EmTee Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 2 hours ago, likeold said: I went to dump it out there was a bunch of sludge at the bottom I saw something like that with some 50 year-old oil I 'inherited' from my grandfather, but nothing like that with unopened modern oil. I've used oil that I've had for three or four years without issue. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian_Heil Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 (edited) 80 Million Years….. Edited November 14, 2021 by Brian_Heil (see edit history) 2 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Engle Posted November 14, 2021 Share Posted November 14, 2021 I've seen this happen in the old Kendal foil lined carboard cans. I don't think you will find it in modern plastic containers. Bob Engle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frank DuVal Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 13 hours ago, EmTee said: Hmmm, so 6 quarts is a 'case' now...? Yep, several brands do this. Oil price still determined by OPEC, not us (or US). https://www.opec.org/opec_web/en/data_graphs/40.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrence Helfand Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 21 hours ago, Terry Wiegand said: Never ever heard of that happening in my lifetime. Terry Wiegand South Hutchinson, Kansas AACA Life Member #947918 non synthetic oil is not stable and will start to stratify as the ketones separate as does gasoline. Old oil is not recommended. Never ever try to get a motor to run after years of storage without first changing the oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Wiegand Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Old engine oil that has been run in an engine and then left to set for decades is a whole different ballgame than new, unused oil in a plastic quart container. Come on man😪 Terry Wiegand South Hutchinson, Kansas AACA Life Member #947918 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
likeold Posted November 15, 2021 Author Share Posted November 15, 2021 Believe me it happens in sealed plastic containers, maybe only certain manufactures but I have seen it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrence Helfand Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 On 11/15/2021 at 2:24 PM, Terry Wiegand said: Old engine oil that has been run in an engine and then left to set for decades is a whole different ballgame than new, unused oil in a plastic quart container. Come on man😪 Terry Wiegand South Hutchinson, Kansas AACA Life Member #947918 https://www.repairsmith.com/i/blog/does-motor-oil-expire/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 WELL! Now I need to drain my new oil if I don't drive the car for over a MONTH.? Not happening. If you have old oil over five years old, send it my way if it is not wanted. Where do folks come up with this stuff? Ben 4 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 Yeah that caught my eye too. Let's see, the number of old car folk draining their oil out if letting the car sit for a month is...pretty much zero! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 (edited) 1 hour ago, Ben Bruce aka First Born said: WELL! Now I need to drain my new oil if I don't drive the car for over a MONTH.? Not happening. If you have old oil over five years old, send it my way if it is not wanted. Where do folks come up with this stuff? Ben So I put fresh oil and a new filter in my car to store it for the winter and it goes bad over the winter?? I'm with you. Not going to happen. For grins, I will send the link to my daughter who does oil formulation for vehicles for a large oil company and see what she says. Edited November 17, 2021 by Larry Schramm (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian_Heil Posted November 17, 2021 Share Posted November 17, 2021 (edited) I had to look up who RepairSmith is. Never heard of them. They are a franchise that comes to your home or business to work on your car. What their expertise is on engine oil life I will leave up to you. Edited November 19, 2021 by Brian_Heil (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted November 18, 2021 Share Posted November 18, 2021 Smith wants to sell more oil. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 Well I talked to my daughter and she said that there might be an expiration date on oil, but that is more for cya on the oil company in case someone would do an analysis on a particular bottle of oil and it might not be exact. Typically a three year date. That said, it is of her opinion that if a bottle of oil has not been opened, and stored at a moderate temperature it would last for quite some time. It is of her opinion that if you pour it out of the bottle and it is clear, not cloudy the oil is fine. If it is cloudy, discard it. If it is older oil and clear she would recommend that you shake the bottle before using it. This is not an absolute rule, but one persons opinion which makes sense to me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted November 19, 2021 Share Posted November 19, 2021 9 hours ago, Larry Schramm said: If it is older oil and clear she would recommend that you shake the bottle before using it. ...in your lawnmower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted November 26, 2021 Share Posted November 26, 2021 (edited) Look at this chart. Edited April 28, 2023 by Morgan Wright (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted November 27, 2021 Share Posted November 27, 2021 When I was a teen my best friend's neighbor had a '68 Chrysler that he ran with 20W year-round for exactly the reason you stated (cold start wear). I remember thinking at the time that he was crazy, as I used straight 40 or 20W-50 in my '56 Chevy. Today, I realize he was actually on to something... Today, both my truck and wife's car use 5W-30 and many new cars are calling for 0W-30. That's why I have been using 10W-30 in my classic cars. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fabian 41 Posted April 28, 2023 Share Posted April 28, 2023 Non detergent SAE 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nat Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 Some years ago my friend gave his daughter her first car and told her to check the oil every time she filled the tank. A few months later he checked the oil and saw nothing on the dipstick. She said she never fills it, only $5 at a time. Any oil is better than no oil. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 I take a bath every time my smell bothers me. But my smell never bothers me. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Bruce aka First Born Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 11 hours ago, nat said: Some years ago my friend gave his daughter her first car and told her to check the oil every time she filled the tank. A few months later he checked the oil and saw nothing on the dipstick. She said she never fills it, only $5 at a time. Any oil is better than no oil. Nat, sounds like one of my daughters. I had an international pickup that liked to play games. Go for the longest and use no oil, then "overnight" drink a couple quarts. Daughter was home , fresh from a big D and needed transport. So I let her use the International. Same instructions!! One day she said, Dad the truck is making a funny noise! Yep, four quarts to reach THE DIPSTICK. She had never checked the oil. Yes, it had a big oil pan. Ben Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant L. Meredith Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 Right in my crankcase is 15W40 diesel oil. Mobil 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted April 29, 2023 Share Posted April 29, 2023 I have the same in my '38 right now. Had been using NAPA 10W-30, but thought I'd try the 15W-40 Delvac oil as others have been doing. Seems a bit heavier bodied than the 10W30, but I haven't really noticed any difference in performance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daves1940Buick56S Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 I have been trying to find a 20w-50 with high zinc for my 38 Century. I found one. Kendall GT-1 with zinc over 0.125 percent. Made by Phillip's 66. Not on any shelves around here but there are distributors so I should be able to get a case of quarts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 I know some people swear by Valvoline VR-1. Seems like overkill for a '38 Buick though... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 9 minutes ago, EmTee said: I know some people swear by Valvoline VR-1. Seems like overkill for a '38 Buick though... This. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill - 29 Buick Posted April 30, 2023 Share Posted April 30, 2023 Here's what I used in all my cars. It's Brad Penn 20w50 (with ZDDP) racing oil. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrence Helfand Posted May 1, 2023 Share Posted May 1, 2023 I have tried many over the years and Valvoline racing oil with zinc is what I now use in my 41 . Zinc is wonderful stuff for vintage motors. Lab tests have Kendall at the top of many performance trails of non syn oil but can be hard to find in stores. FYI among the worst was Castrol which is good as a cheap break in oil as rings seat quickly. Oil pressure on my 320 increased from 30 hot idle and 45 off idle another 2/3 pounds once I got around to dropping the oil pan for cleaning and replaced the totally sludge clogged oil pickup. My motor has under 40K miles and does not burn a drop but sludge buildup was a problem for these poorly vented crankcases. Also Redline makes a synthetic transmission oil specially blended for vintage vehicle syncros and its excellent stuff that you can really feel right away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted May 1, 2023 Share Posted May 1, 2023 1 hour ago, Lawrence Helfand said: Also Redline makes a synthetic transmission oil specially blended for vintage vehicle syncros and its excellent stuff that you can really feel right away. I agree with both Kendall and the Redline transmission oil. I used 20W-50 Kendall in my '56 Chevy 40 years ago, but as you noted, it has become difficult to find. I have Redline MTL in my '64 GP and it shifts like butter... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nat Posted May 1, 2023 Share Posted May 1, 2023 5 hours ago, Lawrence Helfand said: sludge buildup was a problem for these poorly vented crankcases. My observations have been that cold running from frequent short trips and/or a cold thermostat is that which creates sludge. A 160F thermostat won't do a good job of evaporating condensation or ambient humidity. 190F is my usual choice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buick35 Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 On 11/6/2021 at 4:39 PM, Bloo said: I use it too. It's NS. There is a version with no suffix, but it is wrong for transmissions, so use NS. NR has to be a typo. I tried to buy non synthetic gear oil at the parts store today and the guy said nobody sells it anymore. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 There is a miscommunication somewhere. When I said that back in 2021, I was referring to the Redline 75W140-NS gear oil that @Lawrence Helfand mentioned earlier in the thread. Redline makes a 75W140-NS and a 75W140. Both are synthetic. 75W140-NS is OK for synchronized transmissions, 75W140 is not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raydurr Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 (edited) My 1929 Buick has roller lifters so zinc is not as critical as on flat tappet engines. My car seems to like Shell Rotella, Chevron Delo and Schaffers all in 15W-40 oil. I add one pint of STP for good luck. It hasnt had an engine failure yet. I prefer lesser expensive oil that can be found anywhere. Edited May 2, 2023 by raydurr (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne R Posted May 2, 2023 Share Posted May 2, 2023 (edited) I am like EmTee, while living in Sacramento for 10 years i did about 120.000 miles, using Pennzoil--10w-30 grade oil in a 65 Riviera, 67 Riviera, 69 Electra convertible, 69 skylark convertible, 73 boattail, 77 regal cpe, 88park avenue, 91 park avenue ultra, and a 53 Skylark after it was run in. Edited May 2, 2023 by Wayne R spelling (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lhend50 Posted May 3, 2023 Share Posted May 3, 2023 Lucus makes a high zinc oil specifically for vintage cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morgan Wright Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 (edited) On 4/29/2023 at 10:23 AM, Grant L. Meredith said: Right in my crankcase is 15W40 diesel oil. Mobil I think diesel oil has more detergent than regular detergent oil. Extra detergent. And more zinc as well. . Edited June 14, 2023 by Morgan Wright (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuickTom87 Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 I recently swapped over to Valvoline racing oil in all my cars with 0 complaints 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deac Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 I am a zinc zddp believer. I use a 20W40 with zinc blend in! I buy it from local oil distributor who had it made especially for old cars. Been using it for 10 years! I don't believe in zinc additives that are added to modern conventional oils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Str8-8-Dave Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 I use Shell Rotella synthetic blend 15W40 in my 31 Buick. I can buy it on E-bay when I'm lazy or the local NAPA store carries it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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