The Ford Barn

Tom F OHIO · 06-20-2025, 12:33 PM

I have a new to me a 51 ford v8 and was wondering what brand oil and weight I should use. Thanks for the help...

KiWinUS · 06-20-2025, 01:15 PM

You’re about to get 100 different answers but I have used Shell Rotella 15W40 for 50+ years in my own 36 stock engine I have built many flatheads to include hot rod stroker flatheads and I use the same oil in all of them. Never an issue. That’s my 2 cents of real life experience. Enjoy.
Cheers
Tony

cas3 · 06-20-2025, 02:45 PM

Oil is good, I use it in all my engines

tubman · 06-20-2025, 02:57 PM

One caveat (though it should not be necessary). Do not, under any circumstances, let some all-knowing "old-timer" talk you into using non-detergent oil.

Tim Ayers · 06-20-2025, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

One caveat (though it should not be necessary). Do not, under any circumstances, let some all-knowing "old-timer" talk you into using non-detergent oil.

Agreed.

glennpm · 06-20-2025, 03:50 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

You’re about to get 100 different answers but I have used Shell Rotella 15W40 for 50+ years in my own 36 stock engine I have built many flatheads to include hot rod stroker flatheads and I use the same oil in all of them. Never an issue. That’s my 2 cents of real life experience. Enjoy.
Cheers
Tony

Same here ...

Flathead Fever · 06-20-2025, 05:27 PM

Second me on the Shell 15W-40W diesel oil. Because of the extra strains put on diesel engines this oil still has the anti-wear additives that used to be in all oil. I worked as a mechanic for the phone company, and we had around 400 vehicles. We only stocked one kind of oil, it was Chevron 15W-40W diesel oil, we ran it everything, good stuff.

aussie merc · 06-20-2025, 07:12 PM

any quality oil will work remember that the worst oil today is probably better than the best oil back then personally im with a quality 15/40 diesel oil

leon bee · 06-20-2025, 07:20 PM

NAPA conventional 10w30 in my newer tight engine.
NAPA conventional 20w50 in my loose engine.

06-20-2025, 12:33 PM	#1
Tom F OHIO Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mansfield, Ohio Posts: 593	Oil I have a new to me a 51 ford v8 and was wondering what brand oil and weight I should use. Thanks for the help...

06-20-2025, 01:15 PM	#2
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 3,262	Re: Oil You’re about to get 100 different answers but I have used Shell Rotella 15W40 for 50+ years in my own 36 stock engine I have built many flatheads to include hot rod stroker flatheads and I use the same oil in all of them. Never an issue. That’s my 2 cents of real life experience. Enjoy. Cheers Tony

06-20-2025, 02:45 PM	#3
cas3 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Beverly Kansas Posts: 5,298	Re: Oil Oil is good, I use it in all my engines

06-20-2025, 02:57 PM	#4
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 11,633	Re: Oil One caveat (though it should not be necessary). Do not, under any circumstances, let some all-knowing "old-timer" talk you into using non-detergent oil.

06-20-2025, 05:27 PM	#7
Flathead Fever Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,360	Re: Oil Second me on the Shell 15W-40W diesel oil. Because of the extra strains put on diesel engines this oil still has the anti-wear additives that used to be in all oil. I worked as a mechanic for the phone company, and we had around 400 vehicles. We only stocked one kind of oil, it was Chevron 15W-40W diesel oil, we ran it everything, good stuff.

06-20-2025, 07:12 PM	#8
aussie merc Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: sydney australia Posts: 1,125	Re: Oil any quality oil will work remember that the worst oil today is probably better than the best oil back then personally im with a quality 15/40 diesel oil

06-20-2025, 07:20 PM	#9
leon bee Senior Member Join Date: May 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 697	Re: Oil NAPA conventional 10w30 in my newer tight engine. NAPA conventional 20w50 in my loose engine.