Engine Oil

T

txmike

Senior Member
A gentleman told me yesterday that I should run 50 weight oil in my 29.
I have some old posts which are interesting but it seems a lot of people have varying opinions which is good.

Should I locate the 50 weight oil or go with 20W40 or?

I know the W is for Winter.....

thanks
Mike
 
I doubt a 50wt would be needed for a Model A. I used to run straight 30, but have since moved on to running 15-40. If a straight 30 works ok, I'd hazard that a HDEO 10w-30 would even be an option in a fairly new or tight engine. I've been tempted to try some Rotella T5 in mine, but I've got enough 15-40 for another oil change.
 
Engine is not worn. Has less than 2 hrs run time.

He said 50 weight was required to keep location in the old engines.
I need to read what was originally used. I think 40
 
If I remember right, anything from straight 20 to 50 were ok in the manual based on outdoor temperatures. I think 20 was recommended in the winter, and 40 in the summer. Also if I remember right, in the handbook by Les Andrews he recommends 10-30. With this in mind, I would also wonder if something like Maxlife 5w-30 or something similar would be fine. The main difference between a 5-30 and a 10-30 is viscosity when cold.

With that said, 5-30 could be helpful to those who live in colder climates that want to run their car year round.

My preference for using a HDEO is for the added zinc content and the more robust additive package that is normal with a diesel engine oil. But when it comes down to it, using a decent modern oil will be worlds better than what was out when the car was new.
 
I wouldn't run straight 50 weight oil, its TOO thick for cold operation. I think that 20w40 would be ideal but I have never been able to find that combination. I now run Walmart brand 20w50 in mine. My owners manual says 20 for winter and 40 for summer. I'm not an oil expert, I just know what works good for me.
 
A number of years ago there was a very thoughtful article in "Vintage Ford" magazine on which oil to use in the Model T Ford. This was partly in answer to those who still insisted on using 30W non-detergent oil. The conclusion as to use 10W-30 detergent oil in the cars. I just transposed that info by using that oil in my Model A. It's been working great. I've owned my "A" for a dozen years. That article also suggested that, if detergent oil were available during the Mode T/A years, that's what Ford would have used.
Rog
 
Yes, everyone has an opinion on this question.
I use Mobil One Synthetic 05-W30 in my rebuilt engine, following break-in with 05-W30 Mineral Oil.
It has 5000 very happy miles on it with no oil use between changes.
 
I think that common sense would say that 50W is too thick to flow at a reasonable rate through the gravity flow drillings to the mains, etc, even on an old well worn engine. Bill W.
 
Bill, i think 50w would be alright for an engine that was warmed up, it would be the cold starts that might cause problems for lubrication,and 50w is hard to find except at motor cycle shops, i would go with 20w50, a good all around climate oil
 
ford3 said:
Bill, i think 50w would be alright for an engine that was warmed up, it would be the cold starts that might cause problems for lubrication,and 50w is hard to find except at motor cycle shops, i would go with 20w50, a good all around climate oil
Click to expand...
Yep, ford3,
On icy cold mornings, at 4:00 A.M, Chief dug hot coals from the fireplace and put them in a biscuit pan on top of bricks under the oil pan for awhile so's he could get the "A" cookin' after awhile! (BRRRR) Dang! it also sometimes needed hot water on the brake drums to get it to even move out of it's tracks! Maybe that's why we moved to SUNNY California?? Bill W.
 
Don't forget to save some coals for the foot warmer:D
 

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