ZDDP in Additives

October 15th, 2007

ZDDP (Zinc Dithiophosphate)

In 2006 when a new motor oil warranty category for gasoline engines was developed GF-4, problems started occurring with older cars. When a new warranty specification is put on the market and licensed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) it makes all other previous specifications obsolete. All cars are supposed to be able to run on the new oil, however this is not the case with GF-4.

For many years major oil companies have used ZDDP (zinc dithiophosphate) in their motor oil formulations. The reason for this is ZDDP acts as a good anti-wear agent, and until metals of all kinds have escalated wildly in price, it was relatively cheap. Furthermore due to the skyrocketing price of platinum and palladium, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) decided to change the composition of your vehicles catalytic converter. With the new catalytic converter material, the new GF-4 specification is fine for new vehicles, however cars with flat tappet engines are not so lucky. Due to the pressure on flat tappets the new additives in the GF-4 are not working and customers are reporting early failure in droves! This is not an isolated problem, and the oil companies were aware of this problem. What has happened is that the EPA has mandated that sulfur, phosphorus and zinc (sulfated ash) were to be removed from the oil as it destroys the catalytic converter over a long period of time.

Older cars have run into a myriad of problems with flat tappet camshafts. Premature failure seems to be the rule rather than the exception. Car owners are mad and want answers fast. The fact is that older cars with their different catalytic converters need a product like zinc to protect its critical parts.

SFR 100 manufactured by SFR Corporation, www.sfrcorp.com contains a very concentrated amount of zinc as well as containing sulfur and phosphorus. Oil analysis shows this product is loaded with ZDDP. It is used at 1 ounce per quart of motor oil. So if you have a car produced before 2006 and will benefit from ZDDP this is a product to consider. Extensive testing has been completed including the $100,000 wear test that all motor oil formulators must pass. SFR went against the leading motor oil marketer in the U.S. The test was run twice, once without the SFR 100 and the second time with SFR 100 with remarkable results published on the website. If you need ZDDP look for SFR’s SFR 100.

Entry Filed under: Additives in motor oils, Technical