The Ford Barn

Clem Clement · 08-08-2021, 02:09 AM

I change oil in my'39 pickup in May as it was nearly black. It ran some during the winter and i flooded it during starting a few times. I figured I got gas in the oil (no electric fuel pump). This week I noticed it was dark again. I drained the dark oil this evening. No oil filter.

Should I add STP (Only because I had some) to the fresh oil at this time?
clem

34PKUP · 08-08-2021, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

I change oil in my'39 pickup in May as it was nearly black. It ran some during the winter and i flooded it during starting a few times. I figured I got gas in the oil (no electric fuel pump). This week I noticed it was dark again. I drained the dark oil this evening. No oil filter.

Should I add STP (Only because I had some) to the fresh oil at this time?
clem

Just how many miles has it been driven between changes?

TJ · 08-08-2021, 08:20 AM

Don't add the STP unless you want more oil leaks.

AnthonyG · 08-08-2021, 08:21 AM

Clem, I’m sure you know several things can cause your oil to get black. I hate the word but I’m assuming W/O a filter your changing every couple thousand miles, that being the case & W/O a filter dark dirty looking oil is pretty normal. Having said that if your engines been running rich for any length of time Will crud up the engine with black improperly combusted black residue on plugs, valves & cylinders & this can prematurely make oil black. If only a few times flooding shouldn’t do it & the gas in your oil from a few times flooding will evaporate out of oil w the heat from engine running. If you have a regular issue with flooding it could be dangerous if indeed a lot of fuel gets in your oil & will reduce the ability of the oil to lubricate causing excessive engine wear. Check your carb as maybe is running too rich or ignition issues or a combination of both.

Clem Clement · 08-08-2021, 08:54 AM

Thanks. No STP then.

I drove in the neighbor hood and once to a car club breakfast. Maybe 30 miles in 6 months. Maybe detergent oil got in.
Clem

Kube · 08-08-2021, 12:33 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

I change oil in my'39 pickup in May as it was nearly black. It ran some during the winter and i flooded it during starting a few times. I figured I got gas in the oil (no electric fuel pump). This week I noticed it was dark again. I drained the dark oil this evening. No oil filter.

Should I add STP (Only because I had some) to the fresh oil at this time?
clem

You can still get STP? That stuff caused more issues than it ever had cured. I recall clearly the engines (OHV) that I'd rebuilt through the years. The folks that used that crap on a regular basis... I could tell by looking inside the engine. Snake oil, right up there with Slick 50.

hotrodart · 08-08-2021, 01:10 PM

A buddy of mine was on the Honda motorcycle race team.......they used STP in every engine. He routinely got about 1000 RPM more out of his engine with STP. Can't be all that bad.......

JSeery · 08-08-2021, 02:03 PM

I think the big issue is the buildup of crud inside the engine. A race engine very rarely has the oil + additives in them for any length of time. We would change oil after almost every race (as in weekly).

TJ · 08-08-2021, 02:30 PM

Clem, you should be using detergent oil.

tubman · 08-08-2021, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJ

Clem, you should be using detergent oil.

I totally agree.

Shoovel · 08-08-2021, 06:40 PM

I’ve been using Lucas Antique and Classic car oil. 20W50. They also have 10W30 and 10W40. It has a higher level of Zink.

Clem Clement · 08-09-2021, 02:21 PM

Can I have an special FORDBARN oil waver, please. I'm tired and hot and I bought 30W Shell oil. Can I please just dump it is and go trucking? Maybe 3.46 gloops (3 dollops per goop) of ATF to serve the detergent need, please.
Clem

flatjack9 · 08-09-2021, 04:23 PM

It's your engine.

JSeery · 08-09-2021, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clem Clement

Can I have an special FORDBARN oil waver, please. I'm tired and hot and I bought 30W Shell oil. Can I please just dump it is and go trucking? Maybe 3.46 gloops (3 dollops per goop) of ATF to serve the detergent need, please.
Clem

Sure, but just interested in why you were/are using non-detergent oil?

Clem Clement · 08-09-2021, 09:09 PM

Picked up the wrong jug I guess. Thanks for the waiver(:>)

JSeery · 08-09-2021, 11:00 PM

Good answer, LOL.

Frank Miller · 08-10-2021, 07:19 AM

Why don't you pull a sample and send it to blackstone lab for analysis. Unlike here their assessment is not free but it is worth every penny. They can probably tell you exactly why it is black and if you need to be concerned about it. Give them as much info as you can. Motor, mileage, type of oil, how driven. It all matters.

Ford Freak · 08-10-2021, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJ

Clem, you should be using detergent oil.

Does it say "detergent" on the container, or is there some other type of designation?

Jack E/NJ · 08-10-2021, 10:14 AM

All motor oils are likely detergent today unless noted otherwise.

Ford Freak · 08-10-2021, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack E/NJ

All motor oils are likely detergent today unless noted otherwise.

Gotcha - thanks Jack!

08-08-2021, 02:09 AM	#1
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Dark oil I change oil in my'39 pickup in May as it was nearly black. It ran some during the winter and i flooded it during starting a few times. I figured I got gas in the oil (no electric fuel pump). This week I noticed it was dark again. I drained the dark oil this evening. No oil filter. Should I add STP (Only because I had some) to the fresh oil at this time? clem

08-08-2021, 08:20 AM	#3
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,028	Re: Dark oil Don't add the STP unless you want more oil leaks.

08-08-2021, 08:21 AM	#4
AnthonyG Senior Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Pa. Posts: 2,163	Re: Dark oil Clem, I’m sure you know several things can cause your oil to get black. I hate the word but I’m assuming W/O a filter your changing every couple thousand miles, that being the case & W/O a filter dark dirty looking oil is pretty normal. Having said that if your engines been running rich for any length of time Will crud up the engine with black improperly combusted black residue on plugs, valves & cylinders & this can prematurely make oil black. If only a few times flooding shouldn’t do it & the gas in your oil from a few times flooding will evaporate out of oil w the heat from engine running. If you have a regular issue with flooding it could be dangerous if indeed a lot of fuel gets in your oil & will reduce the ability of the oil to lubricate causing excessive engine wear. Check your carb as maybe is running too rich or ignition issues or a combination of both. __________________ Nomad

08-08-2021, 08:54 AM	#5
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Dark oil Thanks. No STP then. I drove in the neighbor hood and once to a car club breakfast. Maybe 30 miles in 6 months. Maybe detergent oil got in. Clem

08-08-2021, 01:10 PM	#7
hotrodart Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Shenandoah Valley Virginia Posts: 220	Re: Dark oil A buddy of mine was on the Honda motorcycle race team.......they used STP in every engine. He routinely got about 1000 RPM more out of his engine with STP. Can't be all that bad.......

08-08-2021, 02:03 PM	#8
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Dark oil I think the big issue is the buildup of crud inside the engine. A race engine very rarely has the oil + additives in them for any length of time. We would change oil after almost every race (as in weekly).

08-08-2021, 02:30 PM	#9
TJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Napa,California Posts: 6,028	Re: Dark oil Clem, you should be using detergent oil.

08-08-2021, 06:40 PM	#11
Shoovel Member Join Date: Mar 2021 Location: Milton Ontario Canada Posts: 83	Re: Dark oil I’ve been using Lucas Antique and Classic car oil. 20W50. They also have 10W30 and 10W40. It has a higher level of Zink.

08-09-2021, 02:21 PM	#12
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Dark oil Can I have an special FORDBARN oil waver, please. I'm tired and hot and I bought 30W Shell oil. Can I please just dump it is and go trucking? Maybe 3.46 gloops (3 dollops per goop) of ATF to serve the detergent need, please. Clem

08-09-2021, 04:23 PM	#13
flatjack9 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Oshkosh, Wi Posts: 4,525	Re: Dark oil It's your engine.

08-09-2021, 09:09 PM	#15
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Dark oil Picked up the wrong jug I guess. Thanks for the waiver(:>)

08-09-2021, 11:00 PM	#16
JSeery Member Emeritus Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Wichita KS Posts: 16,132	Re: Dark oil Good answer, LOL.

08-10-2021, 07:19 AM	#17
Frank Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn, MA Posts: 2,106	Re: Dark oil Why don't you pull a sample and send it to blackstone lab for analysis. Unlike here their assessment is not free but it is worth every penny. They can probably tell you exactly why it is black and if you need to be concerned about it. Give them as much info as you can. Motor, mileage, type of oil, how driven. It all matters. __________________ “The technique of infamy is to start two lies at once and get people arguing heatedly over which is true.” ~ Ezra Pound

08-10-2021, 10:14 AM	#19
Jack E/NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,173	Re: Dark oil All motor oils are likely detergent today unless noted otherwise.

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