The Ford Barn

keith oh · 06-30-2013, 10:42 AM

The greatest amount of wear is in the first few seconds after start up. The faster oil gets to the moving parts of an engine the less wear. One reason Diesel engines last longer is because thier fuel is Oil and therefor are lubricated from startup. So it stands to reason thiner viscosity oil is desirable. If an engine has not been run for a while (a day or more) then leave the ignition off and turn it over for 10 or 15 seconds. Then after 20 or 30 seconds, to let the starter cool, start it. That is why I think installing a stand by Electric fuel pump, just to prime the engine for a quick start after setting for a while, is actually harmful.

VeryTangled · 06-30-2013, 11:24 AM

Welcome to the Forums DP1743.

Those numbers are from the American Petroleum Institute's 'Service Classification' rating system. For starters, ratings beginning with C are for 'compression' engines, and S are for 'spark' engines, current production cars and trucks should take CH-4, CI-4 or CJ-4, or SJ, SL, SM, or SN. More in this .PDF: (don't recognize the .ashx extension, but it opens with Adobe Reader okay), http://api.org/oil-and-natural-gas-o...10_120210.ashx EDIT WRONG INFO: S=Service, C=Commercial as per the "Motor Oil Guide 2010."

It's a good question whether modern oil formulated for high compression, fuel injected, 200k mile engines, would be suitable for engines that originally used single grades not above SAE30 viscosity. As you can tell, there are quite a few perspectives.

-VT/Jeff

dp1743 · 06-30-2013, 04:09 PM

Hi Mike. Yup... I'll be posting some pics in the near future. Thanks for your advice. Dick

dp1743 · 06-30-2013, 04:13 PM

Thanks to everyone for their advice and for making me feel welcome. When it comes to oil we all know it's the "life blood" of the car. Makes me wonder though, when I was young I used to put used oil in my 56 Chevy 6 cyl. It came in glass bottles with long metal necks and a lot of old service stations would sell it cheap. I would stop to fill up on oil and check the gas. That car last another couple of years before it gave out. - Dick

woodypecker · 06-30-2013, 08:57 PM

SJ and CI have the most zinc but you can not find them anymore.

lenmissy · 07-01-2013, 07:36 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I use no. 40 oil.

tiger.1000 · 07-01-2013, 11:41 AM

In my Model B I use low detergent, SAE 30 but it ain't so hot in the UK

Merc Cruzer · 07-02-2013, 06:14 PM

20/50 Castrol and a bottle of ZZDPlus

06-30-2013, 10:42 AM	#21
keith oh Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Millersport, central ohio Posts: 668	Re: What should I use for oil in 40 Ford flathead? The greatest amount of wear is in the first few seconds after start up. The faster oil gets to the moving parts of an engine the less wear. One reason Diesel engines last longer is because thier fuel is Oil and therefor are lubricated from startup. So it stands to reason thiner viscosity oil is desirable. If an engine has not been run for a while (a day or more) then leave the ignition off and turn it over for 10 or 15 seconds. Then after 20 or 30 seconds, to let the starter cool, start it. That is why I think installing a stand by Electric fuel pump, just to prime the engine for a quick start after setting for a while, is actually harmful.

06-30-2013, 11:24 AM	#22
VeryTangled Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC Posts: 3,387	Re: What should I use for oil in 40 Ford flathead? Welcome to the Forums DP1743. Those numbers are from the American Petroleum Institute's 'Service Classification' rating system. For starters, ratings beginning with C are for 'compression' engines, and S are for 'spark' engines, current production cars and trucks should take CH-4, CI-4 or CJ-4, or SJ, SL, SM, or SN. More in this .PDF: (don't recognize the .ashx extension, but it opens with Adobe Reader okay), http://api.org/oil-and-natural-gas-o...10_120210.ashx EDIT WRONG INFO: S=Service, C=Commercial as per the "Motor Oil Guide 2010." It's a good question whether modern oil formulated for high compression, fuel injected, 200k mile engines, would be suitable for engines that originally used single grades not above SAE30 viscosity. As you can tell, there are quite a few perspectives. -VT/Jeff Last edited by VeryTangled; 06-30-2013 at 07:19 PM.

06-30-2013, 04:09 PM	#23
dp1743 Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Stoughton, MA Posts: 39	Re: What should I use for oil in 40 Ford flathead? Hi Mike. Yup... I'll be posting some pics in the near future. Thanks for your advice. Dick

06-30-2013, 04:13 PM	#24
dp1743 Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Stoughton, MA Posts: 39	Re: What should I use for oil in 40 Ford flathead? Thanks to everyone for their advice and for making me feel welcome. When it comes to oil we all know it's the "life blood" of the car. Makes me wonder though, when I was young I used to put used oil in my 56 Chevy 6 cyl. It came in glass bottles with long metal necks and a lot of old service stations would sell it cheap. I would stop to fill up on oil and check the gas. That car last another couple of years before it gave out. - Dick

06-30-2013, 08:57 PM	#25
woodypecker Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Clarkston, Michigan Posts: 239	Re: What should I use for oil in 40 Ford flathead? SJ and CI have the most zinc but you can not find them anymore.

07-01-2013, 07:36 AM	#26
lenmissy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 421	Re: What should I use for oil in 40 Ford flathead? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I use no. 40 oil.

07-01-2013, 11:41 AM	#27
tiger.1000 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hertford (UK) Posts: 905	Re: What should I use for oil in 40 Ford flathead? In my Model B I use low detergent, SAE 30 but it ain't so hot in the UK