Flat tappet cam life

rdorman · #1 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 06:05 AM

I contacted STP to be sure. Here is their reply:

"Thank you for contacting us about STP Oil Treatment. We always appreciate hearing from our consumers.

The oil treatment products do contain zincdialkyldithiophosphate or zddp. The amount or concentration of the zddp is proprietary information.
Again, thank you for contacting us. "

Wayne Maybury · #2 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 06:15 AM

I found the email from STP yesterday but I couldn't get back into this site.

Here is their reply:

Reference Number: 4339163

Dear Mr. Maybury,

Thank you for contacting us about STP Oil Treatment. We always appreciate hearing from our consumers.

The main ingredient in our STP Oil Treatment is zincdialkyldithiophosphate or ZDDP for short. It is safe to use in all automotive engines. It is safe to use with both regular and synthetic oils. You may also use the product at a 10% treatment rate in gearboxes, manual transmissions, wet clutches and differentials.

Again, thank you for contacting us.

Sincerely,

Patti Copper
Consumer Response Representative
Consumer Services

rdorman · #3 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 06:36 AM

So, there you have it! STP has got the goods. I don't use it because it effects viscosity... even though I don't think that is exactly a bad thing.

While STP would not say how much ZDDP is in their product, I did find a lab test that showed their various products have between 1 and 5% ZDDP. How they deal with the effects on catalytic converters, deposits and plug fouling from to much zinc is beyond me.

I will just go with an oil that already has it in the proper concentrations.

Wayne Maybury · #4 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 07:18 AM

I think that I will go with Shell Rotella T in the Cobra but I have a couple of gallons of Gastrol GTX. I will probably use that in my '66 Mustang along with a can of STP just to be safe.

Wayne

rdorman · #5 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 07:22 AM

According to the links above, GTX has .12% of zinc. Just about right!

You know, if you send your oil to one of those oil testing companies, zinc is one of the things that should be listed on the results.

Excaliber · #6 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 09:03 AM

Thanks for that STP up-date, I'm feeling all better again!

CSX 4027 · #7 (**permalink**) 02-23-2006, 09:31 AM

Use Brad Penn Racing Oil. It is the old Kendall product. They bought the refinery. It's about 40% less ash than Rotella and is the right formula for racing and flat tappet. So, why compromise with an oil that was designed for low revving diesels. You want Chinese food that tastes like pizza? Why not just get pizza?