What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Just got my engine back from a full rebuild. I got it installed and am putting all the stuff back on. It's almost time to put some fresh oil in it and start it up. I think before I had it rebuilt I used 20-50. What do you recommend is good for it now. I know there will be a bunch if different opinions but let's hear them all. I did read on here to dump 4 in the pan and one through the dizzy hole. Good info and I will do!
Thanks josh

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Mineral or some other cheap oil for ten hours, then remove it and replace with the 10- 30/40 of your choice.
Terry

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

After probably spending 2500$ (or a lot more), what did the rebuilder suggest??
Paul in CT

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

yes ask your builder for warranty purposes

this is off the AER site read #1
http://antiqueenginerebuilding.com/INSTRUCTIONS.html

i would change it after giving the engine its initial shake down. personally i do it 2-3 times after a fresh rebuild don't be penny wise //dollar foolish. you'll be surprised whats comes out and don't reuse it, oil is cheaper than engines

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

If you change the oil every 2000 mi or so with detergent type after a few changes the engine will be clean inside. Don't worry about dirt being embedded in the bearings, just change the detergent oil.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

I would due oil change at about 500 miles than afer that your nornal change good luck

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

I us Rotella diesel oil cause It has zinc in it to protect
the lead bearings.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

I suggest changing the oil after only 10 - 15 miles to be sure everything from the rebuild is out of the engine and again after 100 miles to be sure. Better safe then sorry and oil is cheap. If you wanted to you could filter it and use is again after the second oil change.

But of course what did the rebuilder tell you?

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Oh my.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

I'll give the builder a call today and see what he thinks I should use.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

I always suggest the use of any good diesel oil in my rebuilds. I prefer Rotella but Delo or Travelers will do. I have also used Wal-mart brand if it is diesel rated.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Is there an additive in diesel oil that not in regular oil ?

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Builder said to use whatever weight I prefer as long as it's a non detergent oil. He said that it's not good for the Babbitt it could seperate it from the block or cause it to flake. Ill prob go with a 10-40 weight non detergent.

Now I read in other posts that a lot you you guys use detergent oils????

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

What century is your rebuilder living in?
Clearly detergent oil doesn't harm babbitt or every one of our engines would be in the do over position and we'd be out of business for recommending it at break in and throughout the life cycle of the engines.

Bad information from the rebuilder. That's a warning sign that the babbitt will separate from the block and flake.??

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

J&M is right on. Also, you will be hard pressed to find a multi weight oil in Non-D anyway

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

What harm would it be to use a non Detergent oil anyways? Napa carries it. I understand with all of you guys using detergent oils that I'm sure it's fine. I don't want to go against the builder and have issues

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

OMG :eek:

Tell him that someone you were speaking to called him an idiot for giving that advice and ask him the reason so you can tell that guy off.

I'm real interested in hearing his reason.

The true story is ALL types of all are used in the model a and none have been proven to be bad for babbitt.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

who is the builder since i am local to you

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Hi Captain J,

Individual Recommendations: Oil is a much discussed subject on Model A Forums.

Sometimes it appears that all of the past varying types of oil recommended by individuals appear to be linked somewhat to whether the individual prefers white wall or black wall tires.

As recommended above, if you have a "warranty" & use what oil the rebuilder recommended, at least both you & your rebuilder will not worrying about oil for a long time.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

I hope this isn't a defensive warning from the builder due to the possiblity of his babbit seperating and flaking.:eek:

This doesn't leave me with a good feeling about the babbit job.:mad:

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Non detergent oil lets all the crud to settle in the bottom of the oil pan and valve chamber. Non detergent usually doesn't have any anti wear additives and I've never seen a multi grade in non detergent. On the other hand I ran non detergent in my sept 29 engine for probably forty years with no problem other than heavy crud build up. As for the babbitt, this engine still has the original babbitt and I have owned it since the spring of 1960. I now use Walmart 20w50 high detergent. Detergent oil keeps foreign particles suspended so they are drained out with oil changes instead of collecting in the low spots in the engine.

As others have said, its best to use whatever the rebuilder recommends if you expect to have any warranty. The last 350 GM crate engine that I bought, the parts man said to break it in with 30 weight non detergent for the first thousand miles and then change to a good detergent grade oil. The thought was that some wear is needed for the rings to seat. Non detergent has no anti wear additives and helps speed up break in..

I overhaul my engines and have nobody to answer to !!! I use 30 weight non detergent for break in. On first start up, I run the engine for 20 minutes and shut it down. I then retorque the head and change the oil. I then run put about 100 miles on it and change the oil again. I change the oil often untill I get about a thousand miles or am satisfied that the rings are seated. After that its strictly high detergent oil only. This is just how I do mine. Don't do what I say, do whatever the engine builder says because he is where responsibility falls. This is just what works for me. Oil is cheap compared to engines. The drained oil works good in son inlaws worn back hoe hydraulic system so that I have no problem with waste oil.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Hercules welding and machine in palmyra

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Captain j, I suppose you should go with what your rebuilder recommends as long as you trust him enough to re-rebuild the engine if it fails. This assumes he doesn't put the blame for failure on something other than the rebuild (just being a New Yorker). Regarding detergent vs. non-detergent oils, non-detergents contain NO additives. They are strictly straight mineral oil and that's what Henry (and everybody else) used because that's all there was in 1930. If you choose to use a non-detergent oil, here's what you'll be giving up: Detergent (NOT Lux Liquid! No one puts anything in oil that will wash oil from cylinder walls or other parts. It would be counterproductive and dumb); Dispersant (to keep particles of combustion, sand, and other junk that finds its way into the crankcase from all sorts of sources in suspension); Antiwear agents (to prevent wear); Friction modifiers (to allow sliding surfaces to, well, slide easier); Oxidation inhibitors (to slow down the inevitible process of oil oxidation); Pour depressant (to allow the oil to flow at low temps); Antirust (to mitigate the damage from water that will sneak past the rings on a cold engine and from the atmosphere); and Antifoam (oil is totally useless when it foams, air being a lousy lubricant). Talk with your rebuilder and let him know your concerns. Sounds dangerous to run non-detergent for very long as you will start to develop all the bad stuff mentioned above that detergent oil is designed to prevent. Good luck!

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

I also think I would stick with the rebuilder's recommendations so you have a warranty to go back with.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

I don't even recommend non detergent for a 3.5 horse lawnmower! Any builder that thinks his babbitt is going to seperate from the caps don't know how to tin the caps. I agree with J&M, use any detergent oil but diesel is better. It has zddp and other high pressure additives that will help keep your engine running right. If it is good enough to keep a diesel running for 1,000,000 miles it should be great in a Model A.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Hi Cap,
they are very close to my shop just over the bridge. i deal with alot of local model A things around the community but never heard anything about them good or bad. what kind of warranty comes with it ??? do they do the babbitt in house or farm it out??

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

As far as I know it's all done in house. Someone from this site recommended him to me for rebuilding the model a engine. He has done others and also had two others redone in his shop waiting to be picked up.
What if I use non detergent and added extra zinc?

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

what warranty do they give

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Don't know what warranty they give? If anything is wrong with it it's going back. If it starts leaking oil out the back of it, it's going back. That's why I took it there in the first place. I didn't spend that much to have it run rough, leak oil, smoke or anything. I've talked to other engine builders and they all had good things to say about this guy and especially about him doing Babbitt bearings.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

use what your guy says to, even though it goes against conventional wisdom.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Hi captain,

Appears after this particular one (1) rebuild, with this rebuilder, it is a simple decision at this particular time:

1. Want rebuilder's "warranty", use non-detergent oil.

2. Don't want rebuilder's warranty, don't use non-detergent oil.

3. If you concur, oil choice could be considered over.

4. If you are curious, you can now ask whether to use White Wall or Black Wall tires with your final oil selection.

5. Guaranteed to some get varied opinions, but you will get sincere "good" opinions like those above on oil.

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

absolutely!!

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Hi Mike V,

If one studies & analyses the responses on this Forum one begin s to realize that this Forum is composed of the real backbone of America ....... true Americans trying to kindly assist others.

The individuals responding are sending messages from past experiences -- not just political B.S. to get recognition -- we can all respect past experiences.

This Forum is what America was intended to be ...... respect opinions of others even though we do not agree with other opinions -- what a wonderful group on this Forum.

Let us respect all opinions ... we are one !!!!!

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

Especially when it comes to oil.:cool:

Re: What oil on fresh rebuild?
 

I'm going to use the non detergent and follow what the builder says to do. Obviously I would like to use newer oil with all the added benefits it comes with. After it's been on the road and I know all is good with the rebuild in due time I'll probably switch to a newer style oil. For now I'll play it safe.