Oil debate numbers

Frank Miller

Well-known member
I put this on my trip thread but thought I'd share it in a,stand alone. This is bone stock with about 30k, running a 30% overdrive. Partial flow filter. This trip saw some extreme heat on the hills and hot weather through Kansas all the way east. The 900ppm on the zinc is interesting as I never use any additives. The absence of antifreeze or water tells me the cooling system is tight. Negligible fuel says it's not running rich. Any other thoughts?
 

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So the Mobil 1 is synthetic right? Was it that ****** coppery - brown colour they all seem to turn straight away ?
That's damn a good result...
 
I had the same company do an analysis of the oil in my '51 just before I changed the engine. I believe it cost $25. My numbers were much worse than yours.:rolleyes: I believe it is a valuable test. I plan on doing it on my new engine just before the second oil change, which I plan to be about 1000 miles.
 
Looking at their web site, I see the cost of the test is $28.

plus $10 for the TBN which tells how much additive is left in the oil.
They attributed heat to the thickening but i wonder if running an open crankcase has any effect? Guess it just lands on the road instead of the combustion chambers.
 
When I was in the Army, the helicopter engines were SOAP tested every 25-hours of operation. 90% of the time we would repair a problem prior to the results getting back to the unit. Things may have changed since then but the testing just really didn't help us all that much. When bearings go bad, it can happen pretty quickly on the turbine engines. Recip engines wear more slowly and you seem to always have some bearing metal content in the oil even though it can be pretty minute.
 
The point was to see how much usable life was left and what was going on after 3000 miles. I think it can be said that one can go extended periods on a stock engine.
 
Hi Everyone. Frank thanks so much for posting this information. Hopefully it will continue as others do the analysis and add to the info. You did do 8100 miles on that interval right? So cool what your car has done, you have the evidence to backup being just a bit proud!
 
Last feb we did a 7000klm trip way in the 33 and c/van,engine has about 20,000 miles on it,oil was shell 20-50, I did an oil and filter change at 3500klms,it had used maybe 1/2 litre,but had done a few hot days in 42s C,and one day in 44C, plus a few days around town in 47C.
on the return trip it again used maybe 1/2 litre,
My engine has a full flow setup,it works well.
Lawrie
 
The suggestion to change the oil every 9000 miles is interesting.
In both my Model A and my 34 I change the oil every 1000 miles. I don't use Mobil 1 so not so expensive to dump the oil. I would be interested in peoples change frequency . Of course in the day it was recommended every 500 miles - I accept that the oil was not as good but wonder if they really did change it that frequently -Karl
 
Got this email today. Even they're impressed.
Hi Frank,

I'm interested in using the report you did after your cross-country trip in your '49 Ford in our newsletter. That engine really looks great - I am impressed. Did the car give you any trouble on the trip? I'm impressed with the mileage too. That oil held up pretty well - the only thing I see is a thick viscosity, probably from the heat generated going through the mountains. What kind of Ford is it? Let me know if it's okay to use the report (anonymously, of course).

Sincerely,

Kristin Huff
Blackstone Labs
 
I just did an oil change today, and took a sample for Blackstone. I also run Mobil1, and most of the mileage on this oil change is from a cross-country trip. I'm anxious to see what they find!
 
The suggestion to change the oil every 9000 miles is interesting. Of course in the day it was recommended every 500 miles - I accept that the oil was not as good but wonder if they really did change it that frequently -Karl

Karl, According to the original "Service Data Handbook" that came in my 1940 Ford, the Ford Motor company recommends that the crankcase oil be changed
every 2,000 miles. If equipped with an oil filter, "it is recommended that the oil be changed at 5,000 mile intervals except for seasonal changes. The filter unit should be replaced every 10,000 miles." End of quote.
So your statement was off by a factor of 10! I would never have guessed that Ford recommended such long intervals.
 
when I had my heads done I asked the builder about Mobil 1 and zinc. He said there's not enough zinc in mobil 1 and to add zinc every 3000 miles even thiough I run the oil for 1 yr. I change filters every 3000 mi. and add zinc.
 
Karl, According to the original "Service Data Handbook" that came in my 1940 Ford, the Ford Motor company recommends that the crankcase oil be changed
every 2,000 miles. If equipped with an oil filter, "it is recommended that the oil be changed at 5,000 mile intervals except for seasonal changes. The filter unit should be replaced every 10,000 miles." End of quote.
So your statement was off by a factor of 10! I would never have guessed that Ford recommended such long intervals.

Interesting. Both my Model A and the 34 don't have oil filters. I'm pretty sure the owners manual for the Model A stipulates 500 mile changes The Model T owners book certainly did but of course the oil went through the transmission as well. . I can't put my hands on the 34 owners manual but I think that was 1000 miles . I did find the owners book for my 34 Plymouth and that was 1000 miles in winter and 1500 miles in summer and that had a filter ! All pretty academic really because the oils today are probably 20 times better than in the day ! I actually don't mind changing the oil every 1000 miles or so . Maybe I could go longer but my runs are pretty short mostly round town And the oil seem to get pretty dark after only 1000 miles . Can't see more frequent changes doing any harm other than to my pocket and if I was worried about that I'd be driving a rice burner ! -Karl
 
The owners manual for my '51 specifies 2000 oil change intervals, That I can live with. What surprised me is they recommend a chassis lubrication every 1000 miles!
 
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