Does Anyone Use STP?

[toobroketoretire]

I'm running a flat tappet camshaft in my 454" and have been adding a small bottle of ZDDP at every oil change to help protect the camshaft. I recently found STP on sale for only $5 per bottle and discovered it contains ZDDP. So I bought a dozen bottles just to thicken my oil a tad for summer use. I am aware it's just a viscosity improver but as it contains zinc and I need zinc in my oil I felt it's worth the small expense.

Do any of you guys use it?

 

[Scottsredvette]

Personal opinion only, the can of voodoo black magic you're adding to the oil might be fine for an old, worn out engine that someone is trying to get a little more life out of, but,,, too many stories of issues arising out of using it in modern engines. If it was my motor, I'd use racing oil.


Performance Oils and Additives: Got Zinc? - Engine Builder Magazine

 

[stevolwevol]

I've use it in worn out engines before, but it's hard to tell if the stuff is really helping with anything. With a non-roller engine, I would just get a good oil with 1200 ppm zddp or more. If you just can't resist using STP, then wait till the engine is good and warm, then slowly add when the engine is running so it mixes with the oil, or it will just sit in the pan.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Adding an aftermarket product with unknown ZDDP content to an oil that also has an unknown ZDDP content, then pronouncing 'it is good' makes little sense not to mention the undesirable side effects of the additive changing the oil's viscosity. Much easier to just go out and buy a suitable product that already has a known and adequate amount of ZDDP already in it.

In our ongoing efforts to spread some good solid knowledge instead of fairy tales, here's an excellent article on the subject written by a real engineer starting on page 3

http://stlouisncrs.org/news_files/St_Louis_NCRS_Chapter_July_2011.pdf

Our local Wally World carries Rotella in various flavours. I stock up when it goes on sale. I think the US Walmarts carry a similar house brand, I'd use that if it was available here.

It makes little sense also to use boutique brand specialty oils, not that they do harm, just that it's money spent for nothing.

 

[toobroketoretire]

I visited STP's website but I couldn't find any specs on the amount of ZDDP used. Probably next to nothing but enough to claim it contains ZDDP.

 

[stevolwevol]

I visited STP's website but I couldn't find any specs on the amount of ZDDP used. Probably next to nothing but enough to claim it contains ZDDP.

I called STP awhile back, and they wouldn't tell me how much zddp was in the bottle. The person on the other end was very guarded when she spoke, as if they were concerned about some kind of liability.

I have been using Rotella also since it has enough zddp for non roller engines. Much less expensive than brand name racing oil.

 

[toobroketoretire]

I'm running a magnum flat tappet cam with about 130 pounds seat pressure and have about 38,000 miles on it so far. It'll be interesting to see how long it lasts before it fails. When I broke it in I ran my engine at 2500 rpm for a whole hour so it had a LOT of oil on it during it's break in.

 

[Tom Bryant]

You can add me to the list of Rotella users too.

Tom

 

[kpic]

In our ongoing efforts to spread some good solid knowledge instead of fairy tales, here's an excellent article on the subject written by a real engineer starting on page 3

A excellent read. My bet would be he is a tribology engineer.

For the curious: Tribology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

A excellent read. My bet would be he is a tribology engineer.

For the curious: Tribology - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not specifically, but Duke has diligently spent tireless hours on the subject in an attempt to get at the truth and help dispel all the myths and misunderstandings. I think he underestimated the number of people who would rather put faith in voodoo magic and the marketeers.

 

[kpic]

Not specifically, but Duke has diligently spent tireless hours on the subject in an attempt to get at the truth and help dispel all the myths and misunderstandings. I think he underestimated the number of people who would rather put faith in voodoo magic and the marketeers.

Wow, I'm standing in awe! Before I retired, I read tribology reports at work and Duke definitely sounded the same as them.
The online black majik voodoo types and marketeers never cease to amaze me. Potentially, the marketeers know better and will make a lot of claims because it's their job. The voodoo types don't know any better; yet profess to know a lot.

 

[Scottsredvette]

If you're not a fan of specialty racing oils (i.e. Joe Gibbs Driven Racing Oil HR-2 10W-30), you might look in to Valvoline VR 1. 1200 ppm zinc for your flat tappet engine.

http://content.valvoline.com/pdf/vr1_racing.pdf