The Stovebolt.com Forums Home | Tech Tips | Gallery | FAQ | Events | Features | Search
Help is a click away!

VEHICLE
INFORMATION
KITS


at the

GM Heritage Center
All the details are here.

Searching the Site - a click away
click here to search
New here ??? Where to start?
Click on image for the lowdown. Where do I go around here?
====
Who's Online Now
1 members (Gray_Ghost), 65 guests, and 1 robot.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics128,073
Posts1,055,908
Members48,429
Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026
Step-by-step instructions for pictures in the forums
Brad Allen's photos

AD Chevy Trucks

Pictures galore
Over 6,000 pictures

Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips.

Check them out!

Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!

Big Thanks!

THANKS!

For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for

over 30 years!

and not clogged down
with Ads!


Again, thanks!

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#1594602 12/22/2025 10:35 PM
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 126
M
'Bolter
'Bolter
M Offline
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 126
I have been reading about our 216 and 235 engine oil Should we be using non detergent oil wit zinc additive.

Thanks


1955 second series 3200
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 6,772
O
'Bolter
'Bolter
O Offline
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 6,772
I wouldn't use it, unless you think your engine has 70 years of gunk solidified in your engines nooks and crannies that might be dislodged if modern detergent oil is used.

The only person I personally know who uses non detergent, straight weight oil in certain of his classic cars does so in a couple J model Duesnbergs and Packards of the 1930s that have their original engines that have never been rebuilt and have had non detergent oil since day one.

The rest of the vehicles in the collection, where worries about dissolving impurities in the crankcase aren't a concern, use modern detegernt , multi-viscosity oils.

I wouldn't use zinc additives, either. You can't control how the additive is blended with the oil or in what ratio.

If you really want a high zinc oil for your engine, The Classic Car Club of America has contracted to have oil produced to its own specifications for use in antique car engines. It has 1600 ppm ZDDP, which is about the highest zinc content of any oil you'll find, including the VR-1 racing oils.

www.inrccca.org


1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)

1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,777
H
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer)
H Offline
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 29,777
It seems that zinc is only important during camshaft break-in on a flat tappet engine. Once that original wear pattern is established, the zinc concentration becomes much less important. The retailers of "high zinc content" oil have found a good way to pick the pockets of gullible people, I think! It's sort of like the folks who tout other "mouse milk" oil additives like STP, etc. I attended a seminar several years ago hosted by a research chemist for Kendall Oil Co. and the question was asked about "additives". His answer went something like this: "We use 22 additives already- - - -17 of them are beneficial to your engine, and the other five offset the bad effects of those 17! That's good enough for me!
Jerry


"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,453
B
'Bolter
'Bolter
B Offline
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,453
Originally Posted by Hotrod Lincoln
I attended a seminar several years ago hosted by a research chemist for Kendall Oil Co. and the question was asked about "additives". His answer went something like this: "We use 22 additives already- - - -17 of them are beneficial to your engine, and the other five offset the bad effects of those 17! That's good enough for me!
Jerry

Like pouring water into good whiskey.


BC
1960 Chevy C10 driver 261 T5 4.10 dana 44 power loc
1949 GMC 250 project in waiting
1960 C60 pasture art
Retired GM dealer tech. 1980 - 2022
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 21
I
'Bolter
'Bolter
I Offline
Joined: Jun 2022
Posts: 21
Watch some you tube videos with Lake Speed JR., now with total seal piston rings. He will educate you on all things oil, the good and bad. His videos are very informative.


53 chevy 3100
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 126
M
'Bolter
'Bolter
M Offline
Joined: Mar 2024
Posts: 126
Thank you so much for all the feed back. Merry Christmas


1955 second series 3200
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 155
R
'Bolter
'Bolter
R Online: Content
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 155
I also highly recommend Lake Speed Jr’s YouTube series on everything oil. He has the science and facts to back up everything he posts.


Moderated by  Phak1, Woogeroo 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Home | FAQ | Gallery | Tech Tips | Events | Features | Search | Hoo-Ya Shop
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 8.0.0