BlackWorksInc
New member
So here's a question for you guys, how many of you are running additive packages to your Low-SAPs oil? Been meaning to post this on the forums for a while (now I can't find my documentation... :mmph: ), but I figure you guys are the biggest at risk owners.
If you don't know already, modern oil is Low SAPs (Sulfur, Ash, Phosphorus) and this is fine for modern 3 way catalytic converters and low tolerance modern engines. But older engines can be in danger as the new stuff is less protective; in older vehicles the SAPs provided a sacrificial boundary layer for start-up/low oil conditions that helped prevent premature wear. Even high quality synthetics don't always have the proper additive packs for older vehicles and could damage your vehicle.
I wanted to mention this because last year I was taking a CTi course and my friend & instructor brought a 22RE camshaft to class; at first glance I joked with him that it must be one of those VW "soft" cams because it was absolutely rounded! He shot back, "you work for Toyota, you don't recognize a 22RE camshaft?" My mouth hit the floor, each and every cam lobe had been worn down so round they looked like camshaft journals. I asked him, "what this guy do run no oil for 50k?" Nope, the customer had his engine completely rebuild from the ground up and used top of the line synthetic in his vehicle, not even 40k later the camshaft looked like that. (I don't have the picture anymore on my phone as it was a couple phone models ago, it was just unbelievable and I really wish I had the picture to show you guys.) Moral of the story is that since then I have been convinced that you need to pay attention to what is going or isn't going into your oil on older vehicles. I recommend to older vehicle owning customers to either use a camshaft additive or check the additive packages of their oil to prevent that kind of engine damage.
I'll update the post with documentation & pictures if I find them again.
If you don't know already, modern oil is Low SAPs (Sulfur, Ash, Phosphorus) and this is fine for modern 3 way catalytic converters and low tolerance modern engines. But older engines can be in danger as the new stuff is less protective; in older vehicles the SAPs provided a sacrificial boundary layer for start-up/low oil conditions that helped prevent premature wear. Even high quality synthetics don't always have the proper additive packs for older vehicles and could damage your vehicle.
I wanted to mention this because last year I was taking a CTi course and my friend & instructor brought a 22RE camshaft to class; at first glance I joked with him that it must be one of those VW "soft" cams because it was absolutely rounded! He shot back, "you work for Toyota, you don't recognize a 22RE camshaft?" My mouth hit the floor, each and every cam lobe had been worn down so round they looked like camshaft journals. I asked him, "what this guy do run no oil for 50k?" Nope, the customer had his engine completely rebuild from the ground up and used top of the line synthetic in his vehicle, not even 40k later the camshaft looked like that. (I don't have the picture anymore on my phone as it was a couple phone models ago, it was just unbelievable and I really wish I had the picture to show you guys.) Moral of the story is that since then I have been convinced that you need to pay attention to what is going or isn't going into your oil on older vehicles. I recommend to older vehicle owning customers to either use a camshaft additive or check the additive packages of their oil to prevent that kind of engine damage.
I'll update the post with documentation & pictures if I find them again.
