[FC] Oil additive??

[Western Canada CORSA]

from Bob Helt....

Bob Helt
 
 
A  review of various summaries and blogs on the internet shows a
considerable 
 misunderstanding and incorrect information being published on the latest
oil 
 standards. So it seems like a good time to review just what the API/ILSAC  
committee did when they established the latest oil specifications and
ratings. 
The  main thing that we need to know is that the committee was acutely aware

of the  different needs and requirements of both the old car and new car 
industries. The  old car industry was concerned about flat tappet and
camshaft wear 
while the new  car industry (that uses roller lifters) was less concerned 
about such wear  and was mandated to meet government  sponsored regulations
on 
catalytic converter life. 
So the  committee did two things to satisfy both industries. First, instead 
of following  previous practices of obsoleting the oils meeting the previous

specifications  and rating, they kept current both SJ and SL rated oils when
SM 
oils were  introduced. That means oils meeting these standards may still be 
produced and  sold (although the demand may be low causing spotty  
availability). 
But  maybe more important, the committee separated the oils into two groups.

They  identified the oil specifications for the old car industry as SM. The

specifications for the new car industry were identified as GF-4. But of
course  
there is considerable overlap that must be understood. 
GF-4  OILS 
First let's look at the GF-4 oils. It's simple. Any and all oils having  the

following viscosities are called GF-4. 
0W-20 
0W-30 
5W-20 
5W-30 
10W-30   
GF-5 oils all must have a maximum of 800 ppm phosphorous and a minimum of  
600 ppm. There is no requirement or specification for any zinc  content. 
GF-4  oils are all identified with a Starburst on the front of the container

and also  the words "Energy Conserving" at the bottom of the donut on the 
back of the  container.
 
NON GF-4  OILS 
Non GF-4 oils are all the other viscosities. That includes, for example,  
10W-40 and 20W-50. These oils are all rated SM (latest rating). The letters
SM  
will be stated in the top portion of the donut on the back of the container.

Since these oils might include racing, high mileage or diesel categories,
the  
committee set the following phosphorous requirement for all of these oils. A

minimum SM phosphorous requirement of 600 ppm, and any amount of phosphorous

greater than the minimum for the upper limit. There is NO phosphorous upper

limit in the specification. But of course an application limit will be set
by  
the oil producer. Again, there is no requirement of any zinc content either.

There will be no Starburst or "energy conserving" on these  containers. 
OVERLAPPING  RATINGS  (E.g. SJ/SM or  CI-4/SL) 
Here is where the confusion begins. Let's look at some examples. Consider
an 
SM rated 10W-30 oil (or 5W-20 too). Here we have conflicting specs. 10W-30
is 
 a GF-4 oil with reduced phosphorous but SM has no upper limit. So the GF-4 
spec  takes precedence and establishes the upper limit of 800 ppm. (The SM
spec 
upper  limit is simply any amount greater than 600 ppm.) Thus, this amount
of 
 phosphorous (anything over 600 ppm) meets the SM spec.  
Now  consider a 20W-50 oil with an SJ/SM rating in the donut. SJ has an
upper 
phos.  limit of 1000 ppm and SM has no upper limit. So this oil will have a 
maximum  phos. Of 1000 ppm. But what if this were a 0W-20 oil with these 
ratings? It  would require that the GF-4 spec be met with an upper limit of
800 ppm 
phos.  despite the SJ/SM ratings. 
Similarly,  CI-4/SM in the donut (a diesel oil) will have 1400 ppm phos. 
since this will  also meet the SM spec of no upper limit.  
But to  be sure we cover all bases, let's look at an oil rated CI-4/SL. 
(Another diesel  oil). Here is where the specs cause problems. The upper
phos limit 
of CI-4 is  1400 ppm but the upper limit of SL is 1000 ppm. (Note that the 
CI-4 1400 ppm is  an upper limit and not a required amount) So an oil with
both 
of these rating  will have no more than 1000 ppm phos. to meet the SL 
designation and still will  meet the CI-4 spec. 
Regards, 
Bob  Helt


-----Original Message-----
From: corvanatics-bounces at corvair.org
[mailto:corvanatics-bounces at corvair.org] On Behalf Of Ben and Lynn Stiles
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2008 9:55 AM
To: corvanatics at corvair.org
Subject: [FC] Oil additive??


FC friends-

I got this from a classic car acquaintance. Does this have merit? Should I 
be worried about what I am running in my FCs? (Havoline 20W 50)

Thanks for any insight. Could the end of enjoying our classic cars really be

coming?

Ben

> The ZDDPLUS (Zinc/Phosphate) additive is now in stock.  The EPA is 
> requiring oil manufacturers to eliminate this additive in lubricating 
> oils as it shortens the life of a catalytic converter.  Oils with the 
> API rating SM do not have adequate amounts of Zinc and Phosphorus 
> needed to prevent the cams & tappets from failure in engines 
> manufactured prior to the 1990s.
>
>
>
>
>
> 


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