Rajo Accessory Curiosity

[RecklessKelly]

I noticed this Rajo oil accessory on a car listing and was curious, what it would be for? An oil level indicator?

[Bill Anziani]

Yes. It checks the oil level. Tim Morsher was at one time reproducing them. Don't know if he is still making them

[RajoRacer]

RAJO manufactured them along with an accessory overhead valve cylinder head.

[Charlie B in N.J.]

How about telling us how it works?

[Rich P. Bingham]

So that would be “Rajo”, not Ajo ?

(Ajo in Spanish is garlic. Maybe run your T on garlic oil ?
)

[RajoRacer]

It uses a cork float.

[Pep C Strebeck]

How about telling us how it works?

As stated, there is a float inside the casting. The top of the indicator replaces one of the pan bolts and there is a wire attached to the float with a small ball on the end of it that can be seen in the engine compartment. Like any of the sight-glass indicators or the APCO indicator, they replace the lower petcock and give you a static/non-running oil level.

I had one of the sight-glass level indicators decades ago and if I hadn't been looking in the rear view mirror at the right moment it would have been a disaster for sure. The glass had broken and I was leaving a healthy trail of oil. Off the car it came and into the junk box (still sits there to this day).I still have an indicator gauge but now I use an APCO like the one pictured below, instead of replacing one of the pan bolts, it mounts to it with the bracket that is shown (a part that is often if not always missing when found):

[TRDxB2]

I noticed this Ajo oil accessory on a car listing and was curious, what it would be for? An oil level indicator?

None listed on Tom's eBay store https://www.ebay.com.sg/sch/i.html?_dkr ... ent&_oac=1

[RecklessKelly]

Interesting piece. I guess the Rajo R was hidden in the screenshot. Like most T improvements, there are good but bad points to them.

[Rich P. Bingham]

John, your comment reminded me of a friend of mine who “specialized” in 12 cylinder Lincolns. They had a float gauge for checking the static crank-case oil level, which he lamented, wishing they had never used. In his experience, the Lincoln motors were generally in very poor condition which he attributed to the fact that unlike owners who relied on a dip-stick, Lincoln owners never saw how black and filthy their oil was becoming, and tended to delay or forget regular oil changes, just adding oil as needed to maintain the level. I’m pretty sure there’s a lot to that !

[RecklessKelly]

Yes Rich, not seeing the oil condition can lead to a false sense of security. My Maxwell has a gauge and a filler hole with a hinged cover, the oil cant be seen.

[Mark Gregush]

John, your comment reminded me of a friend of mine who “specialized” in 12 cylinder Lincolns. They had a float gauge for checking the static crank-case oil level, which he lamented, wishing they had never used. In his experience, the Lincoln motors were generally in very poor condition which he attributed to the fact that unlike owners who relied on a dip-stick, Lincoln owners never saw how black and filthy their oil was becoming, and tended to delay or forget regular oil changes, just adding oil as needed to maintain the level. I’m pretty sure there’s a lot to that !

Up to around 1927 Dodge Brothers used a float also, very true about not knowing how bad the oil is till you drain it.

[RecklessKelly]

I change the oil in all of my engines once a year just for good measures. I'm not sure how accurate the Maxwell float is but it I can feel resistance of the oil when I move the pointer. Its a major oil leak point, I need to pull the oil pan soon and seal the shaft somehow.

[ModelTWoods]

So that would be “Rajo”, not Ajo ?

(Ajo in Spanish is garlic. Maybe run your T on garlic oil ?
)

I suspect you are "spot on" in your assumption.

[RecklessKelly]

Its cheaper than snake oil.