Oil change

Georgew48

Georgew48

Senior Member
I did my first oil change on my 29 Sport Coupe today and I only drained out 4 quarts and I put 4 quarts back in and the dip stick read full. I thought the pan held 5 quarts. I did run the engine up to operating temp before I drained it but I wouldn't think a quart would stay up in the engine. Does this seem right?
 
George, not without removing the oil pan. Why do you want to drain the dipper tray? There won't be any sludge there.
 
Thanks for the info. Don't really want to drain it just asking if I should. This was my first "A" oil change.
 
Non Detergent 30 weight every 500 miles. Advance Auto usually has it, sometimes you can find it at AutoZone. I add STP and a Zinc additive.
 
I had my engine rebuilt by Schwalms in PA. I was advised by Ora Landis, the owner, to use 15/40 detergent oil. I use SHELL ROTELLA because I was told their formulation has additives that are good for a newly rebuilt "A" engine.
 
I use 10/40 Penns detergent Oil in my rebuilt. I think, and I am no expert, that the important thing is to be consistant in the oil you use once you start.
 
What oil should I use? You'll get as many reccomendations as you get answers. Here's mine. Any modern oil is better than oils from 1930, and any oil is better than no oil.
 
With regard to what Oil to use, my approach has been different from most people,

I read the owners manual for the car and used what the manufactor suggested : 40W in the summer and 20W in the winter.

Marc
 
George's POST brings up a good point. Also being revelatively new to the Model A thing, (2009) I didn't know what oil had been put in my engine as it had been rebuilt in the early 80's. So I sought the advice of an old-timer who rebuilds old cars. On this advice I used 10w30 detergent.

Now thatI want to do another oil change, I'm questioning what I should do.

Do you think I might have caused damage to the engine by using something other than the original oil..?? (as I don't know what it was)
:rolleyes: :confused::confused::confused::o:confused::confused::confused: :rolleyes:
 
I run Mobil 1 in all of my vehicles and I would also recommend it for the "A". The only oil I would never put in our "A" is non-detgergent.
 
Georgew48 said:
I did my first oil change on my 29 Sport Coupe today and I only drained out 4 quarts and I put 4 quarts back in and the dip stick read full. I thought the pan held 5 quarts. I did run the engine up to operating temp before I drained it but I wouldn't think a quart would stay up in the engine. Does this seem right?
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We always clean the oil out of the Oil Trays, as we don't want to dilute the New oil with the old, any more then we have to. We take a 4x4 and cut it 3 inches longer than the spring perchs, on both, or measure the spring perch width, and add 6 inches. Then mark the center of the 4x4, and center that mark on a 2 foot floor jack, and with the 4x4 under the spring perchs, jack front of the car up, and most, or all Tray oil will come out when you let the jack back down again, also leave it in the air at least 5 minutes. This works on Model T's, A's, and B's. We have always used 30 Wt. Detergent summer, and 20 detergent Winter. Don't ever just Jack in the middle of the Axle, or you will bend it!
 
Why, in today's world, would anyone want to use something as medieval as non detergent oil? I always suggest using 10W30 wt in summer and 10W20 wt in winter both in detergent and use diesel approved if possible. If it will work in a diesel for 400,000 miles why wouldn't it make a Model A last forever. My Dodge has 200,000 miles and the motor still chirps the belt when it stops just like it did when it was new. I change the oil according to manufacturer's recommendations at every 15,000 miles.
 
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What brand?
James Rogers said:
Why, in today's world, would anyone want to use non detergent oil? I always suggest using 10W30 wt in summer and 10W20 wt in winter both in detergent and use diesel approved if possible. If it will work in a diesel for 400,000 miles why wouldn't it make a Model A last forever. My Dodge has 200,000 miles and the motor still chirps the belt when it stops just like it did when it was new. I change the oil according to manufacturer's recommendations at every 15,000 miles.
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