What weight oil in the engine

The Shell Rotella is also heavy on the ZDDP additive???

I, personally like Shell Rotella 15W-40, having a viscosity close to what Henry recommended of 15 when clod and 40 when warm. The original recommendation was for 20 weight in winter and 30 weight in summer.
The Shell Rotella is also heavy on the ZDDP additive which has been around since the mid 1930s and I feel has helped our engines last eighty years.
There is no one answer for BEST, just a lot of valuable opinions.


How does the zinc help the engine that is in the Rotella?? or the ZDDP please
mark
 
And the other side of this, according to many, is that the Model A engine is low tech, and does not need special additives or even extra zinc. I have yet to read an article that attributes unusual wear or trouble on a Model A engine for sure to the newer oils with lower zinc levels. As usual, this is a very controversial topic and there is no one answer to satisfy all......but I am sticking to my Pennzoil 10-30w every 1,000 miles.
 
I'm weighing in with 30w. That is what we used in the garage I worked in. Brand didn't seem to matter. One thing to note is that I saw someone post 5w-30w. Something to be careful of here is the oil being so thin that it seeps thru the gaskets. I ran some 5w-30w in a 67 camaro of mine and it started to seep out. I went back to 30 and it seems to have stopped for the most part. I've heard it said that once oil makes it past a gasket, it continues to seep....anyway...my 2cents.
 
For what it's worth, I run Rotella in my 1998 E-350 7.3 diesel van. Oil change 3000-5000 miles. It has 403,000 miles and has never required any engine work save three fuel injectors.
 
Re: The Shell Rotella is also heavy on the ZDDP additive???

The Zinc, in the form of ZDDP, is a lube for valves and such. It is an additive that was removed from oils with the SM rating and the "Sunburst" stating "Safe for ALL Gasoline Engines." It was removed, (or not added) to assist the latest catalytic converters. I spoke to Shell's Technical Customer Service chemist who advised me that Rotella still has enough zinc added to meet our needs.
 
Studied the oil survey and the great number of thoughts and advice posted on this subject. Ultimately decided to go with Shell Rotella T (I think the "T" is the latest version of Shella Rotella) 15w-40. I am not sure when the oil in this Model A was changed last, or what type of oil is in it now. Will be checking the oil pan for sludge. Changing the oil every 500 miles will be a bit pricey with this oil but, as many of noted, it is better than having to rebuild an engine. The prior posts on this subject were very helpful, thanks guys.
 
In my B engine delivery I run 20-50 synthetic Valvoline with an oil filter. In my other cars,(nonfiltered), i run 30w and change it every 500-600 miles. I'm about to put an aFordable filter on the almost new engine in my latest restoration. I think I'll go with the 20-50 synthetic and change it at 2000-3000 mile, or one year, intervals.
 
And the 2011 Mustangs I've been looking at as well as ALL of the 2011 Ford Motor Co. line-up,,,Ford recommends 10,000 mile oil change intervals!!

Man, it sure has come a long way---

I'm sure some cheap skate tried that back in 'the day' wonder how long those engines lasted on that nasty 1930 era oil?


I go Mobil One Synthetic 5W30 every 700 miles or so in my Model A rebuilt HC engine that doesn't burn oil, and just "marks it Territory" a bit, and Mobil One 5W30 every 5,000 miles in my 2012 Mustang as per Mustang owners manual. I now am using my left over gallons of ROTELLA 15W40 in my boat's diesel, and am pleased how clean it always looks. The boat, also doesn't burn any oil between annual changes.
 
Non detergent 30 weight (pre 1963 oil). Added a bottle of Zinc additive at the last change. Change every 6 months.

Suppose we don't need any more opinions on this, but I do the same. I like the philosophy that if you change your oil often enough it really doesn't matter what you put in there (within reason). Each of my cars gets about 3k per year, so I change the oil every Christmas. I'm in SoCal, so winter temps never get that low.
What I don't like to do is clean that damn screen. PITA.
How often do you guys remove the screen and clean it?
 
If you use detergent oil you shouldn't have to clean the screen around the oil pump intake until it's time to take up babbit clearance, or rebuild the engine.
 
I use Walmart 20W50 in all of mine. I used Havolene 30 weight high detergent in my 31 tudor for years until it got hard to find in my area.
 
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