Valvoline Synpower for a flat tappet

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Aug 24, 2024
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Hi all,

I'm struggling to find a product data sheet with ZDDP listed, or VOA for Valvoline Synpower 10w40.
Their PDS shows TBN as 9.3 but doesn't mention ZDDP: https://go.lupinsys.com/valvoline/h...16cf6d/search_api/SynPower_5W-40-PI_Sheet.pdf

The closest I've found is a very helpful member here that posted their Synpower 5w40 results for the past three years:

The readings average to ~900ppm Phosphorous and ~1,000ppm Zinc.

Speedway motors have slightly lower reading, 750p / 950z

In the PDS it states:
Wear protection
  • Zinc additive package provides tough anti-wear protection. Excellent wear protection enhances engine life without adversely effecting emissions system
It's classed as a ACEA A3/B4 | API SM SN/CF

Their spiel:

"SynPower is specially designed for vehicles requiring a high performance full synthetic lubricant. It’s unique anti-wear, detergent and dispersant chemistry minimises wear and keeps your engine factory clean for longer engine life. Designed for high performance application 4, 6, V6, V8, naturally aspirated, supercharged & turbocharged engines."

I wonder if Synpower is for modern pushrod V8's i.e. roller cams, as opposed to older flat tappets V8's, hence the seemingly higher zddp content (above ~800), but not the ideal ~1200ppm that's usually mentioned, hence it sitting in the ~1,000 range.

Application:
I'm curious how this would be for a flat tappet engine. Specifically:
  • 1970's 318 Dodge, completely stock
  • 1970's 350 SBC, stock or potentially has an RV cam (still in the very mild category)
No catalytic converter in either.
Regular street use.

My main concern is making sure it's well protected. Is the oil likely up to it?
I know ZDDP isn't everything - Boron and Molybdenum can also take the place where zddp is lower, if I have understood that correctly? i.e. same protection with lower zddp due to more boron/moly. Only, the PDS doesn't list the amounts (the UOA from the above member do show the amounts though).

Alternatives:
Being outside of the U.S, I don't have access to several of the go-to's (Penn etc.), or they are very expensive due to shipping. In fact, I used to use Driven HR which was priced the same as my daily driver oil. But shipping costs have increased across the board and as such, Driven is 50% higher than what it used to be.

  • Valvoline VR1
    • This is a viable option here, except my understanding and from reading their PDS, it is not intended to stay in the crank case for long. It's ideal for a few weeks / 500 miles, by their recommendation
  • Valvoline Maxlife 10w-40 API SN, SM/CF | ACEA A3/B4
    • ZDDP levels appear to be lower than Synpower, for Maxlife they work out at ~770z/850p
    • TBN: 10
    • That suggests that likely the better of the two is Synpower, in terms of zddp pacakge
  • Shell Rotella
    • A controversial one, whilst it meets the zddp numbers, I'm shying away from it due to it not being recommended for non-diesels due to the high detergent package... from what I've read
Would highly appreciate your thoughts, thanks!
 
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Unless you have high spring pressures then a flat tappet engine does not require high levels of ZDDP except during break-in. An ACEA A3/B4 product is entirely adequate. Another option is something like Mobil 1 0W-40 which is available worldwide. Where are you located?

Lots of existing threads on this topic if you wish to look around. It is about a weekly thread on "flat tappet engines and ZDDP".
 
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Unless you have high spring pressures then a flat tappet engine does not require high levels of ZDDP except during break-in. An ACEA A3/B4 product is entirely adequate.

Lots of existing threads on this topic if you wish to look around.
Thank you - "Unless you have high spring pressures then a flat tappet engine does not require high levels of ZDDP" That was my understanding too, and it lead to me thinking the Synpower might be very ok given it's close to 1,000ppm. But I guess it doesn't have the seal conditioners that the MaxLife does, but the MaxLife appears to be a little below comfort on the zddp levels, of ~750.

"Lots of existing threads on this topic if you wish to look around." Oh boy have I 😂 I've been a reader of the forum for a few years.I've been using Driven HR for years and now that I'm needing to switch, I became as confused as could be. Some swear that running low zddp on older engines caused them lost lobes. Others say anything is better than what they had back 40-50 years ago.

Part of me thinks my daily driver oil might be ok, it's a premium modern gas/diesel oil, contains titanium. But not enough info in the pds - https://msdspds.castrol.com/bpglis/...514A6898025856D0016EB07/$File/wepp-bpsmes.pdf
 
The Synpower being API SP will be max 800ppm Phosphorous which translates to maybe 900ppm Zinc.

Of what you mentioned I would probably go with VR1.
 
Thank you - "Unless you have high spring pressures then a flat tappet engine does not require high levels of ZDDP" That was my understanding too, and it lead to me thinking the Synpower might be very ok given it's close to 1,000ppm. But I guess it doesn't have the seal conditioners that the MaxLife does, but the MaxLife appears to be a little below comfort on the zddp levels, of ~750.

"Lots of existing threads on this topic if you wish to look around." Oh boy have I 😂 I've been a reader of the forum for a few years.I've been using Driven HR for years and now that I'm needing to switch, I became as confused as could be. Some swear that running low zddp on older engines caused them lost lobes. Others say anything is better than what they had back 40-50 years ago.

Part of me thinks my daily driver oil might be ok, it's a premium modern gas/diesel oil, contains titanium. But not enough info in the pds - https://msdspds.castrol.com/bpglis/...514A6898025856D0016EB07/$File/wepp-bpsmes.pdf
Yes a lot of these discussions somehow turn into an advertisement for Driven.
 
There are bazillions of SB Chevy engines out there running a nice 10w30 oil.
I run the Castrol Hot Rod oil in my 60's classics, but they use stiffer valve springs and are pretty special cars.
 
OK, buried in the post - the engines:

Chrysler 318 with a stock cam and 350 SNC with, at best, an RV cam.

For those, you don’t need a lot of ZDDP. Neither had the spring pressures or cam profile that requires a lot.

So, find a good A3/B4 and call it a day.

I ran cars to hundreds of thousands of miles on cams and engines like that, using whatever 10W40 was available, without regard to ZDDP.

Don’t overthink this.

If you had, say, a 1969 Camaro Z-28, with a 302, and the Z-28 cam, or perhaps a mid 1960s Corvette with a Duntov 30-30, then, sure, look for the 1200 PPM, but with a stock cam, I really wouldn’t worry.
 
So where are you located again? That would help with recommendations.
England. Up until now used Driven HR but price has gone up 50%
The other options I can find:
  • Shell Rotella, 4, 5, 6, any weight combination. Ideally a 10w40
  • Shell Helix HX7
  • Valvoline VR1 - various weights
  • Valvoline Max Life - 10w40
  • Valvoline Synpower (might work, unsure)
  • Castrol Classic GTX 20w50 - too heavy
  • Castrol GTX - reads a little low on the zddp side
  • Comma X Flow XS - 10w40 Semi Synthetic - A3/B4 SL CF - 1,000p/1,100z. Ticks a lot of boxes but supposedly comes from a used oil refinery
  • Mobil Super 2000 (haven't located info yet)
  • Mobil Super 3000 (haven't located info yet)

For those, you don’t need a lot of ZDDP. Neither had the spring pressures or cam profile that requires a lot.

So, find a good A3/B4 and call it a day.
Thanks, that's reassuring. Makes me think the Synpower 10w40 is viable option as it's A3/B4 SM, SN/CF and there is a place with a good bulk buy offer on, making it the most affordable currently.


Don’t overthink this.
😂Sadly, overthink is my middle name.

If you had, say, a 1969 Camaro Z-28, with a 302, and the Z-28 cam, or perhaps a mid 1960s Corvette with a Duntov 30-30, then, sure, look for the 1200 PPM, but with a stock cam, I really wouldn’t worry.

The SBC is of unknown origin, tracking the numbers on it back, it appears to be a 74-76 Police engine. But I couldn't find any info beyond that and what Police spec means. It potentially has an RV cam - the vague history is that a 76 Z28 Camaro was parted out into this 79 Camaro, including the engine. But I'm pretty sure a mid 70's Z28 wasn't of the power of a 1969 Camaro.
 
England. Up until now used Driven HR but price has gone up 50%
The other options I can find:
  • Shell Rotella, 4, 5, 6, any weight combination. Ideally a 10w40
  • Shell Helix HX7
  • Valvoline VR1 - various weights
  • Valvoline Max Life - 10w40
  • Valvoline Synpower (might work, unsure)
  • Castrol Classic GTX 20w50 - too heavy
  • Castrol GTX - reads a little low on the zddp side
  • Comma X Flow XS - 10w40 Semi Synthetic - A3/B4 SL CF - 1,000p/1,100z. Ticks a lot of boxes but supposedly comes from a used oil refinery
  • Mobil Super 2000 (haven't located info yet)
  • Mobil Super 3000 (haven't located info yet)


Thanks, that's reassuring. Makes me think the Synpower 10w40 is viable option as it's A3/B4 SM, SN/CF and there is a place with a good bulk buy offer on, making it the most affordable currently.



😂Sadly, overthink is my middle name.



The SBC is of unknown origin, tracking the numbers on it back, it appears to be a 74-76 Police engine. But I couldn't find any info beyond that and what Police spec means. It potentially has an RV cam - the vague history is that a 76 Z28 Camaro was parted out into this 79 Camaro, including the engine. But I'm pretty sure a mid 70's Z28 wasn't of the power of a 1969 Camaro.


If you were to look up the stock cam profiles on a 74 to 76 smog control 350 small block, you would be horribly disappointed by both the lift and the duration. You would be equally horrified by the port size, and the valve sizes.

So, if you ever want more power out of this motor, you’re gonna need both heads, and a cam.

However, on the good side, this mild cam means your oil requirement is equally, appropriately, mild.
 
I mixed the Castrol Classic 20w50 with 5w30 Castrol conventional. Stock lift flat tappet Pontiac.
I was doing the same with Driven - mixed 5w30 and 20w50 half and half to get somewhere around 15w40. It's not linear of course, perhaps it was more of a 17w45 in the end.
 
I found the correct datasheet for the Valvoline Synpower 10w40 (the one in the original post is 5w40). https://sharena21.springcm.com/Publ...2d889bd1/391aae45-ddf4-e811-9c1b-ac162d889bd1

It's showing as semi synthetic, A3/B4 API SM SN/CF. MB-229.3.
TBN 10
ZDDP, moly - no mention.

Interestingly the 5w40 pds mentions "Wear protection: Zinc additive package provides tough anti-wear protection. Excellent wear protection enhances engine life without adversely effecting emissions system"
Whereas the 10w40 pds mentions "Wear protection: Provides ultimate protection against wear under all operating conditions."

The MB-229.3 spec appears to bring it in line with Shell Helix HX7, which is also A3/B4 API SM SN/CF
 
I found the correct datasheet for the Valvoline Synpower 10w40 (the one in the original post is 5w40). https://sharena21.springcm.com/Publ...2d889bd1/391aae45-ddf4-e811-9c1b-ac162d889bd1

It's showing as semi synthetic, A3/B4 API SM SN/CF. MB-229.3.
TBN 10
ZDDP, moly - no mention.

Interestingly the 5w40 pds mentions "Wear protection: Zinc additive package provides tough anti-wear protection. Excellent wear protection enhances engine life without adversely effecting emissions system"
Whereas the 10w40 pds mentions "Wear protection: Provides ultimate protection against wear under all operating conditions."

The MB-229.3 spec appears to bring it in line with Shell Helix HX7, which is also A3/B4 API SM SN/CF
Looks like you’re good to go then. Hopefully you can sleep better.
 
Looks like you’re good to go then. Hopefully you can sleep better.
Sadly no, still awake comparing and trying to find some numbers behind the marketing.
Helix appears to be above 1,000 zddp, but can't find anything on synpower numbers.
Would also be good to see the contents of their AW package e.g. moly and boron.

I liked the idea of Valvoline maxlife but those appear to be in the 700-800 zddp range. And no mention beyond that of their AW package.
 
Sadly no, still awake comparing and trying to find some numbers behind the marketing.
Helix appears to be above 1,000 zddp, but can't find anything on synpower numbers.
Would also be good to see the contents of their AW package e.g. moly and boron.

I liked the idea of Valvoline maxlife but those appear to be in the 700-800 zddp range. And no mention beyond that of their AW package.
The figures you see for phosphorous in the A3/B4 LL-01, 229.5, A40...etc xW-40 oils are "ideal", as there is no constraint on phosphorous for the xW-40 grade, so if more of it would make the oil perform better, they'd use more of it, but they don't.

I 2nd the earlier recommendation for M1 0W-40.
 
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