PennGrade 1 Engine Oil SAE 10W-40 | Air-Cooled VW & Porsche | High-Zinc/ZDDP, 1 qt (27-7144-6)

PennGrade 1 High-Performance Engine Oil, SAE 10W-40 — High-Zinc/ZDDP (1 qt)

PennGrade 1 High-Performance Engine Oil, SAE 10W-40 — a synthetic-blend, high-zinc engine oil designed for air-cooled, classic, and flat-tappet engines. Outstanding film strength under thermal stress, strong anti-wear protection, and shock-load capability that modern low-zinc oils simply cannot match.

10W-40 is a good middle-ground multi-grade — better cold-start flow than straight 30 weight, more film protection at operating temperature than 10W-30. A reasonable choice in moderate climates for engines with stock-spec bearing clearances.

Vehicle Fitment

• Air-cooled VW (Type 1 / 2 / 3 / 4): Beetle, Bus, Karmann Ghia, Thing, and Type 3 — stock and built
• Porsche: 356, 911, 912, 914 (consult your manual for grade selection)
• Any flat-tappet engine: Requiring elevated zinc/phosphorus anti-wear additives
• Vintage & classic engines: Built to pre-emissions API specifications

Why Choose PennGrade 1?

PennGrade 1 is the modern brand name for the legendary "Brad Penn" green oil — refined in Pennsylvania from paraffinic crude, with a high-zinc additive package (ZDDP) that has long made it the favorite of vintage, air-cooled, and flat-tappet engine builders. Made in the USA.

Key Features & Benefits

• High-zinc/ZDDP protection: Strong anti-wear and shock-load capability that modern low-zinc oils cannot match.
• Synthetic-blend film strength: Outstanding film strength under thermal stress.
• Middle-ground multi-grade: Better cold-start flow than straight 30 weight, more film protection than 10W-30.

Technical Specifications

• EMPI Part #: 27-7144-6
• Grade: SAE 10W-40
• Volume: 1 quart bottle, sold individually (case of 12)
• UPC: 707924570458
• Country of Origin: USA

Frequently Asked Questions

• When should I choose 10W-40? It's a good middle-ground multi-grade — better cold-start flow than a straight 30 weight and more film protection at operating temperature than 10W-30. A reasonable choice in moderate climates for engines with stock-spec bearing clearances.
• Why does ZDDP matter for air-cooled VWs? Modern API SP/SN oils have stripped most of the zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) anti-wear additive to protect catalytic converters. Air-cooled VW engines have no catalytic converters but do have flat-tappet camshafts that depend on a high zinc/phosphorus barrier layer; running modern low-zinc oil in a vintage flat-tappet engine will wipe a cam lobe in surprisingly few miles.

Explore Related Categories

Stock up for your build: the full PennGrade Oils & Fluids line, All VW Air-Cooled Parts, and All Porsche Parts.