Oil additives

CPman · Jul 2, 2009

It seems there has been several threads discussing what weight of oil to use and how it affects cam timing and what I'm curious about is how certain oil additives may effect cam timing as well. Why I ask is because I have seen Carrol Shelby promoting Z-max (on the speed channel) as a product he stands behind and that it is added to every car they build. If there was one person in the aftermarket automotive industry that I trust and respect, it would be Carrol Shelby but I'm just wondering if anyone has first hand experience with this product and what they think of it.

cave diver · Jul 2, 2009

CPman said:
It seems there has been several threads discussing what weight of oil to use and how it affects cam timing and what I'm curious about is how certain oil additives may effect cam timing as well. Why I ask is because I have seen Carrol Shelby promoting Z-max (on the speed channel) as a product he stands behind and that it is added to every car they build. If there was one person in the aftermarket automotive industry that I trust and respect, it would be Carrol Shelby but I'm just wondering if anyone has first hand experience with this product and what they think of it.

No offense but Carrol Shelby would put his name on cat pooh if there was a $ to be made. Z-Max and all the other additives are just snake oil. If you are using a name brand full synthetic oil that is all your engine needs.

CPman · Jul 2, 2009

That's interesting, I often wondered just how involved he was in the company or if he was just a figure head. HMMMMMMMMMMM.

Randy 25 · Jul 2, 2009

I respect ole Shelby for all that he did way back when (even had a Factory Five Cobra for years but that's another story), but I agree, he's hawking snake oil now. Sad.

bullitt 736 · Jul 2, 2009

No additives here.

frdfrst · Jul 2, 2009

he has a piece of the company

TBrad · Jul 3, 2009

Zmax = snake oil.
No pun intended.

Just stay with the synthetic or syn. blend 5w20.

anthony05gt · Jul 3, 2009

Agreed. A guy on another forum showed some test results where 5/20 barely gets the job done even full synthetic. Just kind of thin. Running 10/30 has been done on 3-valves without anybody reporting any problems with VCT system lag. I know I was running it before I locked out the VCT and had no problems. You might want to search around the forums looking into this subject more, but 10/30 will definitely be much better in holding up to the heat.

o0Dan0o · Jul 3, 2009

Z-max is supposedly just tinted mineral oil, AMSOIL - Just say NO to oil additives

The only additive I run, or would suggest running, is auto-rx. As an additive (3 ounces per oil change), it is reported to help prevent sludge build and extend oil service life. I wouldn't suggest it if it wasn't well respected on bobistheoilguy.com, those guys over there are pretty anal about their oil, so if they like it it's good enough for me.
Dan

o0Dan0o · Jul 3, 2009

anthony05gt said:
Agreed. A guy on another forum showed some test results where 5/20 barely gets the job done even full synthetic. Just kind of thin. Running 10/30 has been done on 3-valves without anybody reporting any problems with VCT system lag. I know I was running it before I locked out the VCT and had no problems. You might want to search around the forums looking into this subject more, but 10/30 will definitely be much better in holding up to the heat.

Do you have a link to this? Also, I think I would run a 5-30, just for better cold start protection.
Dan

bdcardinal · Jul 3, 2009

o0Dan0o said:
Do you have a link to this? Also, I think I would run a 5-30, just for better cold start protection.
Dan

please explain how 5w20 and 5w30 have different cold start protection. the 5w inplies the viscosity of the oil when measured at 32*F, the W standing for Winter. so the difference between 5w20 and 5w30 is viscosity at operating temperature.

ruffy · Jul 3, 2009

I have been using 10W30 mobile 1 since my first oil change with no problems. I can't get 5W20 as the book calls for here in Macedonia.

o0Dan0o · Jul 3, 2009

bdcardinal said:
please explain how 5w20 and 5w30 have different cold start protection. the 5w inplies the viscosity of the oil when measured at 32*F, the W standing for Winter. so the difference between 5w20 and 5w30 is viscosity at operating temperature.

If you look at the post I quoted, they guy is using 10w-30, I was saying 5w-30 has better cold start protection.
Dan

bdcardinal · Jul 3, 2009

o0Dan0o said:
If you look at the post I quoted, they guy is using 10w-30, I was saying 5w-30 has better cold start protection.
Dan

oops, disregard. still a random tidbit of info that many people don't know.

o0Dan0o · Jul 3, 2009

bdcardinal said:
oops, disregard. still a random tidbit of info that many people don't know.

Very true, and the 5w-20 is probably a slightly "better" oil in that it will likely need fewer friction modifiers to achieve its dual viscosity.
Dan

anthony05gt · Jul 5, 2009

o0Dan0o said:
Do you have a link to this? Also, I think I would run a 5-30, just for better cold start protection.
Dan

No, I don't remember which forum it was on, but there was technical data from Ford's in house testing which clearly showed how the 5-20 was just barely acceptable. In discussions I've had with several of the top modular engine builders they always shy away from 5-20. I was having some valvetrain noise issues before and that's how the conversation was started. The valvetrain noise ended up being caused by regrind cams. I have since switched to billet cams.

GOLDENPONY · Jul 5, 2009

o0Dan0o said:
Z-max is supposedly just tinted mineral oil, AMSOIL - Just say NO to oil additives

The only additive I run, or would suggest running, is auto-rx. As an additive (3 ounces per oil change), it is reported to help prevent sludge build and extend oil service life. I wouldn't suggest it if it wasn't well respected on bobistheoilguy.com, those guys over there are pretty anal about their oil, so if they like it it's good enough for me.
Dan

I don't use ANYTHING other than a good full synthetic oil. If you use syn oil and change it at some reasonable interval, you won't have to worry about sludge or service life.

o0Dan0o · Jul 6, 2009

GOLDENPONY said:
I don't use ANYTHING other than a good full synthetic oil. If you use syn oil and change it at some reasonable interval, you won't have to worry about sludge or service life.

A good synthetic oil at 5k intervals is fine, that should easily keep our engines clean and running smoothly for hundreds of thousands of miles. But the OP ask about additives, and Auto-Rx is the only one I can suggest (as it's actually a sound product, and not snake oil).

There has been some discussion on if 5w-20is enough, some say it is some say to go with 5w-30. I have heard of people running both without issue.
Dan

GOLDENPONY · Jul 8, 2009

GOLDENPONY said:
I don't use ANYTHING other than a good full synthetic oil. If you use syn oil and change it at some reasonable interval, you won't have to worry about sludge or service life.

I will make one correction here. I do use a can of RESTORE at each oil change in my wife's 1990 Miata. It has like 170,000 miles. It does seem to work.

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