Does anyone here use ZDDP?
 

Does anyone here use ZDDP? do these old benz's use non-roller lifters (whatever those are)

Roller lifters have a roller in contact with the cam lobe rather than a sliding metal-on-metal contact. None of your MBs uses roller lifters.

Sixto
87 300D

Quality 5w40 oils have enough ZDDP in them already.

-J

almost. current oils for gasoline engine have about 1/2 the ZDDP that is in diesel oils. ZDDP is not too good for cats so the trend is to reduce its content. Automakers are offering 100K mi warranty on the cat so they are forcing the oil co to reduce ZDDP content.

Lots of aircooled motorcycle guys have their panties in a wad over this, but it's basically irrelevant to Mercedes.

Read the article beginning on page 3 of this link:

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

I don't know about more recent Merc engines, but my M103, like my '63 Corvette, Cosworth Vega, and '91 MR2 have sliding surfaces in the valvetrain, so I follow my own advice and use C-category oil in all.

Given low mileage, low rate of mileage accumulation, and low oil consumption on the catalyst cars, I'm not worried about aging the catalysts.

Duke

Due to rebates and coupons , I just scored free 5 gal each of Pennzoil Ultra and Platinum that I was going to use in the 380SL. Now I am afraid they may not have enough zinc. I need to figure if they have enough or buy some zddp or just return them to Wally.

edit: I suspect they don't have enough zddp. I am going to buy a can of Rislone zinc additive that seems to be $8 at Advance Auto, to make this "free " deal worthwhile. We are going to have to pay attention to this in the future. I had been using Mobil 1, but certain formulas ( I was using 15w-50) have had the zinc removed.

Duke,
Great article. From what you wrote it seems reasonable to use a CJ-4 oil instead of synthetic Mobil 1 in the 3.2 liter engine in my 1999 clk320, and the only ill effect would be a miniscule reduction in the oil company's earnings :)

Amsoil Premium Synthetic Oil with added ZDDP will keep hydraulic compensators nice and quiet.

Just use CJ4 rated synthetic oil.

My machinist tells me the ZDDP was removed because although it helped reduce wear, it had a negative impact on mileage. The car manufacturer's don't care about when your enngine wears out but they do care about reporting the highest MPG.

It has a bigger effect on catalyst life.

-J

Your machinist don't know jack

You are right. Pennzoil Ultra has zinc of 0.05 wt % and Phos of 0.03 wt% while Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel has zinc level of 0.14 wt % and phos of 0.12 wt%

ZDDP and Phos are very important anti-wear additives.

For the most part is found in larger amounts in "Diesel Engine Oils", but they are suitable for Gas cars.

I use Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck 5W-40 in my Porsche car.