VR1 conundrum
 

Based on several recommendations on this site and the fact that I found a good deal ($58 on amazon) I decided to make the switch to Valvoline VR1 for this year.

However when I took a close look at the back of the quart container I found the following statement. "Not recommended for extended use in vehicles equipped with catalytic converters.

Since my SC still has the original factory exhaust set up with the cat, I'm a little worried.

Anyone have any insight into this problem. I bought the VR1 because it contains high levels of zinc, but now I'm afraid to put it in the car.

The warning about catalyst damage is the reason most modern oils have lost their zinc. Zinc is said to be hard on cats. That warning is probably present on all high-ZDDP oils.

Personally, I suspect the fears of cat-damage are overblown. We've had cats on cars here in the USA since '75, and ZDDP didn't start going away in oil until the last - what, maybe 10-15 years?

+1, if it bothers you and you want to preserve your engine, get a by-pass and install the cat for smog tests or you can always service the cat by washing it out. smog check will fail the cat if it is below 95% efficiency.

I had the same question when I switched to it a few months ago. Two mechanics told me it was nothing to worry about, at least in my case. Mine's a weekend only driver.

As an aside, I've been pleasantly surprised by how few drips have shown up since switching from a lower grade 20/50.

Lead in the gas is a killer, Zinc/ZDDP is not really an issue unless you are really burning oil.

As I understand it (from all the time spent reading the threads here and elsewhere), we've all been using high zinc oils in these cars since they were new.

Now that manufacturers are on the hook to guarantee that a car will not have emissions related failures for 100,000 miles (or something like that), they have mandated the decrease in zinc.

Given this logic, Any oil that you have ever used in the past would need the same warning by today's standards I would think.

(Interesting to note that nowadays, since a failed engine doesn't pollute, new cars do not need a long life engine guarantee to remain compliant - unlike cats and spark plugs).

Thanks to everyone. I feel better about it now.

It is an interesting catch 22. I guess ultimately for me, since the car has PA antique plates and is not subject to smog tests, I will eventually put SSI's on it anyway so...

Every winter (Jan/Feb) Autozone has VR1 on sale. The last time I bought a case it was around $3/qt. I think someone may have even posted on the forum here as a reminder.

I am close enough to the home of Brad Penn that I can pick up cases from a distributor. I got 2 cases of Brad Penn 10w40 Racing (yes, the make racing in 10w40) for about $95. Killer deal. I am going to stick with BP as long as I can get it.

Don't worry... be happy. Use with little fear.

The drop in ZDDP levels corresponds to when the EPA started pressing car makers to offer a 150,000 mile warranty for the cat on newer cars. This apparently puts them in the area where they have a statistically meaningful risk of having to honor the warranty. If they lower ZDDP, the risk goes down enough to save them money.

On cars on the road since about 1995, they use roller tappets which do not require the higher levels of ZDDP. Hence it is safe to go with the the lower ZDDP levels in most oils. Since VR-1 has the higher levels, they need to include the warning to protect themselves.

kill your engine to save you cat.