Engine Oil Substitute For 1950 Ford

R

rkarabin

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My 50 calls for straight SAE 20 or 20W engine oil. Unfortunately we cannot find any. Can I use SAE 30 or am I asking for trouble?
 
Motor oil has come a long way since 1950. On this point you can safely ignore the user's manual and use any modern multi-weight oil. And yes, you can also use 30w oil, unless you are going to try to start it in sub-zero weather.
 
Well...here we go again, I run 15 / 40 diesel oil as its made for flat tappet motors like the ford V8
 
Has your car only ever run non detergent oil? Is it full of sludge? If it is I would not recommend suddenly switching to modern detergent oils.

I would recommend switching to them but only after cleaning everything out.

If everything is clean then any decent modern oil will do. I've been using 15W40 in my sedan.

Mart.
 
Delo 400 15W-40 diesel oil. It still has the anti-wear additives to help your flat tappet camshaft and lifters last. For pollution reasons they have eliminated those additives from oil for new engines which all have roller lifters which reduces the friction. The high compression ratios on diesels are hard the bearings so the diesel oil still has the additives. Either you need to add a zinc anti-wear additive to your passenger/light duty engine oil or use oil recommended for diesel engines.
 
We used SAE 20W20 and SAE 30 when I was a kid. The 20/20 was for winter and the 30 for summer. 10W40 was basically a full and complete replacement for the older straight grade oils in the late 60s or early 70s. 10W30 wasn't common till much later but it is a good replacement for the oils used in the early to mid 20th century.
 
Any good diesel oil, 15/40, 20/50, Shell Rotella, Chevron Delo, Valvoline, Etc., works very well in old engines.. I used Castorl GTX 20/50 in my '36 w/59 AB engine for many years.
I quit using non-detergent oil in my engines in the mid '50's...
 
Mart said:
Has your car only ever run non detergent oil? Is it full of sludge? If it is I would not recommend suddenly switching to modern detergent oils.

I would recommend switching to them but only after cleaning everything out.

If everything is clean then any decent modern oil will do. I've been using 15W40 in my sedan.

Mart.
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If that is your fear get a gasket set pull the pan clean it out.
The probability of someone going to the trouble of finding non detergent is slim. When you get into it you'll know.
Me Myself I wouldn't care to use anything but detergent.
Realize that motor can be 72 years old, if never rebuilt.
When detergent came out it was used by all and yes some had heartache from the effects. Like sixty years ago.
As you point out, Today it is hard to find.
 
In my opinion, if your engine is so sludged-up that detergent oil will cause a problem, it needs a lot more than an oil change.

The last thing you want with and old sludged-up engine is more sludge.
 
No-one said anyones engine is sludged up.
I asked the question if the OP's motor might be sludged up.

The condition of the engine is a very important part of the equation when considering changing to a different type of oil.
 
I use Shell Rotella 15-40 in my ‘36. Good additives. Same oil I use in my boat, C-series Cummins. Very good oil.
 
oil today is so much better than it was in the 30s/40s compared to then its the magic elixir from science fiction as stated it depends what state your engine is in old worn and sludged up there's oil to suit or brand new talk to your supplier they are happy to help as for which brand that's your choice
 
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