Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-27-2021, 11:41 AM   #21
duke36
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,414
Default Re: Engine Oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldgearz View Post
Hate to start WWIII, but is PennGrade SAE 40 high zinc and phosphorus used by Aers very much?
See the "Microlon" thread. The use of zinc has been debated but found to be beneficial in classic and horiz. opposed cylinder engines. Shell Rotella used to have higher levels of zinc but the levels supposedly have been reduced and possibly due to the adverse effects on modern catalytic convertors. Suggest reading up on adding ethanol stabilizers to the modern fuels, another subject of debate affecting engine performance..
duke36 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2021, 12:27 PM   #22
Flyboy1st
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 63
Default Re: Engine Oil

I have always had old air cooled Harleys(1936-80), old cars and I am an A&P aircraft mech. The best is Mobil One, any synthetic grade that is 30WT like 5W30. The old Harleys always produce a lot of sludge, using Mobil One eliminated built up sludge and always kept inside of engines clean, I like using a oil filter also. Mobil One is pretty slippery stuff and is really the gold standard in affordable engine oil.
Flyboy1st is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 01-27-2021, 12:55 PM   #23
Ted Duke
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fairfield, Virginia
Posts: 615
Smile Re: Engine Oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by California Travieso View Post
Ted,

Did you mean “used” motor oil, like in the old days! ��

David Serrano

NOT unless it is need of an overhaul. But, IMHO, any oil in 2021 is better than any oil in 1928-1931. Over talked. Fill it drive it, change it.
Ted Duke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2021, 02:26 PM   #24
Jeff/Illinois
Senior Member
 
Jeff/Illinois's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,787
Default Re: Engine Oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted Duke View Post
NOT unless it is need of an overhaul. But, IMHO, any oil in 2021 is better than any oil in 1928-1931. Over talked. Fill it drive it, change it.
I was told some time back that WalMart brand motor oil was recycled oil from Mobil.

I don't use it myself but a buddy does and has for a number of years with good results in his everyday Pontiac driver. Car has about 200,000 miles he bought it new and it runs fine

Last edited by Jeff/Illinois; 01-28-2021 at 01:35 PM.
Jeff/Illinois is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-27-2021, 04:10 PM   #25
Ak Sourdough
Senior Member
 
Ak Sourdough's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 126
Default Re: Engine Oil

My dad's 29 was (is) in need of rings and leaks profusely. I drove it several times a summer for the past 15 years. A 30 mile round trip to town would require a half gallon of oil to top it back up. Didn't smoke visibly, but lots of crankcase vapor aroma inside especially on a hill until I made a road draft tube that went down beside the transmission to carry it away.

Anyway, I ran used oil in it for many years. We have what are called transfer sites where residential trash is deposited into dumpsters and the borough comes around to empty them. They also have a place for people to leave their used oil. I'd just open up the gallon jugs one at a time until I found one that had honey colored low mileage used oil in it and take it home for the Model A. That worked fine for me, I never considered buying new oil for a big consumer like that. Sold the car to a family friend that plans to fix the engine.

Also good for chainsaw bar oil. Can't see paying 15 bucks a gallon for saw bar oil that is total loss.


In summary, it is my opinion that for some uses, any oil is fine. In all cases, any oil is better than no oil.
__________________
I still have an excellent rememberer, trouble is my forgetter is so much better that it often overrides the rememberer.
Ak Sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2021, 01:38 PM   #26
Jeff/Illinois
Senior Member
 
Jeff/Illinois's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,787
Default Re: Engine Oil

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ak Sourdough View Post
M.................. A 30 mile round trip to town would require a half gallon of oil to top it back up.................
Yikes, I'd have had that engine overhauled real quick-like. 15 miles to a quart of oil?? That's pretty bad.
Jeff/Illinois is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-28-2021, 04:05 PM   #27
Ak Sourdough
Senior Member
 
Ak Sourdough's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Posts: 126
Default Re: Engine Oil

A lot of it landed on the highway, maybe not a whole 1/2 gallon to top it off but close. No big deal when the oil is free and time is short. The car is no cream puff show rig, just an old car as it was in the 50's that still runs.
__________________
I still have an excellent rememberer, trouble is my forgetter is so much better that it often overrides the rememberer.
Ak Sourdough is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2021, 07:26 PM   #28
Gene F
Senior Member
 
Gene F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,916
Default Re: Engine Oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by duke36 View Post
See the "Microlon" thread. The use of zinc has been debated but found to be beneficial in classic and horiz. opposed cylinder engines. Shell Rotella used to have higher levels of zinc but the levels supposedly have been reduced and possibly due to the adverse effects on modern catalytic convertors. Suggest reading up on adding ethanol stabilizers to the modern fuels, another subject of debate affecting engine performance..
Used to - that's the key word. I picked up my engine from my rebuilder, and he wants me to use Rotella 30, so that is what I put in it. I try and tell people all the time that Shell was finally asked to change the formula. You know how persuasive the government can be... In any event if it's so great, why did he give me a bottle of ZDP? I just ordered 2 more bottles of it from Snyders because I am going to soon change the oil again, and then once before laying the car up for winter.
Gene F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2021, 02:26 AM   #29
pbishop
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Wimauma, Florida
Posts: 121
Default Re: Engine Oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldgearz View Post
Hate to start WWIII, but is PennGrade SAE 40 high zinc and phosphorus used by Aers very much?

Got this from the Top - 20-50 Castrol GTX with 1 qt. Lucas, then an extra quart of Marvel Mystery Oil. Damn, you have a concoction of amazing lubricants from top-to-bottom.


My 31 A (with Weber carb) screams down the highway at 65+ mph for 30 miles round trip here in rural Florida. A leak-less water-pump and a four blade fan make the set-up perform at speed and in idle traffic.
pbishop is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2021, 08:57 AM   #30
Terry, NJ
Senior Member
 
Terry, NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks Co, Pa
Posts: 3,740
Default Re: Engine Oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ak Sourdough View Post

Also good for chainsaw bar oil. Can't see paying 15 bucks a gallon for saw bar oil that is total loss.
In summary, it is my opinion that for some uses, any oil is fine. In all cases, any oil is better than no oil.
I have read somewhere, that chain bar oil and 2 cycle oil is the cheapest and least refined oil there is. What the hell? I think of that each and every time I see Stihl oil in those cute little six packs! Wow, what a profit center!
Terry
Terry, NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2021, 09:04 AM   #31
Terry, NJ
Senior Member
 
Terry, NJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Bucks Co, Pa
Posts: 3,740
Default Re: Engine Oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gene F View Post
Used to - that's the key word. I picked up my engine from my rebuilder, and he wants me to use Rotella 30, so that is what I put in it. I try and tell people all the time that Shell was finally asked to change the formula. You know how persuasive the government can be... In any event if it's so great, why did he give me a bottle of ZDP? I just ordered 2 more bottles of it from Snyders because I am going to soon change the oil again, and then once before laying the car up for winter.
At the airport, we had to put a zinc additive into the crankcases of planes we had just changed oil in. This was AeroShell 50 Wt.
Terry
Terry, NJ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2021, 12:53 PM   #32
Aretino
Senior Member
 
Aretino's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Dallas, TX, Angola, IN
Posts: 157
Default Re: Engine Oil

Shell Rotella T1 SAE 30. Great oil and cheap at Walmart
Aretino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-31-2021, 01:58 PM   #33
Gene F
Senior Member
 
Gene F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,916
Default Re: Engine Oil

Oil chemistry is a big deal.
Gene F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2021, 12:32 AM   #34
40 Deluxe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: now Kuna, Idaho
Posts: 3,774
Default Re: Engine Oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff/Illinois View Post
I was told some time back that WalMart brand motor oil was recycled oil from Mobil.

I don't use it myself but a buddy does and has for a number of years with good results in his everyday Pontiac driver. Car has about 200,000 miles he bought it new and it runs fine

Do you walk with a limp? Likely so, because someone was sure pulling your leg! "recycled oil from Mobil"?? WalMart sells a LOT of oil! Where is Mobil getting all this oil to recycle, anyway?
40 Deluxe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2021, 12:46 AM   #35
40 Deluxe
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: now Kuna, Idaho
Posts: 3,774
Default Re: Engine Oil

Quote:
Originally Posted by Terry, NJ View Post
I have read somewhere, that chain bar oil and 2 cycle oil is the cheapest and least refined oil there is. What the hell? I think of that each and every time I see Stihl oil in those cute little six packs! Wow, what a profit center!
Terry

Bar oil may be less refined, but 2 stroke oil is highly refined. Back in the day we just used non-detergent 30W at a 16 to 1 ratio and always had serious carbon build up in the exhaust ports (and on the plug!). Now modern 2 stroke oils are refined and with additives to almost eliminate carbon deposits, plus they lubricate just fine 40:1, 50:1 or more gas/oil ratios.
40 Deluxe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-01-2021, 10:43 PM   #36
Aarongriffey
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Hayward,CA
Posts: 513
Default Re: Engine Oil

In 1960 there was a cut rate gas station in St. Paul that sold reclaimed oil for 10 cents a Quart.
I knew of a few people that used it because they had leaky engines.
Aarongriffey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2021, 04:13 PM   #37
Gene F
Senior Member
 
Gene F's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 1,916
Default Re: Engine Oil

About 1980 there was a department store chain in Columbus, Ohio named Harts. They sold re-refined oil for 39 cents a quart.
Gene F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-02-2021, 07:01 PM   #38
Mister Moose
Senior Member
 
Mister Moose's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Hartford area, CT
Posts: 374
Default Re: Engine Oil

There are 2 reasons oil needs to be changed: Dirt and thermal stress. Not sure how re-refined oil addresses the thermal changes, but I can't believe it's going to be as good.

On chainsaw bar oil, the real stuff is way more syrupy, stringy than motor oil. It will coat the chain and sprocket for longer and not sling off as readily. Can you use motor oil? Sure. I would expect faster bar wear though.
Mister Moose is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-03-2021, 12:12 PM   #39
BillCook
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: Lake Grove NY
Posts: 28
Send a message via Yahoo to BillCook
Default Re: Engine Oil

You can buy the Zinc additive on line ,I used it in my 52Fd 8ba,every oil change !
BillCook is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:21 PM.