No Diesel oil
- Thread starter Proartguy
- Start date
Flathead Fever
Well-known member
I worked as a mechanic for GTE/Verizon for 30-years. They used 15W40 Chevron diesel oil in everything regardless of what the vehicle called for. That's all we were allowed to stock in the shop. They had a storage tank at each shop that held 400-gallons of oil, with overhead lube guns to service the vehicles. The vehicles fell apart before the engines wore out. Millions and millions of miles on those phone company vehicles.
The diesel oil still has the anti-wear additive for the flat tappets like the flatheads have. Modern engines have roller lifters and can get away with not having the anti-wear additive that the old-style lifters required. I figure if diesel oil can hold up to the compression ratios of diesel engines, then it should be just fine for a little flathead.
The diesel oil still has the anti-wear additive for the flat tappets like the flatheads have. Modern engines have roller lifters and can get away with not having the anti-wear additive that the old-style lifters required. I figure if diesel oil can hold up to the compression ratios of diesel engines, then it should be just fine for a little flathead.
Last edited:
Brendan
Well-known member
> > broad-shouldered semi-trucks pulling incredible loads through the Rockies, driven by brawny, ruggedly handsome teamsters?> >
Yep. Like Ms Willem & her 389. Brawny, Rugged, A PeterBilt driver for sure.
she would look better with out tatoos
My theory is the high detergent level in the diesel oil loosened up contaminates that were in the bottom of the pan and affected the bearing. There was considerable gunk in the bottom of the pan as the car had been seldom used in recent years and had 50 wt. oil. The oil pump pickup screen was not plugged. It’s a ‘37 motor so has no oil filter.
Running a high detergent oil or diesel may work ok if used from the start, but maybe not so much on an older or unknown motor. As I noted this is just my theory, but the chemical analyses in the video seemed pretty factual and aligned with a couple of other things I read. The lubricant factor in diesel is one thing - the detergents are another.
Running a high detergent oil or diesel may work ok if used from the start, but maybe not so much on an older or unknown motor. As I noted this is just my theory, but the chemical analyses in the video seemed pretty factual and aligned with a couple of other things I read. The lubricant factor in diesel is one thing - the detergents are another.