Z-Max?

[FL-Frank]

I've seen a lot of press about Z-Max oil additive and its benefits, and wonder if it's compatible with our engines?

[cmcfaul]

I would not do it. I put Slick 50 in a Nissan and lawn mower. Both died of oil related issues (the Slick 50 turned into some oil clogging gunk over time).

Chris
73 911 E

[Scott Clarke]

Use Brad Penn. Additives have issues. There are very complete threads about this issue on Pelican that are worth reading. They seem to conclude that there is no good way around the ZDDP issue other than buying an oil that includes it. I have to buy my oil 120 miles from my home, whick leaves something to be desired from the standpoint of convenience.

[Dave Mitchell]

I have never used anything other than Valvoline Racing Oil. They have the same levels of Zinc as Brad Penn and Swepco and you can get it at your FLAPS.

http://www.valvoline.com/products/co...ing-motor-oil/

[72targa]

Lots of stuff to read in this document...

http://www.zmax.com/documents/zmax_the_facts.pdf

If I focus on our cars (35+ year old Porsche 911's), I would assume you are most interested in protection of metal components inside your crankcase. If I review the above document, what stands out to me is these paragraphs (under Metal Penetration starting on page 2 and Friction and Wear Bench Tests on page 3):

Comparative tests of ZMax by itself and in blends with a commercial SAE 5W-30 SJ engine oil showed the ZMax by itself and when blended with the engine oil, penetrated both types of metal far deeper than engine oil alone. Although it was not possible to precisely quantify the difference in penetration depths between the engine oil, the engine oil with ZMax, and ZMax itself, the presence of ZMax in the engine oil resulted in a 82% greater penetration and a 133% greater penetration when ZMax was compared to the engine oil itself. This ability to soak (i.e., be absorbed) into metal surfaces is the key to ZMax's effectiveness.

Although multiple testing was performed, an insufficient number of tests were conducted to statistically validate the benefits of ZMax in reducing friction and wear. However, the Savant report stated “..this study of the friction and wear characteristics of ZMax has indicated generally positive effects when applied to a modern SAE 5W-30 engine oil.”

IMHO, this sounds like classic snake oil doublespeak. Combined with comments like "ZMax is derived from a highly refined mineral oil that undergoes a proprietary process involving specific molecular rearrangement", my sense is your buying a nifty looking bottle of >99% white mineral oil (per the MSDS) with dated info (API SJ was introduced in 1996 and superseded in 2001) that ignores the millions of dollars the additive suppliers and oil manufacturers to produce the oils we use in our cars while promoting a product that only substantiates itself with statistically insignificant, non-correlated bench tests.

Save your money and change your oil regularly.

[richemj]

The FTC has had issues with them in the past...http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2001/02/zmax1.shtm

ZMax had to pay out over $1MM to purchasers...http://www.ftc.gov/os/caselist/00232...tip0023256.pdf

The FTC's complaint alleges that the defendants did not possess and rely on reasonable substantiation for the following claims in the infomercial, on the Web site and in brochures that zMax:

increases gas mileage;
increases gas mileage by a minimum of 10%
reduces engine wear;
reduces or eliminates engine wear at startup;
reduces engine corrosion;
extends engine life; and
reduces emissions.

The agency's complaint also alleges that the defendants falsely represent that the results of the CRC L38 test proved that zMax:

increases gas mileage;
reduces engine wear;
extends engine life;
lowers fuel consumption by 8.5%
lowers wear on valve stems by 66%
lowers wear on piston skirts by 60%; and
cuts carbon build-up on valve stems by 66%.