Hello peeps!
I can't see that this has been covered before on these forums but just wish to post out a very serious warning for those people with more of a "classic engine" especially flat tappet engines and even some more modern engines not to use the more general common synthetic / semi synthetic oils especially the low emission "starburst" oils without checking out the ZDDP content of it first.
ZDDP is an antiwear additive that has been in oils for years, but this is being removed to help emissions and the life of the Catalytic converter on modern cars. This is fine if your car is designed for having no ZDDP in it's oil but there are numerous reports on the internet circulating as to the disastrous consequences of running these oils in Engines not designed for oil with no ZDDP in it. I have also seen first hand evidence of cam followers and cams being written off in no time at all because of this!
Most Racing oils and Classic type oils can get around the legislation for ZDDP levels but please check your oil ZDDP levels and type of engine before running modern synthetics as they can be seriously harming your engine. Here's you and me thinking that they were better for your engine.....
Check out ZDDP on Google for more info...... e.g.
http://www.ttalk.info/Zddp.htm
You can also buy zddp as an add in additive for you oil.
Oils well that ends well............
okay I'll get my coat!