oil color change with zinc?

[Matt L.]

hello all,
i run kendall racing formula 20/50 with zinc in my 64 fuel car. it seems to change color right away to a dark grey almost graphite color. is this due to the zinc oil? i have never seen this in any of my other cars.

take care,
matt

[Joe L.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

hello all,
i run kendall racing formula 20/50 with zinc in my 64 fuel car. it seems to change color right away to a dark grey almost graphite color. is this due to the zinc oil? i have never seen this in any of my other cars.

take care,
matt

Matt-----

The zinc phosphate is in the oil from the "get-go". So, if the color was due to the zinc phosphate, it would be there from the "get-go". Now, if you're asking if the color CHANGE is due to the some factor involving the zinc phosphate I would say I highly doubt it.

[Duke W.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

New oil that is somewhat amber in color usually darkens with age to an increasingly dark shade of brown. This is usually due to oxidation of the base oil stocks, and high blowby or poor crankcase ventilation can quicken the process.

If your oil is turning grey, it could be due to other chemicals in the oil. Talk to the manufacturer.

You should also be wary of any oil labeled "racing". Most true "racing" oils lack the detergent and dispersant additives that are necessary for long term use on a road car because the oil manufacturer assumes the oil will be changed after every race.

You would be better off, both economically and from an engine longevity standpoint, to use the least expensive CJ-4 oil you can find because it has a total additive package, including detergents/dispersants, anti-oxidation, anti-foam, and anti-wear (ZDDP) that is ideal for vintage engines with sliding surface OE valve trains.

Duke

[Steven B.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

New oil that is somewhat amber in color usually darkens with age to an increasingly dark shade of brown. This is usually due to oxidation of the base oil stocks, and high blowby or poor crankcase ventilation can quicken the process.

If your oil is turning grey, it could be due to other chemicals in the oil. Talk to the manufacturer.

You should also be wary of any oil labeled "racing". Most true "racing" oils lack the detergent and dispersant additives that are necessary for long term use on a road car because the oil manufacturer assumes the oil will be changed after every race.

You would be better off, both economically and from an engine longevity standpoint, to use the least expensive CJ-4 oil you can find because it has a total additive package, including detergents/dispersants, anti-oxidation, anti-foam, and anti-wear (ZDDP) that is ideal for vintage engines with sliding surface OE valve trains.

Duke

Listen to Duke. In the mid 60's I wiped out two street driven 097 cams due to racing oil .

[Matt L.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

hi guys,
what oil brand would you recommend? i do drive this car often. as much as possible to be exact.
i was just curious if it was a zinc oil characteristic to turn graphite color. i have never seen that before. i always saw oil turn black but never the graphite color.

thanks again everybody.

take care,
matt

[Bruce B.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

Matt,
Previously discussed the CJ-4 oil sold by Walmart, Auto Zone, Advanced Auto is as good as any big name brand of CJ-4 (ie; Rotella, Mobile, etc).
Personally I would add zinc, as in ZZDP additive just as an extra safety measure.
I an still curious about the quick color change in your oil.
Good talking with you yesterday.
Bruce B

[Patrick H.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

Personally I would add zinc, as in ZZDP additive just as an extra safety measure.

Bruce B

Bruce,

I would not recommend that.
If you dig into the reports about zinc, too much can be just as bad as too little.
The CJ-4 is, as Goldilocks would say, "Just Right."

Patrick

[Duke W.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

what oil brand would you recommend?

You're asking the wrong question. Download the following pdf and read the article beginning on page 3. Once you absorb this information you should be able to make an intelligent choice.

http://stlouisncrs.org/news_files/St_Louis_NCRS_Chapter_July_2011.pdf

Duke

[Bruce B.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

Patrick,

Since the percentage of zinc has been reduced by federal mandates, I thought by adding ZZDP it could be brought up to the previous levels found in the CJ-4.

Of course those levels would have to be calculated.

Bruce B

[Duke W.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

The feds did not "mandate" a reduction in zinc. Have you read the article linked-to in post #8?

Given your longevity in NCRS you should be more up to speed on this issue.

The CJ-4 P reduction is no more than ten percent of the typical value in CI-4s, so there is no need to add more ZDDP.

Duke

[Paul H.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

Shell Rotella 15W 40 is what I have been using for many years in all of my old Corvettes. It's very reasonably priced at Walmart. Many miles with no issues. No additives, no problems. The "boutique" oils are overpriced hype IMO.

[Patrick H.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

Patrick,

Since the percentage of zinc has been reduced by federal mandates, I thought by adding ZZDP it could be brought up to the previous levels found in the CJ-4.

Of course those levels would have to be calculated.

Bruce B

Nope. The ZDDP in the CJ oils is still just fine despite what you read on the internet and despite what places like Eastwood hype in their ads.

Patrick

[Dick W.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

The "boutique" oils are overpriced hype IMO.

Amen! I have used Rotella or or similar oil since I started driving over 50 years ago and have never had an engine problem related to motor oil. Now over revving......

[Kenneth B.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

Amen! I have used Rotella or or similar oil since I started driving over 50 years ago and have never had an engine problem related to motor oil. Now over revving......

DICK
I always blamed it on the oil.LOL I always use CJ-4 with NO additive.
KEN

[Dick W.]

Re: oil color change with zinc?

DICK
I always blamed it on the oil.LOL I always use CJ-4 with NO additive.
KEN

I go back with this type of oil to when the spec was Mil Spec 2104 B. I ran Texaco Ursa for probably twenty five years. When the local Texaco distributor went out of business I switched to Gulf Valnellus, RPM Delo, and have used Rotella for about fifteen years now.

Can't blame motor oil for broken connecting rods when both ends of the rod are free, or for broken rod bolts.