The Ford Barn

Mr. Will · 05-21-2014, 10:21 PM

I did a search on this but could not find anything.

What motor oil would you guys recommend non-detergent or detergent? Also what about the zinc?

fordor41 · 05-21-2014, 10:31 PM

I'll let some one else comment on det/non-det oil but I'd run a zinc oil or zinc additive in any flat tappet engine and renew every 3000 mi. For the $15 every 3000 mi for at least an additive, I won't take the chance.

Lanny · 05-21-2014, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Will

I did a search on this but could not find anything.

What motor oil would you guys recommend non-detergent or detergent? Also what about the zinc?

================================================== =======

Here is a recent thread listed a week or so ago....

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...light=oil+zinc

.

Mr. Will · 05-21-2014, 11:30 PM

I run the VR1 in my other cars so I am familar with the zink issue. My flathead does not have a filter so I guess my main concern is the non-detergent verses the detergent oil and using a detergent oil in a engine that has been run with non-detergent.

Lanny · 05-21-2014, 11:40 PM

I've run Detergent oil in every flathead i've had, and been happy with it.

.

Old Henry · 05-21-2014, 11:41 PM

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Detergent oil for sure. That keeps the impurities in suspension so they'll drain out with the oil. Otherwise, with non-detergent oil, the impurities settle on the bottom and become sludge.

ford3 · 05-22-2014, 01:43 AM

non detergent oils have nothing in then that is good for your engine, no rust inhibators, no acid neutralizes, no anti foaming ingredients, no zink and no nothing that is good, there is a reason all car makers stopped using it, and the reason is it does nothing to protect your engine

scooder · 05-22-2014, 02:04 AM

Nothing wrong with using detergent oil in an engine that's only had non detergent oil before, I used to think that it would be bad. That the detergent oil would free up the sludge and whip it around the engine. But it don't do that, it ain't ment to and can't do that. It only keeps the bits in suspension that come loose, for want of a better description, while the detergent oil was/is in use. It won't clean old sludge and stuff out of the pan. I've seen pics of a valve chamber on s flathead that used non detergent for years, then a switch to detergent oil years later, still has all the old (pre detergent) sludge in there.
Use good detergent oil.
Martin.

Snouts out · 05-22-2014, 02:41 AM

What about the seals?Non detergent,change every 1000 miles.

john in illinois · 05-22-2014, 07:09 AM

non detergent oil is good for air compressors,not flatheads.

John

Ol' Ron · 05-22-2014, 08:42 AM

I recommend 10-30 detergent oil in an engine with an oil filter and non detergent oin in one with out. However I don't know where you could find any right now.

scooder · 05-22-2014, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snouts out

What about the seals?Non detergent,change every 1000 miles.

What about the "seals"?
Martin.

flatjack9 · 05-22-2014, 09:19 AM

Detergent oil, absolutely.

Andyr · 05-22-2014, 09:32 AM

Lanny.......I use "Classic Car Motor Oil" as advertized in the V-8 Times.......contains Zinc. Check it out at ClassicCarMotorOil.com or 317-225-0040.......thanks

Automotive Stud · 05-22-2014, 09:50 AM

Originally I ran 30wt detergent because that's what the previous owner used. Lately I've been using Shell Rotella 15w40 with zddp+ additive.

ct1932ford · 05-22-2014, 09:59 AM

VR1 change the oil frequently!

Mr. Will · 05-22-2014, 10:38 AM

Thanks Guys for the input. A friend just bought a 40' and he did a whole lot of reading about it and said what some of the others had said about the non-detergent oil was suppose to collect the sludge in the bottom of the pan and then the large drain was for the sludge to drain out. He also mentioned that if changing to detergent that the detergent would break loose the old sludge and could possibly ruin the engine. This was my concern.

Mike51Merc · 05-22-2014, 11:08 AM

Rotella T 15W40 plus a bottle of STP

Shu47 · 05-22-2014, 02:25 PM

Detergent and either 10W-30 or 10W-40.

scooder · 05-22-2014, 02:59 PM

Never seen any evidenced to support the "it will break loose the old sludge" that ain't what it does. I think you'll find the folk that believe this, also know that a Stewart Warner southwind heater will burn your car into a fireball, cus gas is injected into the heater. Or they crack and everybody in the car dies from monoxide poisoning.
Martin.

05-21-2014, 10:21 PM	#1
Mr. Will Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: East Fork Satsop Posts: 611	Flathead Motor Oil I did a search on this but could not find anything. What motor oil would you guys recommend non-detergent or detergent? Also what about the zinc?

05-21-2014, 10:31 PM	#2
fordor41 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: elmira,ny Posts: 1,517	Re: Flathead Motor Oil I'll let some one else comment on det/non-det oil but I'd run a zinc oil or zinc additive in any flat tappet engine and renew every 3000 mi. For the $15 every 3000 mi for at least an additive, I won't take the chance.

05-21-2014, 11:30 PM	#4
Mr. Will Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: East Fork Satsop Posts: 611	Re: Flathead Motor Oil I run the VR1 in my other cars so I am familar with the zink issue. My flathead does not have a filter so I guess my main concern is the non-detergent verses the detergent oil and using a detergent oil in a engine that has been run with non-detergent.

05-21-2014, 11:40 PM	#5
Lanny Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mn Posts: 2,411	Re: Flathead Motor Oil I've run Detergent oil in every flathead i've had, and been happy with it. . __________________ If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. But if daddy ain't happy...RUN

05-21-2014, 11:41 PM	#6
Old Henry Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Orem, Utah Posts: 5,762	Re: Flathead Motor Oil Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Detergent oil for sure. That keeps the impurities in suspension so they'll drain out with the oil. Otherwise, with non-detergent oil, the impurities settle on the bottom and become sludge. __________________ Prof. Henry (The Roaming Gnome) "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” *Ursula K. Le Guin in The Left Hand of Darkness

05-22-2014, 01:43 AM	#7
ford3 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: oroville calif. Posts: 1,453	Re: Flathead Motor Oil non detergent oils have nothing in then that is good for your engine, no rust inhibators, no acid neutralizes, no anti foaming ingredients, no zink and no nothing that is good, there is a reason all car makers stopped using it, and the reason is it does nothing to protect your engine

05-22-2014, 02:04 AM	#8
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,593	Re: Flathead Motor Oil Nothing wrong with using detergent oil in an engine that's only had non detergent oil before, I used to think that it would be bad. That the detergent oil would free up the sludge and whip it around the engine. But it don't do that, it ain't ment to and can't do that. It only keeps the bits in suspension that come loose, for want of a better description, while the detergent oil was/is in use. It won't clean old sludge and stuff out of the pan. I've seen pics of a valve chamber on s flathead that used non detergent for years, then a switch to detergent oil years later, still has all the old (pre detergent) sludge in there. Use good detergent oil. Martin.

05-22-2014, 02:41 AM	#9
Snouts out Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Covedale,oh Posts: 226	Re: Flathead Motor Oil What about the seals?Non detergent,change every 1000 miles.

05-22-2014, 07:09 AM	#10
john in illinois Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Illinois Posts: 2,184	Re: Flathead Motor Oil non detergent oil is good for air compressors,not flatheads. John

05-22-2014, 08:42 AM	#11
Ol' Ron Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Chester Vt Posts: 8,860	Re: Flathead Motor Oil I recommend 10-30 detergent oil in an engine with an oil filter and non detergent oin in one with out. However I don't know where you could find any right now.

05-22-2014, 09:19 AM	#13
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,527	Re: Flathead Motor Oil Detergent oil, absolutely.

05-22-2014, 09:32 AM	#14
Andyr Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 75	Re: Flathead Motor Oil Lanny.......I use "Classic Car Motor Oil" as advertized in the V-8 Times.......contains Zinc. Check it out at ClassicCarMotorOil.com or 317-225-0040.......thanks

05-22-2014, 09:50 AM	#15
Automotive Stud Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: New Jersey Posts: 832	Re: Flathead Motor Oil Originally I ran 30wt detergent because that's what the previous owner used. Lately I've been using Shell Rotella 15w40 with zddp+ additive.

05-22-2014, 09:59 AM	#16
ct1932ford Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: CT. Posts: 596	Re: Flathead Motor Oil VR1 change the oil frequently!

05-22-2014, 10:38 AM	#17
Mr. Will Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: East Fork Satsop Posts: 611	Re: Flathead Motor Oil Thanks Guys for the input. A friend just bought a 40' and he did a whole lot of reading about it and said what some of the others had said about the non-detergent oil was suppose to collect the sludge in the bottom of the pan and then the large drain was for the sludge to drain out. He also mentioned that if changing to detergent that the detergent would break loose the old sludge and could possibly ruin the engine. This was my concern.

05-22-2014, 11:08 AM	#18
Mike51Merc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 1,582	Re: Flathead Motor Oil Rotella T 15W40 plus a bottle of STP

05-22-2014, 02:25 PM	#19
Shu47 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Maltby, Washington Posts: 187	Re: Flathead Motor Oil Detergent and either 10W-30 or 10W-40.

05-22-2014, 02:59 PM	#20
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,593	Re: Flathead Motor Oil Never seen any evidenced to support the "it will break loose the old sludge" that ain't what it does. I think you'll find the folk that believe this, also know that a Stewart Warner southwind heater will burn your car into a fireball, cus gas is injected into the heater. Or they crack and everybody in the car dies from monoxide poisoning. Martin.