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Old 10-20-2018, 04:29 PM   #1
bwild
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Default 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

Bought a 1950 two door custom about a year ago. No real history on it. Does have aluminum heads and tri card manifold (only center card hooked up). Want to change the oil and filter to start fresh. Any recommendations on oil would be helpful (viscosity, single or multi weight, convention or synthetic). She's being run in the northern new jersey area.
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Old 10-20-2018, 04:39 PM   #2
estout81
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

Weight 10/30.
Brand, what's on sale!
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Old 10-20-2018, 04:59 PM   #3
FortyNiner
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

^^^ Roger that.
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Old 10-20-2018, 06:38 PM   #4
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

If it has the stock style oil filter NAPA #1006.....Mark
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Old 10-20-2018, 06:45 PM   #5
alanwoodieman
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

where are you located. nj would be ok for 10w30 but in the hot areas of the country 20w50 stays in better. I tried synthetic oil and it went thru the engine like s--t thru a goose, just too much clearance in valves/rings even on a new engine
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Old 10-20-2018, 08:49 PM   #6
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

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Since you don't know the clearances/wear on the bearings and oil pump, maybe go by oil pressure. Hook up an accurate mechanical oil pressure gauge and drive to get the engine and oil up to operating temperature. Check pressure at idling and at 60 MPH. If pressure is too low, go to a thicker oil. Factory spec according to my MOTOR Manual is 45# at 30 MPH, although the engine can run happily at less than that. As long as there is some pressure (resistance to flow) oil is reaching all parts of the engine.
What is absolute minimum? That is open to personal opinion! 5-10# at idle is OK (on cars with idiot lights, a common spec is for the light to come on around 6#).
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Old 10-20-2018, 09:18 PM   #7
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

Since your engine shows external modifications, you probably don't know what and when internal rebuilding were done.

I'm with estout81, alanwoodieman and 40 Deluxe .... your location needs to be considered. I'm in north eastern NY and use Penn 10w-30 detergent. My 59 AB engine has 35,000 miles on its rebuild. It has no filter but I change the oil every 1000 miles. It does not burn oil and the oil appears clean at changes. Personally, I think a lower viscosity oil gets into tighter spaces and may tend to keep the interior of the engine cleaner if oil changes are made timely.

Consideration #1: Engine working oil pressure. I have an aftermarket oil pressure gauge. It shows about 70 lbs at idle when cold, about 20 lbs at idle when at running temp, and about 50 lbs hot at say 60 mph.

Consideration #2: Perceived internal engine lubrication i.e. valve noise, knocking etc. My car sometimes sits a lot so I add with a half qt of Marvel mystery Oil to keep the valve train oiled and I add a little to the gasoline. My engine had sticky valves when purchased and the MMO fixed that.

Consideration #3: Possible engine oil leaks at the crank and elsewhere. Some forum members here experience this and a higher viscosity should reduce this. My engine currently shows none.

Regarding synthetic oils, I use it but I'm seeing debate about whether it keeps engines as clean as a standard multi-viscosity high detergent oil in the long-term.

Last edited by Drbrown; 10-20-2018 at 09:24 PM.
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Old 10-22-2018, 06:44 AM   #8
Frank Miller
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

Do a search of my oil analysis post. I ran synthetic 10-30 for 8100 miles across the country. Used a half quart and the short story from the analysis said try 9000 next time.
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Old 10-26-2018, 11:35 PM   #9
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

Thanks. I've read that the flat head engines require Zinc in the oil for proper lubrication and that the new standard conventional oils no longer have zinc in them. What's your opinion on the zinc issue?
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Old 10-26-2018, 11:37 PM   #10
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

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Originally Posted by bwild View Post
Thanks. I've read that the flat head engines require Zinc in the oil for proper lubrication and that the new standard conventional oils no longer have zinc in them. What's your opinion on the zinc issue?
You heard wrong. No zinc in the oil back when flatheads were new.
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Old 10-27-2018, 04:59 AM   #11
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

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You heard wrong. No zinc in the oil back when flatheads were new.

"no longer have zink" ? Valvoline racing oil BIG yellow label 'contains zink"
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Old 10-27-2018, 08:00 AM   #12
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

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Thanks. I've read that the flat head engines require Zinc in the oil for proper lubrication and that the new standard conventional oils no longer have zinc in them. What's your opinion on the zinc issue?
The zinc type of additives are needed on high load surfaces such as the camshaft lifters. With overhead valve engines the valve spring loads started to go up and these additives helped with cam/lifter life. Flathead lifter loads are much lower and do not require high levels of zinc in the oil. Some people like to use the high zinc racing oils, but it is not required in a flathead engine.

If you are interested in debate on this topic there are a number of threads on the subject. It is one of the subjects that there is a lot of strong feelings on!

Last edited by JSeery; 10-27-2018 at 08:07 AM.
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Old 10-27-2018, 09:47 AM   #13
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

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"no longer have zink" ? Valvoline racing oil BIG yellow label 'contains zink"
Yea and what does that stuff cost? $5-$7 a quart. No thanks!
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Old 10-27-2018, 09:55 AM   #14
alanwoodieman
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

I buy 20W50 Kendall High Performance Oil for $36 a case of 12
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Old 10-27-2018, 10:33 AM   #15
Ol' Ron
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

Oil pressure on a hot engine should be 5/10 lbs at idle and 30/40 at highway cruise.. Zink is nice if your running excessive valve spring pressure., Oil besides being a lubricant, also cools the bearing. So the flow rate of the oil through the bearing is important. Yes a heaver oil would be necessary if the bearings are warn some. Fortunately the flathead was so well designed that non of this is relevant. most people just try and make the oil pressure gauge happy.
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Old 10-27-2018, 11:07 AM   #16
tubman
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

As of a couple of years ago, all oil with a "50" in the weight factor (i.e. 20W/50) had plenty of zinc in it. I don't think it has changed.
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Old 10-27-2018, 12:16 PM   #17
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

The zinc additive is bad for catalytic converters thatīs why itīs getting out of fashion...
Otherwise itīs the best wearshield invented for oil.
And itīs not that a higher content of zinc gives you a better protection....the engines uses as much as it needs...and in the end you get a lower zinc contents in the oil...so you need enough in the oil so that you dont deplete it between oil changes.
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Old 10-27-2018, 03:49 PM   #18
alanwoodieman
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Default Re: 1950 V8 oil recomendations?

tubman-Kendal rep said the same thing about the 10w40 and the 20w50
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