THERE’S AN OLD ADAGE THAT PROCLAIMS, “There’s the right way, the wrong way, and the Army way.” Similarly, there’s a right way to break in your freshly machined engine, there is the wrong way, and then there are all the comments from self-proclaimed “experts” on the internet who will tell you theirs is the only proper way. This story will add to your essential engine lubrication education and also dispel a few of the myths, rumors, and opinions that just don’t hold water.
By now, most enthusiasts should be aware that the amount of the anti-wear additives zinc and phosphorous have changed radically for current off-the-shelf oil. These two elements — zinc and phosphorous — are most often combined into a compound called zinc dialkyl dithiophosphate, which is thankfully shortened to ZDDP or sometimes just ZDP. These additives (in sufficient quantity) are needed in both break-in oil and for flat-tappet-camshaft engines for day-to-day driving to minimize wear on the cam and lifters as well as other highly loaded components like pistons rings. In current API (American Petroleum Institute) oils, the levels of these additives have dropped significantly in the last couple decades, and that has become
