As some of you may or may not know, the API (American Petroleum Institute) a few years ago reduced the amount of zinc and phosphorus that it allows in spark ignition oils. Zinc and phosphorus has always been known to be a barrier molecule, protectiong rotating and moving engine parts under extreme shear loads. Supposedly, from the small amounts of oil burned through the pcv valve and other things, the zinc and ph content was shortening the life of the generic catalytic converter by est. 30k miles

With that being said, how important do you think it is to have these additives in our engines? Not saying that your off the shelf API-approved mobil 1, royal purple etc is bad oil, but could there be advantages to running a "race" oil like Joe Gibbs, Torco or the like? Maybe the H22A guys wouldn't be seeing so much rocker wear w/ an aggresive cam? Not saying one way or the other, i just want a general consensus.

*if this is the wrong place for this i apologize, please move*

 

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=918465

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=2008331

 

thanks!

 

Just stumbled across this article whilst on the hunt for a good zinc additive. It basically states that all oil additives are not worth using, and can sometimes cause premature wear.

Is this now a different matter, regarding zinc additives, because of the lower zinc content in modern oils?

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/snakeoil.htm

There is so much contradicting information out there its hard to work out whats right and wrong.