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      06-13-2013, 01:04 PM   #21
m6pwr
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Drives: '14 335i M sport
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Actually, zinc/phosphorous (aka zddp) forms the anti-wear film rather slowly (studies have shown it can take up to 3k mi for fresh oil) which I think is why Castrol TWS has so much of the complimentary anti-wear adds titanium and boron which activate much faster and also form a very hard anti-wear film on metal parts. Sometimes less is more and I think that's the case with zddp. It has its downsides: the zinc "carrier" drops deposits, and higher concentrations of zddp increase friction. You only need enough to protect the engine. I think Castrol TWS has the right amount of zddp and other AW adds. It's a pretty slick formulation.

As far as aftermarket additives: Tell a lubricant engineer or formulator that you want to pour in an aftermarket additive to improve his oil, and watch him come unglued. Motor oil is a chemical soup where any of the many different chemicals can affect the performance of the others. Formulating a motor oil is a chemical balancing act and adding aftermarket additives can affect that balance negatively. The International Council for Machinery Lubrication has several training courses that include the question, When is it OK to dissolve an after market additive in an oil? Correct answer: Never.
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Last edited by m6pwr; 06-13-2013 at 01:22 PM..
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