engine oil for Oldtimer cars

[12905]

If you want to use a Diesel spec oil then Delo is an excellent choice. I think using either a Diesel spec oil or a regular multi-grade is the way to go. Just get rid of the single-viscosity oils, they are way out of date and not giving your engine the protection it can have and benefit from.

[POC-Admin]

There has been a lot of debate on this subject - the only thing that (may) be missing from modern oils is zinc.  I have doubts about that being a problem also but the research I have done points to one fact, a lot of companies that make special oil for classic car use (and charge $15 a quart) are out to make a lot of money from the guys who are willing to spend big bucks on classic cars.  It appears a percentage thing - let's see Joe car owner will spend $5000 for a paint job, $2000 for an interior, $8000 for an engine - hey why should he spend $2 a quart for oil?  Let's make him spend $15!

If you are really concerned with older engines and modern oil, use a good quality Diesel spec oil - they are still much like the older engines and those are higher specs than for passenger car use.

My thoughts.

[plym_46]

So my current engine is a short stroke, gem of metalurgical science, computer controlled, fuel injected, adjustable cam timing motor that runs on cleaner fuel on nearly 100 percent paved roads, with few stop and go episodes, on a fine cocktail of highly engineered lubricating fluid. It cruises down the highway at just over 2000 rpms at 65 mph.  It should with proper maintanence last 250K miles without major work.  The engine in my P15 is a low compression chunk of cast iron, designed to run on stuff with octain just above Kerosene, it has a long stroke with heavy reciprocating parts, and spent most of its life on dirt roads breathing dust and grit through a mist of old oil. It turns about 3200 Rpms to run 60 MPH, and runs out of breath and rpms at about 67.  I believe older motors were more stressed then newer ones and their 50000 mile rebuild history says as much.  But I do run multi viscosity detergent oil in my rebuilt engine. hopefully it will last a good long time with modern fluids and modern lubricants, better air filtration and less particulate matter in it air.

[12905]

Go:

Miller makes mention of "completely different viscosities" for newer engines. I think that a check with any petroleum engineer will reveal that the definition of viscosity has not changed. I think it is still measured by the Saybolt System (I hope I have the spelling correct). Therefore, a 30 viscosity of 1940 should equal a 30 viscosity of 2007, although the modern oil will have greatly enhanced abilities to do the four jobs that oils must do in an engine - simply because the modern engine is? very much more highly stressed than the earlier units.

Further, it seems that there is some? misconception, among many older people especially, (older doesn't describe me; I'm very old) concerning what a multiple viscosity oil really is. Maybe I'm just stubborn, but I have used multi-viscosity oils since the '50's (when I owned '40's and earlier cars) and I have never had a personal engine failure attributable to a lubrication failure, and I never saw one as part of my work. I think these vendors are just trying to get market share by sowing doubt among members of our hobby. I have heard many stories of engine failure caused by using "those new type oils" but they have always been second hand, and never from the actual victim. I have some relevant experience as I have been in the automotive business for > 50 years.

One thing I will concede: if you have an engine that is terminally ill and held together by carbon deposits and sludge only, then a modern oil will finish it off in short order - as soon as the detergents and other additives have done their work.

Finally, if anyone out there can actually "prove", via diagnosis by a recognised lubrication engineer, or testing firm, that modern oils have actually failed to protect an earlier engine, then I will change my mind - and shut up at the same time.

[Go Fleiter]

Couldn?t find this issue I found in this forum some days ago:

Since Ihave read te followings and some hints in this forum plus Classic car magazines, I only use special (and cheap) oldtimer engine and transmisson and differential oils. I had engine trouble probably caused by modern oils.

http://www.millersoils.net/1_Millers_frame_CLASSIC.htm

You find a similar line at Castrol?s .
Greetings! Go