oil

[jplutz]

Greetings,
Too bad you received such curt responses. When I first joined the Barn, I had just purchased the clunker you see in my avatar. The gentleman I got it from passed away unexpectedly the day after I drove it home.
The last time I "looked" at a Flathead was back in 1962. So I was a 'newbie' all over again.
The oil looked black, but I had 20 - 30 lbs of pressure. I changed the oil and filter to 10w-30, and had 30 - 40 lbs cold. So I was happy. Then I went for a drive down the road to town. After about 5 miles I was at a stop sign and I looked at the oil gauge and it unreadable. I gave the engine a little goose and the pressure came up. I drove straight home.
I had already joined the Barn, so I logged on and asked the same question that you did. I received much friendlier replies.
I received about 3 pages of replies, including comments that this was an old much discussed subject. On the shelf oils ranged from 0w on up. 0w??.. I was confused!
About half the replies suggested diesel oil, 15w-40. Its on the shelf at AutoZone, NAPA, Wallyworld, etc. So I got me some quarts, kept the filter and changed the oil. Diesel has good additives and the new oil press was over 40 cold and 20 - 25 at hot idle, going back to 40 at speed.
My engine is totally stock and well used and pbly abbused. I don't know if this helps you or not. The brand I use is Shell Rotella Diesel 15w-40. I tend to ramble, but you deserve friendly er responses. Best of luck in your quest. JP Lutz