04-06-2020, 07:59 PM | #1 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4
|
Oil to use?
Hello, I have a stock 1950 Custom with a flathead 239. The original service manual calls for straight weight 20W oil. I can't find that anywhere and was wondering what modern grade of oil would be best to use instead. It has no oil filter. Thank you!
Craig |
04-06-2020, 08:58 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Chicago
Posts: 732
|
Re: Oil to use?
From what I have read here, most say any modern oil will do just fine. All of today's oil is better than what was available in 1950. No need to use straight weight. Probably should use 20W-30 or 20W-40. It's viscosity is 20 weight when cold, and the higher rating when hot will not hurt, only help the engine.
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
04-06-2020, 09:12 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 2,687
|
Re: Oil to use?
What climate are you in ? If its like California or similar a 20-50 wt mineral of good quality and some level of ZDDP will be fine and non detergent would be better if no filter . Dont get to carried away whatever you use will be far better than was available in its day..
__________________
"Came too close to dying to stop living now!" |
04-06-2020, 09:45 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Florida and Penna.
Posts: 4,471
|
Re: Oil to use?
There have been a lot of tests done by oil engineers that are on line.
Most of these guys don't have a dog in the race so they look like honest answers. They list 6 or 8 oils and rate them 1 to 8 I have one I use that tested 23 diesel oils. They also list the ingreediants. G.M.
__________________
www.fordcollector.com |
04-07-2020, 12:15 AM | #5 |
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4
|
Re: Oil to use?
Thank you, all, for your advice and information. Very helpful and I appreciate it!
|
04-07-2020, 08:51 AM | #6 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys
Posts: 10,319
|
Re: Oil to use?
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Quote:
|
|
04-07-2020, 09:24 AM | #7 | |
Member Emeritus
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Wichita KS
Posts: 16,132
|
Re: Oil to use?
Quote:
Above 90 deg SAE 40 Above 32 deg SAE 30 Above 10 deg SAE 20 Above -10 deg SAE 10 And for gear Lubricate: Summer SAE 140 Winter SAE 90 There are many advantages to modern oil blinds and multi-viscosity is one of them. |
|
04-07-2020, 12:59 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Coral Springs FL
Posts: 10,949
|
Re: Oil to use?
20w50
|
04-07-2020, 05:04 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC
Posts: 3,387
|
Re: Oil to use?
My specialty recently is left turns... Don'tcha just love a FordBarn classic topic?
__________________
-Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum? |
04-07-2020, 05:24 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Suth'N Maine
Posts: 1,996
|
Re: Oil to use?
Your right Jeff, I thought this might be a belated "April fools" joke but I'm with 19fordy on this one the 39 and "Big Blue" my 77 F150 love the 20W50.
Hey man @ the NAPA in those 5 quart juggy things it's always on sale |
04-08-2020, 08:26 AM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 155
|
Re: Oil to use?
The reason for using non-detergent oil in a non-filtered engine is so that the contaminates in the oil drop to the bottom of the pan rather than be carried in suspension where those contaminates can get recycled through the engine repeatedly. On an engine with a full flow oil filter, detergent oil allows the contaminates to be carried in suspension thus allowing those contaminates to be filtered out of the oil before going to the bearings.
|
04-08-2020, 10:20 AM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 2,173
|
Re: Oil to use?
Heh-heh. You forgot the sludge at the bottom of the valley and half way up the sides too. 8^) Jack E/NJ
|
04-08-2020, 05:06 PM | #13 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Suth'N Maine
Posts: 1,996
|
Re: Oil to use?
Quote:
There is a nice 1950 custom fordor on the back page of the latest V8 times, if you are not a member yet please join and support the Hobby brother |
|
04-08-2020, 06:03 PM | #14 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: now Kuna, Idaho
Posts: 3,779
|
Re: Oil to use?
Quote:
What I've learned over the years is that the"contaminates" that turn oil dark are acidic combustion by-products ("blow-by") that are too small to be trapped by a filter. Same with the dust that hangs in the air on a gravel road. Since a filter won't trap them anyway, why not use a modern detergent oil that has a number of other beneficial additives? Remember, if it's non-detergent it will not have any zinc in it. If your engine is producing "contaminates" large enough for a filter to trap, you've got other problems! Like it's making metal or the oil fill cap is gone. I suspect (just my opinion at this point, haven't researched) that a major reason for oil filters on newer vehicles is to catch any trash left over from the manufacturing processes or that flakes off during the warranty period. |
|
04-08-2020, 08:38 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 2,687
|
Re: Oil to use?
You will find olis with very low detergents but with zinc. Pentrite Shelsley for example.
__________________
"Came too close to dying to stop living now!" |
04-11-2020, 12:22 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Ventura, CA
Posts: 2,464
|
Re: Oil to use?
Many years ago when I had my own business we had several stationary engines that ran pumps, generators, and cement mixers, the majority of which were Kohler, or Wisconsin, single cylinder, twin and/or V4's.
We always used non-detergent 30w oil in the engines. We generally had the engines rebuilt in lieu of buying a replacement engine. Starting sometime in the early '70's the machine shop that rebuilt our stationary engines started asking us if we wanted babbit or insert bearings in the engine, the first time I was asked this question I wanted to know whats the difference? The reply, babbit bearing cost more, do to the added labor, the conversion to inserts is cheaper. Babit bearing require non-detergent oil whereas with inserts we could use detergent oil in the engine. We generally purchased oil, 20/50 GTX Castrol in 50 gal drums because it would work in all of the vehicles, including the diesels. I used GTX in my '36 Ford from the early '70's until about 10 years ago when I switched to Shell Rotella, Delo or Valvoline for diesels. usually 10-40..
__________________
Bill.... 36 5 win cpe |
04-11-2020, 03:14 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: now Kuna, Idaho
Posts: 3,779
|
Re: Oil to use?
"Babbitt bearings require non-detergent oil"?? Why? Did this machine shop explain? After all, many insert bearings have a thin Babbitt layer that works just fine with detergent oil! This sounds like another myth.
|
04-16-2020, 03:30 AM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Manawatu, New Zealand
Posts: 1,416
|
Re: Oil to use?
I use 20w-50w detergent oil - Mostly because its easier to get
I have no filter and I change the oil every 1000 miles . Every time I've had the inlet manifold off I'm amazed at how clean the valve train is No sludge at all . However I suspect the most crucial factor is the frequency of oil change rather than what oil I am using -Karl
__________________
Such a fine sight to see-Its a Girl, My Lord, in a Flatbed Ford slowin' down to take a look at me. |
04-16-2020, 06:01 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Bonita, CA
Posts: 1,374
|
Re: Oil to use?
30 weight Rotella with some MMO. Multi viscosity oils like 10W 50 leak too fast because when cold they are too thin. Early flathead main seals are not so good. Earliest ones don't even have a main seal, only a slinger.
|
04-16-2020, 10:09 PM | #20 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Florida and Penna.
Posts: 4,471
|
Re: Oil to use?
The clearance of the bearing on the shaft determines amount of oil leaking
out of the crank shaft. I pumped 40 lbs of oil into the system with the pan off and had very little oil leaking from the bearings. Oil was leaking from weak bypass spring in pump. G.M.
__________________
www.fordcollector.com |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|