What Is ZDDP Oil Additive? How Does It Protect Engine From Wear? Why It Can Not Be Replaced?

Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) is an ash lubricant oil additive with excellent performance of anti-oxidation, anti-wear, extreme pressure (EP), and anti-corrosion. Due to its high efficiency and low cost, ZDDP has been an indispensable part of engine oil.

 

How does ZDDP oil additive protect engine oil from wear?

As a common EP antiwear oil additive, Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) can form a tough phosphate protective film on the metal friction surface through the chemical reaction with the contact surface in engine oil to provide effective protection. The protective film can separate the direct connection between metals, reduce wear, and has self-repairing properties.

 

The reason why ZDDP oil can improve the lubricant oil's extreme pressure performance is mainly that the molecular active sulfur element has a reaction with the friction iron element to form an anti-wear FeS reaction film. The alkyl chain length is shorter, the greater reactivity of the sulfur element in the ZDDP molecule, and it is more likely to form a FeS reaction film.

 

At the same time, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate can decompose free radicals to inhibit oil oxidation and corrosion, which is helpful to protect engine parts under high temperature and high pressure and prolong lifespan.

 

The challenges and predicaments of ZDDP oil additive

Recently, with the increasingly strict emission regulation has been promoted successively in Europe, America, and Japan, the specifications of engine oil products have also been updated and replaced. These regulations put stricter limitations on the sulfur content in the engine oil. The progress and changes of vehicle energy conservation and emission control technology put a new demand on lubricant oil performance.

The phosphate element from the anti-oxidant and anti-wear additive that covers the active surface of the three-way catalytic converter for gasoline engine oil causes the poisoning of the catalyst. This has a considerable influence on the exhaust gas when starting a cold vehicle.

Therefore, it is necessary to use low-phosphorus, or even no-phosphorus, additives to develop low-phosphorus gasoline engine oil.

 

 

Why can ZDDP oil additive not be replaced up to now?

ZDDP plays a key role in engine oil because of its multi-function, such as high performance of anti-wear, anti-oxidation, corrosion inhibitor, and when the engine starts, and under high loading working condition protect key parts.

The limitations of the ZDDP additive-related substitute

• Boron content additives:

The boron content additives used in the early times, with poor oil solubility,y needed to use a dispersion stabilizer to guarantee the uniform dispersion of the boron content additives in the oil. But it has poor water stability and can not be used as a lubricant working with water.

• Nano-type extreme pressure additive:

With the continuous progress of nano, the application of nanoparticles in friction has received increasing attention. However, owing to the high cost and immature technology, research in this field is still in its infancy.

 

How to choose a suitable zddp zinc oil additive for your engine oil?

Recently, people have taken out a large amount of researches on the substitute of zinc dialkyldithiophosphate, but there is no additive that can replace the role of ZDDP oil in engine oil. And for most manufacturers, choosing high efficiency zinc additive and formulating with other additives is an economic and reliable solution.

 

For example, the ZDDP additive like ZDDP oil T203 in Chorus not only has the good performance of anti-oxidant, corrosion inhibitor, anti-wear, and extreme pressure to prevent engine oil from corrosion and prevent oil from increasing in viscosity due to oxidation at high temperature.

 

What matters most is that T203 has a good oil solubility and compatibility with other additives. For example, it can be combined with a detergent dispersant to formulate other additives. T202 not only satisfies the requirements of modern environmental protection, but also provides an excellent lubricant oil for engine oil.

 

Chorus Lubricant Additive is a professional lubricant additive supplier in China. We can provide you with zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (zddp) with excellent performance.

Contact us, and we can provide you with a professional solution.