I have had my 4.0 rebuilt. I installed a new camshaft. Inside the box of the camshaft there was a piece of paper titled " Camshaft break in engine oil warning." It states that modern day oils do not contain enough zinc to protect the flat tappet camshaft during break in.
It recommends 3 ounces of there ZDDP cam shield additive.
Is there some sort of generic version of a zinc additive i can get at a local auto parts store?
Has anyone else heard of needing a additive for camshaft break in?

 

There are many brands of the ZDDP additive. Most of the cam mfrs sell it. A parts store should be able to get some for you.

 

Presuming u r using stock XJ valve springs, I doubt there's anything to worry about using a quality modern oil.

 

I've always used plain old lithium grease.

 

Yup. Nothing off the shelf Rotella won't handle just fine. Then again there is no harm in using the additive either, if the warranty requires it I'd use it and keep the receipt.

 

I would use any off the shelf engine break in oil you can find.After that something like amsoil z rod its a synthetic oil with zinc in it around 10 bucks a quart tho.

 

yes, it is strongly recommended to use a break-in oil with zinc. my preferred brand is Brad Penn. Those who say don't worry about it obviouslly don't rebuild engines often enough to know better.

 

Here's a good read.

http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles...e/viewall.html

 

FWIW, consider that Brad Penn break-in oil is 1073 Zinc/931 Phosphorous.
The Rotella I suggested comes back from Blackstone as follows:
Zinc - 1208 PPM Phosphorus - 989 PPM, nearly identical to both Brad Penn and Edelbrock break-in oil. And much easier on the pocketbook. Any of them would appear more than sufficient for a low-pressure street cam. Agreed on not using typical passenger-car motor oil.

 

when was the last time it was tested? i was talking to the guy at napa and he said even rotella was lightening their zinc. Im not arguing with you, i would love to run just rotella insted of rotella and the break in oil every oil change.

 

Golen Engines sold me 6 quarts of Joe Gibbs break-in oil for my stroker.

And they highly recommend a ZDDP additive at every oil change.

 

That is a good point. It's been several years and I don't know if they've changed their forumula recently or not, it's not as though they'd tell anyone, lol. I may send some in to Blackstone to see what comes back.
I have a 383 stroker (GM, not Jeep) with a flat tappet cam, I've run nothing but Rotella since building it with no issues. But your point is an interesting one, I may have broken it in back before the formula changed, depending on when and if it has.

 

....we are talking about a low tech, very low spring/seat pressure stock 4.0L Jeep motor, right?. I believe the stock 4.0L valve springs are also used in the "click type" ball point pens......and I bet the instructions with the cam referenced to "assembly lube"......probably came with assembly lube. From what I've read, ZDDP levels in oils have been lowered but replaced with other additives just as good.

.......and those that do build engines often obviously know that one should never ever install anything but stock, low pressure valve springs (preferably used) in a new flat tappet push rod motor for the initial "break-in". After the break-in, install whatever springs.