oil

[TJ]

I've used Castrol GTX for years and never had a problem. Walmart has the best price.

[tubman]

Detergent oils keep the contaminants in suspension so they can be removed by the oil filter. Ford made oil filters optional in 1936 and standard in 1946. It's really not that complicated.

[Gene1949]

We’ve all torn down flatheads that used “old skool” non-detergent oil. My farmer family had a lot of perfectly good cars and trucks that went to the scrappers because of 60-80,000-mile motors that were completely worn out.
They were farmers (Ogema, MN Tubman) who were strong believers in regular maintenance, but the non-detergent oils were basic refined feed stock with practically no additive package. Those motors would sludge up and were practically un-rebuildable.
It was my pleasure to help my uncles re-ring and bearing my dad’s Lincoln V-12. I was the parts cleaner and spent the better part of a day scoping the sludge out of that motor and cleaning pistons. That job will make you a believer in modern oils.

[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

[ford38v8]

Back in the day (I say that a lot), when these cars were just a few years old, many if not most used 25¢ "remanufactured" oil from bottles at the gas station. No designation of what you got, just motor oil period. Today, so many choices, most all are detergent for good reason, any one of which is better by far than what was available back then. You can use high priced oil, or add zinc, neither is needed, as how often do you need to grind the cam on a flathead? Rings and bearings have no need for zinc, and that's what wears out long before cams wear out. Additives? You might as well pour Bitcoin into the crank case for all the good it does.

[Kens 36]

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Alan,

I hate to ever disagree with you, but I changed to Bitcoin motor oil two years ago and my gas mileage has improved by 12%.

Ken

[alexiskai]

Originally Posted by Kens 36

Alan,

I hate to ever disagree with you, but I changed to Bitcoin motor oil two years ago and my gas mileage has improved by 12%.

Ken

I have some of that but I mostly use it for blockchain lube.

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by Kens 36

Alan,

I hate to ever disagree with you, but I changed to Bitcoin motor oil two years ago and my gas mileage has improved by 12%.

Ken

Goes fast. Last long time.

[Gene1949]

Originally Posted by jplutz

Greetings,
Too bad you received such curt responses. I tend to ramble, but you deserve friendly er responses. Best of luck in your quest. JP Lutz

I don't think the responses were intended to be smarmy. Some people misunderstand those of us that have worked on, raced Fords, broke them and restored flatheads since the early 50s. Anyways;
the wiser heads here have given valuable opinions on the oil issue. There is no need to overthink it, just apply the principle of K.I.S.S (keep it simple stupid).
We made those mistakes, thought we were smarter than petroleum engineers. It cost us a lot of money and heartache in the long run