Misleading product labels...

[4xcrazy]

So, I stopped off at the local parts store a few days ago, to pick up a bottle of Zinc additive, probably don't absolutely NEED it with a roller cam & lifter setup, but after the crap I just went through with getting everything back together in the Avalanche, I chose to toss some in to hopefully help it out some.

I ask the parts monkey behind the counter where the Zinc additive is for the engine oils, he walks right to it, says right on the front in big letters, ZINC REPLACEMENT.

We start talking about why I am needing it, talk about the engine and whatnot, I notice that it's $15 WHAT?

Ah well, I'll get it and just add that price to future oil changes I guess.

I get home, pour it in, then notice on the back of the labels some other information about this product.

Wasn't too thrilled about it either.

 

[4xcrazy]

My fault, I should have paid more attention to the labels and read up on it before buying a $15 bottle of "super snot in a bottle"

 

[chulisohombre]

That sucks. I always try to read the back of the bottle to see what it's supposed to do. I hope it does what it's supposed to do.

 

[sweetk30]

first clue was play on words.

" protects better than zinc "

and fyi all that little extra crap for 1-2-3-4-5 bucks each thay sell you gets them points / extra bucks at the end of the sale week . DONT BUY IT !

 

[14-Bolt]

That kind of **** pisses me off. I'd be getting my money back. What a joke.

 

[76zimmer]

The "replacement additive" says exactly what it is...Not zinc, but a replacement of higher protection...I would question their proof of such a claim though.

 

[CGT80]

I use ZDDPlus. It is around 10 bucks per bottle and takes one bottle for 5 quarts of oil. It does have ZDDP in it and claims to be better than all the others. My engine builder recommended it. I have 22k miles on a nice 406sbc that gets pushed hard in a 3/4 ton 79 c20 pickup. I am running a flat tappet cam-comp 270 magnum. I also use that same product for the new GM Goodwrench stock engine that I put in my 88 K5 Blazer.

 

[454Sub]

Roller cams dont need Zinc to break in or run properly. Iv always used Lucas Oil stuff in all my engines plus whichever synthetic oil is on sale and never had a problem roller cam or not.

 

[4xcrazy]

Roller cams dont need Zinc to break in or run properly. Iv always used Lucas Oil stuff in all my engines plus whichever synthetic oil is on sale and never had a problem roller cam or not.

It's just more of a precautionary thing really, preventive maintenance, after losing the cam in the '05 / 5.3,,, not really a job I want to have to do for quite some time now.

I realize they aren't supposed to need the added zinc, but can it really hurt.

 

[454Sub]

Nope, cant hurt at all. Thats why Iv always used the Lucas in my 454. Since day one Iv ran 2 quarts of it, plus 5 of synthetic and its never missed a beat. Cut an oil cooler line once, ran it completely dry until the sending unit fuel pressure switch cut off the fuel, and kept crankin on it till I figured it out. Pulled the pan and cut open the filter fearing the worst, and not a single bit of glitter in it.

Speaking of all that preventative stuff, Thats why I have always placed magnets on the oil pan, tranny pan and gas tank. Just to contain anything that could possibly be floating around where it isnt supposed to. Old speaker magnets work amazing for that.

 

[Ned Kelly]

On a side note, they say in newer vehicles zinc can cause problems with the catalytic convertor, and possibley O2 sensors.

 

[CGT80]

Both of my trucks (79 and 88 with cats in California) ran flat tappet hydraulic cams from the factory and the new engines have the same. My 406 passed smog and was cleaner than average for that truck, and I run ZDDP. I do have roller tipped rockers on the 406. I do not have a late model fancy, high priced factory cat either. They are just high flow replacement cats. I wonder if the older cats hold up better to ZDDP than the new ones. Of course, my old trucks do not have to run as clean as the new stuff, and may not need such a finicky cat.

After changing my oil a couple times and adding ZDDPlus at $10+ per oil change, I started to figure out what that would cost me over the life of the engine. 200,000 miles on an engine with oil changes at 3,000 miles would be 66 oil changes and roughly $666 spent on additive. After seeing those numbers, I had second thoughts about not running a roller cam. I also don't know if the Gen I SBC's have other parts that need the ZDDP as well. I would also rather add a $10 bottle of ZDDP when I change the oil than pull the engine early due to prematurely worn parts. I agree with using it as a preventive if it doesn't effect the cat and emissions.

 

[Richcz28]

I run les frickshun. It is what my engine guy recommends. I did a full quart for my oil changes over the course of my engines first 3000 miles (while running rotella). Now I use a full quart with 10w-30. This is with a flat tappet 305.