Copied and pasted from another fourm.
Cliffs:Question:
Has Zinc Been Removed from Motor Oils?
I am having thrust bearing failure in a 4.6 modified performance engine. This is a street/strip engine. Many of my friends are having the same problem. I think it is the result of the removal of zinc from the oil. I was told by two separate racing engine builders that the EPA ordered the removal of the zinc from over-the-counter motor oil. I use Mobil 1 5W-20. Is this true and do you think a zinc additive might help?
-- Randy Lovejoy, Americas, GA
Answer:
The active ingredient that you are talking about is phosphorus which is added thru a component called ZDDP. For products that meet the new ILSAC GF-4 specification the phosphorus levels for the oil must be less than 800 ppm phosphorus. The ILSAC level for phosphorus has been reduced to protect the catalytic converter and other emission protection equipment. The engine manufacturers are confident that this level of phosphorus will protect both new and older engines. However, there are Mobil 1 products which have a higher level of phosphorus (phos) and can be used in engines in racing or high performance applications; see the attached table.
ZDDP is being removed from current oils.
This stuff is also know as zinc(the thing that keeps ur valvetrain alive)
New oils will cause problems unless additives are added.
FUCK the EPA.
Lets try and tell everyone that has a pre obd2 car about this. Apparently all obd2+ cars have diffrent build materials that dont require the presence of ZDDP in the oil. Older engines neeed this stuff to run problem free.
Link to said forum >> http://www.3geez.com/forum/showthrea...499#post930499