I just brought home a 1922 T roadster and need to know what type/ weight motor oil to use and how to make sure there is the proper amount in the engine.
Welcome aboard. If you just brought it home, drain the oil and look closely at it. Replace with 4 qts of your favorite oil and open the upper of the 2 petcocks above where you drained the oil. If oil flows, you're ok. if not, open the lower. If oil flows, you're still ok, but add some. Make sure the petcocks aren't clogged. You can go to the keyword search above and find all kinds of stuff. good luck with your new car, and again, Welcome.
Any conventional oil today is 100 times better than the oil from the twenties or thirties just get the best value and Change it often.
Model T forum discussions of the best oil are reminiscent of medieval theologians arguing over how many fairies can dance on the head of a pin. They tend to get long and convoluted. Straight 30W is fine for Indy when the place is thawed. For frozen months 10W30 is good. I watch for oil at estate sales and farm auctions, and buy it for $1.50 a quart or less.
Like Steve said above. Used 30 wt. non-detergent for years until one December I had to move the car. Ended up pushing it out and in then realised what the problem was. The oil needed to be changed anyway so a week later I shot for 10W30. VROOOMMMM!
Funny that there are still people who use straight weight oil. Use the multi grade because it flows better when cold and will crank over much easyer.
Charlie B, how long do you think it takes for 10-30 to get from the flywheel into the funnel and down through that long tube to the front of the engine and then flow back to each pan dip so the rods can start splashing it around when the engine is cold?
I have tried to pour 10W-10 out of the can at -30 as well as 10W-30. SLOOOOOWWW.
When it dives to below 50F here in sunny Ca. I use only 5-30 in the old stuff, some real modern cars call for 5-20, even 0-20! And that's for warm weather.
I know, the T is not a modern engine therefore it is better to starve it from getting enough oil when it is running cold.
Oh, it's a splash system, you can't splash cold roofing tar.
A number of years ago - can't remember when - there was an article in the Vintage Ford written by, as I recall, two petroleum experts who also happened to be T guys (or maybe it was two T guys who also happened to be petroleum experts). The one sentence that has stuck with me from that article was, "If you set out today from scratch, knowing everything we do, to create the perfect oil for the Model T Ford, you would end up with a modern 5W30 oil."
LOL here we go again
My first step in an old T is to jack up the front and
Drain all the oil out of it. Then I close it up and fill the crankcase with kerosene. A bit of over fill is OK.
I let it sit for a few hours aNd then drain it out. I usually let it drain for an hour. Then I close things up lower the car and fill it with any name brand cheep 10 -30 oil I can find. Then I drive it for a few miles and change the oil again.