<VV> STP Trick WAS Best Oil & STP

[Ken Pepke]

STP Corporation sales people have been using the screwdriver trick for a lot of years.  I was about 12 when I first saw it ... that would be 57 years ago and it was not new then.  Its ingredients were their secret then and they still are. I have been assembling street and race engines using STP as assembly lube since I was a teen ager.  Now, I am not so sure ZDDP is all that important on a Corvair engine.  There is just not all that much seat pressure with which to deal compared to the spring seat pressure on an big valve 8,000 RPM race engine.  

Interesting thing is the STP is still present when the engine is disassembled ... even after quite a lot of mileage.  You can feel it!  And, on the dyno, STP engines will pull more power when compared to using factory assembly lube.

It does take a bit of effort to ad it to an assembled engine.  If ya just dump the stuff in it will settle in the bottom of the pan.  Ya have to be running the engine pretty hard meter the STP in gradually.



> From: "J R Read" <hmlinc at sbcglobal.net>
> Date: January 4, 2012 6:24:24 PM EST
> To: <BobHelt at aol.com>, <jay.pitchford at gmail.com>, <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
> Cc: Mlevair at sbcglobal.net
> Subject: Re: <VV> Best Oil & STP
> 
> Odd that the oil topic came up just after a little "experiment" at work.
> 
> A few days ago, one of the guys had Regular oil 5W30, Mobil1 5W30, A bottle 
> of STP and a flat edge (relatively heavy) screwdriver.   He dipped the blade 
> of the screwdriver into each and had several of us (taking turns and 
> cleaning hands and screwdriver each time) holding the screwdriver tip 
> between thumb and forefinger with palm above and handle of screwdriver 
> hanging down.  Easy to do with nothing on the blade AND with oil on it AND 
> with Mobil1 on it.  But, even though it was more viscous to the touch, it 
> was virtually impossible to keep the screwdriver from falling when it was 
> dipped into the STP.
> 
> Now, this makes me think that it might be a good idea to add some (how 
> much???) STP at oil change time.  I looked at their web site and could not 
> find any specifications for STP.  I was looking to see if there was a 
> statement about ZDDP content, but was unable to find anything.
> 
> Does anyone on VV have a clue as to ZDDP content of STP and what would be an 
> appropriate ratio of oil (either type) to ZDDP if adding at oil change time. 
> I'm not condoning this, just trying to investigate at this point.
> 
> Thanks.
> 
> Later, JR
> CCE CORSA CORVANANTICS SCG member
> '61 Rampside Standard 4/110
> '65 Monza Convertible 4/140
> "Keep the Love Alive"
>