Go Back   The Ford Barn > General Discussion > Model A (1928-31)

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-30-2019, 09:44 AM   #1
Buff
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 4
Default Oil for model a+ t

I heard some people are using rotella oil in their cars. What is the advantage and what weight are they using.
Buff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 10:30 AM   #2
fried okra
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Daniel Island,SouthCarolina/Knoxville, Tennessee/Sanibel Island,Florida
Posts: 279
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

I use Rotella for my more modern cars, truck, and cycles.

But after watching this video on FordBarn about an engine overhaul and Schwalm's recommending Valvoline 20w-50 racing oil with zinc I believe that's what I will use in the Model A from now on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EpN3lda_L8&t=1s
fried okra is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Old 10-30-2019, 11:33 AM   #3
Y-Blockhead
Senior Member
 
Y-Blockhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 5,817
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Oh, boy...

Y-Blockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 11:42 AM   #4
Bob Bidonde
Senior Member
 
Bob Bidonde's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 3,432
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Ford designed the Model A's engine for SAE 30 for cold weather and SAE 40 for warm weather. SAE 50 does flow as easily as the lesser viscosity oils.

__________________
Bob Bidonde
Bob Bidonde is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 11:47 AM   #5
Aretino
Senior Member
 
Aretino's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Dallas, TX, Angola, IN
Posts: 157
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Shell Rotella straight 30
Aretino is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 12:03 PM   #6
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
Antique Engine Rebuilding near me says no Zinc. Zinc only need for steel camshafts, Model A has cast iron camshaft. Furthermore, a majority of people use no zinc and everything is fine.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 02:55 PM   #7
Y-Blockhead
Senior Member
 
Y-Blockhead's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Redondo Beach, CA
Posts: 5,817
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrs1961815 View Post
Antique Engine Rebuilding near me says no Zinc. Zinc only need for steel camshafts, Model A has cast iron camshaft. Furthermore, a majority of people use no zinc and everything is fine.
Hmmm, I thought it was the other way around... Model A has steel cams...

Last edited by Y-Blockhead; 10-30-2019 at 05:39 PM.
Y-Blockhead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 02:10 PM   #8
30 Closed Cab PU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Quote:
Originally Posted by Buff View Post
I heard some people are using rotella oil in their cars. What is the advantage and what weight are they using.
This is a subject much debated, varying opinions, no consensus. You can use the Search function here, read all the info, then it is up to you. Just remember just about any oil today is much better than oil in the 30s. Change the oil often if a stock setup, and when the oil starts looking dirty. My opinion is keeping the oil in your A fresh/clean is much more important than the type/brand used.


Opinions may vary.
30 Closed Cab PU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 05:34 PM   #9
Humperhill
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 54
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Quote:
Originally Posted by 30 Closed Cab PU View Post
This is a subject much debated, varying opinions, no consensus. You can use the Search function here, read all the info, then it is up to you. Just remember just about any oil today is much better than oil in the 30s. Change the oil often if a stock setup, and when the oil starts looking dirty. My opinion is keeping the oil in your A fresh/clean is much more important than the type/brand used
I agree, if so many people are using so many different grades with positive results then I think what you use is less important than keep the level up and keeping it clean. No comparisons to today's oils to oil available 90 years ago
Humperhill is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 08:23 PM   #10
Royce P
Senior Member
 
Royce P's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 476
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Agree completely. Any oil you can buy today is 1000 times better than oils of the 1920's - 1930's. ZDDP was first used as an oil additive in the mid - 1950's because of higher valve spring pressures causing premature failure of cast iron camshafts and cast iron lifters. It was never used in the Model A era and never needed due to low valve spring pressure and low RPM.








Quote:
Originally Posted by Humperhill View Post
I agree, if so many people are using so many different grades with positive results then I think what you use is less important than keep the level up and keeping it clean. No comparisons to today's oils to oil available 90 years ago
__________________
1910 Touring
1914 Touring
1915 Touring
1917 Torpedo Runabout
Royce P is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 02:59 PM   #11
Fullraceflathead
Senior Member
 
Fullraceflathead's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Chillicothe, Missouri
Posts: 1,156
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Model A has a steel camshaft!
__________________
"If I asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses."
-Henry Ford

"Primitive technology is not a design flaw"


1928 Ford Model A Roadster Pickup
1930 Gordon Smith Air Compressor
1941 Willy's Pickup
1960 Thunderbird-For Sale
1964 Buick Riviera 2x4 425
1965 Pontiac GTO, 455 Super Duty
2004 Dodge Ram SRT-10, V-10 Viper
1977 Charger Jet Boat,460 Ford,Jacuzzi Jet
Front Engine Nostalgia Dragster,Supercharged 296 "Fullrace Flathead" Ford
Engine Build up on DVD ask
Fullraceflathead is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 04:09 PM   #12
Synchro909
Senior Member
 
Synchro909's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 7,471
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fullraceflathead View Post
Model A has a steel camshaft!
And therefore Zinc (ZSSC) is required but did the oils of the 1920s have zinc added?.
__________________
I'm part of the only ever generation with an analogue childhood and a digital adulthood.
Synchro909 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 05:26 PM   #13
30 Closed Cab PU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Quote:
Originally Posted by Synchro909 View Post
And therefore Zinc (ZSSC) is required but did the oils of the 1920s have zinc added?.
No, zinc was added with higher reving motors to reduce wear, due to higher reving motors needing stiffer valve springs so the valves would not float.


You probably already know, Zinc has been mostly removed because it was found zinc damages catalytic convertors. Am not sure thought I read that Zinc was also hard on some sensors.


Only diesel oil has much Zinc in it since diesels do not have catalytic convertors. There maybe other reasons for diesels having zinc oil, but can not remember why.
30 Closed Cab PU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 05:17 PM   #14
chrs1961815
Senior Member
 
chrs1961815's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Spring Grove, Illinois
Posts: 1,371
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fullraceflathead View Post
Model A has a steel camshaft!
Shoot, must have got it backwards.
__________________
"The more things change, the more they stay the same."
chrs1961815 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 10:54 PM   #15
DannL
Senior Member
 
DannL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Posts: 184
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

I only use oil distilled from the finest dinosaur dung. For now that means Shell's Rotella 15w40. I don't use synthetic as it lacks the vitamins and minerals that my Model A deserves.

Last edited by DannL; 10-31-2019 at 11:49 AM.
DannL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2019, 11:11 PM   #16
eagle
Senior Member
 
eagle's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Eagle Bend, MN
Posts: 2,025
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Full synthetic, or 100 percent synthetic oils, are extracted from crude oil or a byproduct of crude oil.
Throw a few more worms into the can!
__________________
"There are some that can destroy an anvil with a teaspoon and shouldn't be allowed to touch anything resembling a tool."
eagle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2019, 10:09 AM   #17
30 Closed Cab PU
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 2,332
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Every time oil comes up, I have to revise what I think I know about oil. To stir this pot even more I looked up this subject on Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synthetic_oil


What I found interesting is the statement - "Oil needs to be changed because it gets contaminated with combustion by-products that accumulate at about the same rate regardless of oil type".


This seems support that in order run longer oil change intervals, an oil filter is needed, whether running non synthetic or synthetic. To extend life of Rod and Main bearings keeping the oil fresh/clean is the goal, choices are frequent oil changes and/or an oil filter. I have seen many statements on forums observations that one of the benefits of synthetic oil is it runs cleaner resulting in extended oil change intervals. Am not sure what to believe.


Also found interesting the statements - ""Full synthetic" is a marketing term and is not a measurable quality." & "The base material, however, is still overwhelmingly crude oil that is distilled and then modified physically and chemically". My previous understanding was that Full Synthetic was oil not based on Dino oil but was purely synthetic, and "Synthetic" oil was a blend of Dino and synthetic properties referred to in this article as "Semi-synthetic".


Am still trying to get my brain around this info, so if my conclusions are incorrect please correct me.
30 Closed Cab PU is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2019, 10:40 AM   #18
fried okra
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Daniel Island,SouthCarolina/Knoxville, Tennessee/Sanibel Island,Florida
Posts: 279
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

I have read studies showing the lubricity of oil improves after it has been used in the engine for a period of time. Also I've heard a lot of engines have bearing "rap" on first start up after an oil change, particularly if the filter is not filled prior to start.

Therefore, I try to find a balance between regular but not too frequent oil changes.

Of course the above is based on modern auto engines, and may not apply to Model A engines

fried okra
fried okra is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2019, 10:48 AM   #19
katy
Senior Member
 
katy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,011
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Is lubricity the same as sliptivity?
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!.
Got my education out behind the barn!
katy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-01-2019, 01:35 PM   #20
ursus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 1,369
Default Re: Oil for model a+ t

Quote:
Originally Posted by katy View Post
Is lubricity the same as sliptivity?
Also the same as slidivity.
ursus is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:43 PM.