How much zinc in the oil

[RyanY]

Originally Posted by 2KBMW
Is higher zinc in small gas lawn mower engines that have plastic cams and aluminum bore even important?

Good question! I don't have an informed answer but I suspect Pennzoil may come out with a Plastic-Cam-Lawnmower oil in the near future, to complement their Hybrid, Start-Stop, Max Power, and Extended oils.

 

[bchannell]

It does depend on what youre talking about. A push mower with, as you say, a plastic cam and aluminum bore, no it doesn't really matter. Any good oil will make it last far longer than you'll want to use it.
Now, if you have a $10K John Deere garden tractor with a commercial engine, you then start to think about seriously protecting that investment. I mean if you'd told me 35 years ago, I'd pay that kind of money to mow grass, I'd have laughed. Truth is, I'm coming up on a decision to buy a new X7XX and it's even more, but to mow 5+ acres a week, you need decent equipment. And yes, I use decent oil, like that really expensive SuperTech 15w40 and it protects just fine, and has the zinc level of ~1200, which I feel comfortable with.