what is so special about the turbocharged Buick motor that people think we need to use a different oil than every other engine family in the world?
if zddp was needed for "other parts" of the engine, then every late model engine being built today would be a rolling time bomb.
the zddp is needed for the interface between the flat tappet lifter and camshaft lobe- the loads there are much, much higher than anywhere else in the engine- and maybe even the rest of the car.
it probably can't hurt to have the stuff in there, but if you get rid of the flat tappets, then it isn't needed.
You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but since that you have not been around Buicks, especially turbo Buicks, for very long apparently, you have not experienced the results, good and bad, of a high performance V-6.
To say an oil additive is not needed except in a flat tappet engine is a broad statement, and does not take in account lots of other factors.
Some of these are how is the car used, the basic V-6 design and metalurgy is from the 1960's, oil composition and additives have changed drastically in the past few years.
A street driver GN has much different "needs" than a 900+ HP race motor. If the additive does such a good job of preserving the flat tappet cam which is a higher loaded "interface" than anything else in the engine, then why would you NOT want to protect ALL the other friction surfaces?
Over the many years, even before "boards", most cam failures had one thing in common - synthetic oil. So if it is a problem there, would it also be less effective else where in the engine?
Many owners want to stick with their type of oil. We do also because of the good results we have found over the years in our applications.
Tim, not problem with 10-40W oil, we just do not have it available in Valvoline Racing which we use. I do use it in street cars in other brands.
