So I have been doing some self research on engine oil to use. I frequently travel to the U.S. so I have access to their market and often purchase oil there as it is much cheaper (usually half the cost of here). I do the oil changes myself and also service my mom's Viper Srt-10 Ram. This vehicle calls specifically for Mobil1 0w-40w. Curious as to why it was so important this oil be only used I found some interesting information.

In 2004 a mandate was released that all vehicle manufactures had to ensure their catalitic converters lasted at least 100k miles. To effectively achieve this, oil manufactures were required to reduce the amount of ash produced by their oil. Coincidently the amount of zinc was reduced in the engine oils in the form of an additive called ZDDP. ZDDP (Zinc) is an essential component to proper lubrication in an engine. Many on S2Ki are blaming this reduction of ZDDP to the TCT failure we are finding, and also if you have noticed many are having thrust bearing failures which is very suspicious as I have read of other car enthusiasts having similar problems with their engines from different vehicles.

Type "ZDDP engine oil" in google and endless articles will arise.

Here is a chart from mobil 1 indicating the level of zinc in their oils, from this chart it is clear why Mopar insists on using 0w-40 in their Viper equipped vehicles.

http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/MotorO...oduct_Guide.pdf

I am now going to be more careful of the oil I choose, I think I may switch to Mobil 15w-50 for added protection.

I know everyone has their oil of choice much like domestic pickup truck owners argue over brands but it may be worth researching your oil to see what level of zinc it has been reduced to from this mandate.

I just picked up Mobil-1 15w-50 for $21.00 for 5L at Walmart. Both the 0w-40 and 15w-50 both do not have the API certification on the front of the bottle

 

UOC 12,361

UOC= ultimate oil championship
lets get ready to ruuuuuuumble.....

I used 15w50 mobil one for about a year I had no issues with it. I also changed my oil about every 2000 miles.
Link no worky.

 

Link fixed

 

This is exactly what I have been saying for a while!
You must get oil with a good deal of ZDDP.

I had TCT problems with regular 10W30 Mobil 1. I switched to Redline 10W40 and it worked great but was hard to find and expensive and then after some ZDDP research have switched to the Mobil 1 Ow40 European blend and it has been working great!
I have awesome oil pressure at start up with it (50-60 psi) and I have had no tensioner problems also. Car runs great with it!

 

crap i just picked up 4 gallons of mobil 1 10w-30

 

This is why I switched from Castrol syntec 10w40 after 13k miles to Amsoil 10w40, now have 15k miles. Amsoil uses very high amounts of ZDDP. I havent experienced any negative effects from running the Castrol syntec 10w40 for 13k miles, but its probably due to not using it for very long. I'm glad I have switched to Amsoil now.

 

To the OP great job, it is nice to see fact not opinion


You can buy ZDDP additive in fact that is what many of the additives have along with detergants.

 

where do you get these and how much should I be adding?

 

It is found in regular additives such as STP and others. The problem is you get more detergerant and other crap in the additives you may not want.


Here is a small concentrated bottle, I have purchased before.

http://www.zddplus.com/

 

thanks, just ordered 2 bottles, that should hold me over til this batch of 10w 30 is done, then ill switch to a mobil 1 with more zddp