non detergent oil

[warren va]

Is this a good choice of oil to run in these old type engines ?

Warren

[ford38v8]

No. Use detergent oil no matter how loaded up your engine may be with sludge, there will be no further buildup, and none will disolve nor break loose as the old wives tales predicted.

Change your oil regularly and you'll be fine.

[66miles]

I put modern oil in my merc about 6 months ago. Didn't know what was in there from the last owner, except to say it was black as tar and thicker than treacle so could've been many years old. Maybe non-detergent stuff, who knows.

Since then I have drained and replaced the oil 3 times just encase there was something in the old tale. No sludge or scary looking blobs, just slightly black oil as you would expect from an old motor.

[Snouts out]

3rd owner of a 38 standard.The 2nd owner said 30 wt,non detergent,every 1000 miles.Why would I do doubt him ? Does detergent oil ruin your your seals , I think so.

[JWL]

The only place to use non-detergent is in the gear box and ways of your lathes.

[GreenMonster48]

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Originally Posted by ford38v8

No. Use detergent oil no matter how loaded up your engine may be with sludge, there will be no further buildup, and none will disolve nor break loose as the old wives tales predicted.

Change your oil regularly and you'll be fine.

That is exactly right. I used the crappy non detergent oil based on said wives tales. The oil was crap, I was getting blowby, etc. Finally switched to detergent and the motor is much happier.

[Kurt in NJ]

A lot of people put used oil in their car back in the day --is that a reason to use it now?
I like the diesel oils because it is better suited to a car that doesn't have perfect mixture control ---it is designed to deal with the carbon contamination from less than conplete combustion

[Ronnie]

If they would have had detergent oil in the old days, they would have used it!

R

[rotorwrench]

Non detergent is for cylinder break in only (first 500-miles after overhaul). An engine run for extended periods with non detergent will be a dirty engine with soap deposits all over the inside.

[warren va]

Thanks to all. Detergent oil it will be.

Warren

[mrtexas]

Originally Posted by warren va

Is this a good choice of oil to run in these old type engines ?

Warren

Yes if you want to build up sludge inside the engine on all the flat surfaces.