Originally Posted by RDY4WAR
Originally Posted by Olas
I'm no chemist but if some 170-200 is good why does Redline use so much more?
Because molybdenum compounds are more than just friction reducers. They also provide anti-wear and anti-oxidant properties.
Also note that companies like Red Line, Driven, and HPL aren't concerned about meeting API requirements for maximum sulfated ash content or limits to certain additives. They don't formulate their oils with the idea of 10,000 mile intervals in the common guy's Toyota Camry. They are worried about keeping high performance engines alive in extreme stress and environments as that's their market.
Your mass companies like Mobil 1, Pennzoil, QS, Castrol, Valvoline, and so on, want to meet API/ILSAC requirements so their oils will get put on the shelves at the big retailers, satisfy the needs of OEMs, and match what customers' manuals say they need. API/ILSAC restricts phosphorus, sulfur, and sulfated ash content because they are worried about damage to emissions systems. Racing engines don't have emissions systems so they don't care to meet those restrictions.
There's also a cost factor. If allowed to, I'm sure the formulators at Pennzoil would love to put 400-800 ppm of trinuclear MoDTC and 1000-1200 ppm of secondary ZDDP in their oils. However, it would also significantly increase the price of the oil on the shelves. The concentration they have currently is sufficient for the needs of the vast majority of customers and is cost effective. One of the reasons Pennzoil and QS uses dinuclear MoDTC in their lower tier oils is due to cost. Dinuclear is much cheaper than trinuclear, even at 2-3x the concentration.
Very well explained!