You don't need a lot of zinc. What you need is an oil with a high pressure rating. An oil with a high pressure rating will have a lower zinc content, but due to its high pressure rating, meaning less wear and shear, it will retain its zinc better. High zinc oils usually aren't GOOD oils.

People who think flat tappet motors build up zinc on the tappets are stupid. Your evo isn't a flat tappet motor, but it damn sure isn't going to build up zinc anywhere. An oil with a pressure rating of well over 100,000 psi and 660ppm of zinc won't provide any better, or worse lubrication than an oil with a pressure rating of 80,000psi and 1600ppm of zinc. The other oil is just going to handle wear and shear better.

I, like Throttle Jockey, have come to prefer Valvoline VR1 50w.

 

Thanks for the ego chime buck hunter!

 

Just so you know Valvoline VR1 is a high zinc oil.
I have the 20W-50, 50W, and 60W on a shelf in the garage.

 

I know it is, but it's the only 50w that I know of that can be had for a price that won't break the bank. It doesn't have too little nor too much, and that's all that matters to me. I change it every 2-3k anyways.

 

I can't get most any 50 or 60 strait wt. oil where I live except at HD. I run 50 wt. HD 360 thru the summer and change to Castrol GTX 20-50 thru the winter. I can get the Castrol at Walmart in 5 quart jugs for less than $17.00 iirc. My EVO seems to like it just fine.

 

My old beauty burns so much It probably doesnt matter. I use any quality 20w-50.

 

Just so you know I use Crisco for my french fries and Wesson for my tater tots.

 

You should use Crisco in the summer for both and Wesson in the winter for both. Wesson is just to thin for summer and Crisco is to thick for winter. I can not believe you did not know this. If you had just payed attention whilst reading the oil threads........

 

I've been using Pennzoil 20w-50 for several years now and am happy with it except for city driving in Manhattan, oil pressure hardly moves the gauge and the motor gets hotter and louder than normal. Any Suggestions?

 

perhaps something other than Pennzoil next time if you're not happy with it? (maybe try Redline)