Oil Change Interval
 

I’m still new to Model A’s. I purchased my first one a little over a week ago, and it has been a blast to drive.

The red Les Andrews book (page 3-6) recommends oil changes every 500 miles. The book appears to have been published around the year 2000. My A’s previous owner had an air filter installed and says he changed oil every 1000 miles. The red book (3-1) indicates that no air filter is source of dirt in the oil.

How often do you experienced owners change oil?


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Re: Oil Change Interval
 

Would today’s oil be significantly better than what it was 20 years ago (roughly when the red book was published) to merit a 1000 mile change interval?


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Re: Oil Change Interval
 

I had my engine rebuilt last year and I plan on oil change at 1.000 miles religiously

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

1000 works for me. The drained oil still looks good at that time. Chap

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

I have a rebuilt motor and an air filter. Prefer to change oil at 500 miles. It gets me under the car to inspect things and grease the zerks, and reminds me to check a long list of things like lubing the generator, distributor, distributor cam, tire pressure, lug nuts, etc., etc. Worth it to me if it extends the life of the motor and gives me peace of mind.

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

500 if you don’t drive it much. A 1000 or more on long trips over a short time.

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

Good morning...I go 500 on our 31 Tudor. The engine is rebuilt Babbitt with about 10,000 miles on it. This forces me to lube everything at 500 and oil as necessary. I think the lube work on 31 lube fittings is just as important as the oil change. I do run an air filter and an oil filter. The engine builder has me running Castrol HD Heavy Duty 30 weight detergent. I have the Snyder's Oil Filter which comes as part of a new valve cover and the filter is a Fram PH8A. There are many opinions on this subject depending on your location and weather...but this is how I have maintained our A for years...Have a Happy Model A Day...Ernie in Arizona

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

On an engine 'new' to me?..I change it after an hours run,then after the first good drive then go on an interval,500 or 1000 miles..most folks change the oil prior to selling a car,but that doesnt tell you what they did prior to sale..so flush it a few times,oil is cheap

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

Ernie: So now that you have 10,000 miles on your rebuilt are you about to drop the oil pan and check your mains and rods of clearances?

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

Once changed the oil filter on this Boeing 777, asked the Captain if he would 'pull-power' at the gate on departure while I leak-checked: "The Company Follows The BOOK, --- I Follow The BOOK".


Change my oil and lube every 500 miles-- per the Book

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

I change all 500 Miles, because this is the only way to take out dust and abrasion.



(Although I drive >2500 ml/year, although I use modern synthetic. 500 is enough. )

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

I run an air and an oil filter. At least 1,000 miles between oil changes.
When on a long tour, I keep an eye on the speedo, temp and oil gauges. While the oil is fresh, temp on 180F, speed on 50 mph and pressure on 26 psi (I made a relief valve aiming at 25psi to the middle main bearing). Those figures don't change day after day until eventually, at the same speed and temp, the pressure starts to drop. I change by the time its down to about 23-4 psi. I figure that when that happens, the oil has run its race and should be replaced. I use the cheapest, nastiest oil available and using this method, the change comes around reliably at 3,500 miles. I've done 50,000 HARD miles on that motor and it's still going fine.

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

I run full-flow oil filters on my B engines, no air filter, and I live on a dirt road. I run modern oil, 20w-50 and change once a year which is about 2500 miles. I've been doing this for 60 years, the cylinder walls show very little wear, same with the bearings. I used to change oil on my F-250 diesel every 4,000. One time I pulled our 5th wheel to Alaska and back to SoCal, and put over 6,000 miles on it. I sent a sample of that oil to a lab, the results said everything looks good, no need to change more often. My 2013 F-350 says to change every 7500, which I do.

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

IMO


Running an oil filter really changes oil change intervals. Originally with non detergent oil, the filth settled out, and if you look carefully in the instruction manual, part of every oil change included dropping the oil pan and cleaning it out. I do not remember seeing anything official, but suspect Ford garages also as part of normal maintenance periodically pulled the valve access cover and cleaned it out. So if you find a motor with lots of sludge, my belief is one of the reasons for the sludge is the motor was poorly maintained.


If using detergent oil/no oil filter, all the filth stays suspended in the oil, where it is constantly part of the lubrication of the rod/main bearings. This is one of the reasons I still change my oil every 500 miles, even running with a Hi Boy air filter/air balanced zenith carb (to repeat, no oil filter).


If running an oil filter the filth is removed that is suspended in the oil, allowing for longer oil change intervals.

Re: Oil Change Interval
 

Good Morning Cape Codder...The engine is still very quiet...so I'll wait a bit longer on dropping the pan and checking the rods and mains. The fellow who built the engine says to leave it alone if it is quiet and maintained as I maintain it. I do use a little strainer when I change oil so that I can see if there is any metal coming out with the oil...the oil is coming out clean...I don't claim to be very bright, I just share what I do and what I have observed...Have a great Model A day. Ernie in Arizona