Oil Recommendation

S

Scott Foldenauer

Junior Member
I am sure that this has been discussed here many times but with the recent changes in oil formulation guidelines, I was wondering what the advice would be. Is anyone using 15x40 Mobil-Delvac?
 
Use the search function. You will find recommendations for every brand and formulation of oil. With zinc without zinc; detergent, non detergent; single grade or multi-grade. You will find owners that have used them all for many many miles with no problems.
 
Last edited:
use any oil you want as long as it doesnt have the red circle on the front of the container containing the warning "for gasolene engines only", that oil is formulated for modern engines with roller tappets,it contains very little if any zink which all flat tappet and cams need
 
Look up what the additives do for you.

If you want something to keep microscopic dirt in the oil so it drains out then you need detergent.

If you want to prevent acids and other stuff from hurting the metals then you want additives.

Any good quality oil with additives will do the job.

Also you do not need to change the oil every year or 500 miles. Modern oil will go longer. If all you do is some street driving and not a lot of miles then you can go much longer between changes. Remember, no engine has every failed cause the oil wore out.
 
I've read that Ford recommended 40 weight for summer and 20 weight for winter. I feel that 20W40 would be ideal. I have never been able to find 20W40. I use Walmart brand 20W50. I believe anything less than 20 weight is too thin. I feel that the thicker 50 weight would be of benefit,especially in engines that haven't been recently rebuilt. Original model A cams are not made of cast iron and zinc additive is not necessary but it certainly doesn't hurt!!! I don't run an oil filter so I change mine about every 500 miles. I know that it is still good so I don't throw it away. I either find another use for it or my soninlaw does . The detergent keeps any particles suspended so there should be no build up of crud in the valve chamber or oil pan.
 
I'm new to world of stock Model A Fords. My Father just bought a '31 Coupe a couple of weeks ago and we are in the process of cleaning it up and doing minor maintenance to get it back on the road after sitting in a garage for the last decade (possibly longer). Summer here in the Fresno area is brutal, the average temperature is about 95 degrees. I still need to change the oil before it hits the street and considering the ugly temperatures here what grade oil would be appropriate?
 
15-40 or 20-50 is fine for summer.A single grade oil such as#30 is a higher viscosity than 10-30.When I was running an A with full pressure oiling system,the oil pressure would increase by 10# if I used #30 instead of 10-30 oil.
 
If the existing oil in the engine is a detergent, drain it and install a good brand of new 20-50; ideal for the hot valley. I personally use Casterol GTX 20-50, started using it when I lived in Sacramento.

Caution !!!! If the existing engine oil happens to be non-detergent, suggest you remove the pan and clean out the sluge that has accumulated in the bottom of the pan. If you install a detergent oil without cleaning out the pan, the sluge will be picked up and distributed into the valve chamber and could plug some of the passage ways to the main bearings.

Ron
 
An interesting item I found a while back regarding oil & gear lube "weights" I thought I'd share, for whatever it's worth...

In the article it talks about interchangeability of the same true viscosity crankcase oil vs gear lube (e.g. 40w crankcase oil vs 90w gear lube)... it's the additives that make the majority of the difference. CO has more additives for the more severe conditions and they indicate "Because of these differences, it’s possible to use regular engine oil in a transmission but never permissible to use gear oil in an engine."

Like I said, for what it's worth...
 

Attachments

  • 2012-05-10_092452.jpg
    2012-05-10_092452.jpg
    45.9 KB · Views: 51
bogiediver, that confirms my thoughts and observations. Aeroshell 100 = 50w and 90w gear oil = 50w. They all had the same feel between the fingers but had way different ratings. Thanks, I saved that chart.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top