Oil Additives

Somethings been bugging me lately, not sure why, but I've heard for years that the anti-wear additives in AW oil will harm yellow metals.

I'm sure it's true, heard it too many times, but I have never actually see a brass or bronze bushing that was damaged by it. Probably because I didn't know what to look for.

Has anyone actually seen this happen? I'm sure AW oil gets put in with yellow metals all the time. How many gear boxes and transmissions don't have something brass or bronze in there somewhere?

What should I be looking for if I suspect it's been done?

You sure you"re not thinking of sulfur compounds in GL-5 gear oil?

Bob: I remember going to a Pennzoil lubrication seminar 'bout 20 years ago. That was one of the things I remember them and our salesman talk about, don't use AW oil with brass/bronze components.

According to Wikipedia, this is whats in it:

AW additives, or antiwear additives, are additives for lubricants to prevent metal-to-metal contact between parts of gears.
EP additives are usually used in applications such as gearboxes, while AW additives are used with lighter loads such as bushings.
AW additives typically contain zinc and phosphorus compounds.
Some popular AW additives are:
zinc dithiophosphate (ZDP)
zinc dialkyl dithio phosphate (ZDDP), probably the most widely used in formulated engine oils, also acts as a corrosion inhibitor and antioxidant
Tricresyl phosphate (TCP), used for high-temperature operation, often used as an AW and EP additive in turbine engine lubricants, and also in some crankcase oils and hydraulic fluids
Halocarbons (chlorinated paraffins), for extreme pressure operations
Glycerol mono oleate
Stearic acid, adhering to surfaces via reversible adsorption process under 150 °C, which limits its use to mild contact conditions.
Some formulations use colloidal PTFE (Teflon), but its efficiency is controversial.
Many AW additives function as EP additives, for example organophosphates or sulfur compounds. The mechanism of function of TCP and ZDDP is explained in EP additives.
Under extreme pressure conditions, the performance of AW additives becomes insufficient and designated EP additives are required.