Oil additives

4spdragtop said

When I worked for a Cat dealership, we sold SOS (scheduled oil sampling) kits/program. You took a sample approx 150 ml and sent in to our lab for analysis. Wasn't cheap, but you're dealing with million dollar machines. You could do the same for any engines.
So I've run Shell Rotella 15/40 for years with the Lucas breakin additive. No issues over 12 years.
What's the alternative? Is there a base oil out there that has the proper amount of zinc/zddp that requires no additive?

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There are no base oils good enough to do the job on their own. That’s why they have additives.

It’s kind of a crappy deal because you are dealing with the API who sets the parameters for oil.

There are certain race engine oils out there that will pass the API parameters and it’s still a racing oil.

Last time I looked the cost per quart was over 20 bucks a quart.

I just bought some gear oil and it was 23 bucks a quart.

I paid with a smile because 4.88’s in a street driven axle needs the best oil you can get. So I suck it up.

I’m half scared to see what it’s going to cost me for engine oil. I’m betting it’s 23 dollars or more per quart.