STP Oil Treatment Zinc Content
 

STP oil treatment in the blue bottle (16 oz) contains zinc (ZDDP). Amazon has it now for $2.88 per bottle.

Does anyone know if it contains sufficient zinc content for our flat tappet cams in Pontiacs?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...RYF51BX0S7P6FJ

Dick,Nunzi told me to use a 1/2 bottle of STP and 1/2 bottle of EOS with my FTC engine.FWIW,Tom

David Vizard was so impressed with oil extreme brand additive that he bought stock in the company!

I was told by a Oil Engineer some years ago that the STP ZINC PPM was around 1400.
1400 ppm is a nice safe number for flat tappet camshaft durability.

EOS and STP Mix has been used for years on Camshaft Break-in so NUNZI speak TRUTH Kemosabe.

Tom V.

Some of the older 15W40 oils (used in Farm Tractors) had zinc numbers that high in their oil. I bought gallons of the 15w40 oil before they discontinued it and put it on the shelf.

So is the additive itself 1400 ppm or when added to 5 quarts, will it make your oil 1400 ppm?

Another question- Is 1400 ppm a good number just for initial startup/breaking, or should we be looking for high ppm even for daily driving. I
m planning to breakin with 'regular' oil, and then run full synthetic.

I take no chances when using oil other than Valvoline VR-1 20/50
Stock up on Lucas Engine Break-in oil.
Add a bottle for safe margin of protection.

My dad used to break in cams with nothing but STP. I have always used EOS myself.
Valvoline VR-1 20-50, does it have a lot of zinc ?

This is what I run.

Lucas Hot Rod and Classic Car Motor Oil

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/l...SABEgIbUPD_BwE

I have always used 50/50 mix of STP and 30wt oil installing all my cams and lifters. No cam Issues to date......

Recommended reading on motor oil:
https://www.widman.biz/uploads/Corvair_oil.pdf

Good info!

Not to start a fight, but the linked pages of 6-10 year old info isn't exactly helpful as we've found that many oil manufacturers have constantly re-formulated over the years and it makes it difficult to tell for sure what they have in them.

How do you guys feel about Lucas? I use it

I asked a friend of mine this question yesterday. he worked in the research and development lab for S.T.P. when it was owned by First Brands. he told me that the amount of zinc in the oil treatment would not be enough to compensate for oil without it. the oil treatment has some good stuff in it but really is just a "thickener" to raise the viscosity. it won't hurt to add it. best thing to do is to buy oils that have already the right viscosity and have the proper additives blended into it. some oils are already "saturated" with additives so adding anything won't help.

I thought this was a interesting bit of information:

"Add enough Cam-shield™ premium ZDDP concentrate to get to the appropriate concentration for that application. Current API SM/ILSAC GF-4 oils will have approximately 850 ppm Zinc.

Minimum of 1200 to 1300 ppm Zinc for normal operation with moderate valve spring pressures (add ¼ ounce Cam-shield™ to each quart of engine oil)
Approximately 1600 ppm Zinc for normal operation of muscle cars (add ¼ ounce Cam-shield™ to each quart of engine oil)
Approximately 2000 ppm Zinc for racing (add ½ ounce Cam-shield™ to each quart of engine oil)
Approximately 2500 ppm Zinc for new cam/lifter break-in (add ½ ounce Cam-shield to each quart of engine oil, supplementing the cam lobe molybdenum break-in paste)"

So in the old days if your oil was (for example 1400 ppm Zinc) and you added a full bottle of say STP (at 1600 ppm) for the oil volume maybe you get 1500 ppm for the oil
portion and the cam break-in (EOS) takes care of the initial fire-up and 20 minute break-in cycle.

I have always used the EOS on Flat Tappet larger lift cams at Break-in.

Tom V.

1 ounce = about 30 cubic centimeters of volume.
So 1/4th ounce would be about 8 ccs of camshield.
1/2 ounce would be 16 ccs of camshield.

"STP Blue Bottle = 12 ounces. It is probably meant for a 5 quart oiling system, which means that they are allowing 2.4 ounces of product for each quart of engine oil. or about 72 ccs per quart. Camshield per ounce would be 32 ccs.

Just run a good oil that has enough Zinc and the proper additives and detergents and don't worry about it. Then there is no need to add a bottle of this or that and hope a concoction or special brew is enough.
That's all I've done for 30+ years and never a failure. There are plenty of good oils now advertised for muscle cars, flat tappet cams etc... Take your pick.

Yes Valvoline VR-1 20-50 has quite a bit of Zinc but the additives package and detergents are lacking compared to many other types of oils. It's fine to use as long as it's changed frequently.

Any brand engine oil sold in a sealed container is XX times better than engine oils sold 4-5 decades ago.
Anyone read about oil change in an owners manual from e.g. 1965?
Says, Note: A can of Engine Oil Supplement (E.O.S.) must be added at each oil change.
Not really needed with todays oils after cam break in.
Also. i prefer using a 10w30 that flows properly to the lubricating points rather than any "racing" 20w50 that don´t flow and protect until the engine temperature rises out of the scale and clogges up oil gallery and lifters with unnecessary amounts of zink.
If an engine "needs" oil treatment it´s time to restore.

JMHO