ZDDP Content Chart - High Zinc Oil List - Brand Breakdown
What Engine Oils Are High In Zinc?
In a previous article on ZDDP additives, we explained the purpose of zinc in oil and its benefits. Oils with high ZDDP content are the best oil for older cars, engines with flat tappet camshafts, and racing engines. As you’ll see, mainstream “parts store” motor oils no longer have the necessary level of ZDDP required to protect and preserve your engine, especially those that use hydraulic flat tappet camshafts. Oil is application specific, just like the parts in your engine. Diesel oil zinc content used to be the only way to protect these old engines initially, but now there are many high ZDDP oil options to keep your engine safe. So keep reading and see our high zinc oil list to learn which oil is best for your specialty vehicle.
How Much ZDDP is Enough?
The answer is—it depends on who you ask. We have compiled a high zinc oil list with several of our motor oils with high levels of ZDDP, as well as a handful of other oil with zinc you would encounter at your local parts store. As you can see, there are very clear differences in the level of zinc and phosphorus (the main ingredients of ZDDP) between specialty oils and typical motor oils used for modern passenger cars. If you're the type that enjoys the gritty details there are several white papers from the Department of Energy and University of Pennsylvania (with ExxonMobil) that go deep into how high ZDDP oil works to protect the surface of metal engine parts.
High Zinc Oil List (Chart)
See our full-resolution high zinc oil list below in a linked chart to each product line on Speedway Motors' website.
Brand Breakdown
This high zinc oil list includes the following brands and their most popular high zinc oil offerings.
Amsoil
Amsoil motor oil with zinc includes their Z-Rod line of oils. This Amsoil ZDDP package is designed for classic cars with flat tappet cams.
Lucas Oil
Lucas ZDDP based oils include Lucas Oil 5w-20 zinc racing break in oil.
Mobil 1
Mobil 1 offers several viscosities even though not all are shown on the Mobil 1 ZDDP chart list. Mobil 1 15W50 zinc is a great choice for many applications.
Pennzoil
Pennzoil Racing oil zinc content is suitable for traditional engine protection, and that includes the full line of Pennzoil synthetic oils.
Rotella
Rotella 10w30 zinc content oil is a popular choice, as is Rotella T4 zinc content.
Valvoline
Valvoline oil with zinc, such as Valvoline VR1 ZDDP, is a popular oil offered in 10W30 and 20W50 viscosities.
Which Oil with Zinc is Best?
Selecting the right high zinc oil can be a complicated decision. There are many formulations, grades, and viscosities available for oil with zinc. First, we always recommend listening to your engine builder and using the oil with ZDDP they recommend. They likely have experience with a particular formulation that works for their customers. Lean on their experience within the industry, which is usually the best choice and will most likely be on our high zinc oil list. While Rotella 10W30 zinc content oil may be popular, or what your friend uses, your engine builder may actually recommend Mobil 1 15W50 zinc oil for your particular bearing clearances and engine use. This is why for performance custom engine builds we highly recommend reaching out to your builder to discuss oil ZDDP comparison needs.
For those of you looking to keep an old car running strong or rebuilding an engine on your own, you should know that oil isn’t a one size fits all item that works appropriately across all applications. Using a 0w-20 oil in a modern Honda Civic works great, but having under 800 parts per million (ppm) of zinc and phosphorus would spell complete disaster for a race engine with a flat tappet cam. While ZDDP is just one part of the equation when choosing the correct oil for your application, hopefully, this oil ZDDP comparison list makes your decision an informed one.
