by the manufacturer and stick to it rigidly.

Edited by RT on 13/11/2011 at 21:58

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