Oil
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Topic author - Posts: 89
- Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:40 am
- First Name: Shawn
- Last Name: Barnard
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 coupe
- Location: Australia, Victoria
Oil
I know its probably been asked a million times, but what oil do I put in a 1926 Model T? The engine is all original except for the valves. Can I use oil from my local auto shop?
Thanks,
Thanks,
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- First Name: Norman
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- Location: Alpine California
Re: Oil
You are right. It has as many opinions as there are Model T's I use Valvoline non detergent 10W30 from Walmart. I change about every 600 miles and clean the screen above the transmission.
Especially if you don't know what type oil was used since the last time the engine was out and block and crankcase cleaned out, you might even change it more often because you might be dissolving old sludge from the engine. There is no pressurized oil system nor filter except for the after market screen over the transmission so all sludge and band debris will circulate with the oil. That is the reason for frequent changes. Because of this reason, it is a waste of money to use synthetic oil, which has been designed for long intervals between changes in modern full flow filters.
Norm
Especially if you don't know what type oil was used since the last time the engine was out and block and crankcase cleaned out, you might even change it more often because you might be dissolving old sludge from the engine. There is no pressurized oil system nor filter except for the after market screen over the transmission so all sludge and band debris will circulate with the oil. That is the reason for frequent changes. Because of this reason, it is a waste of money to use synthetic oil, which has been designed for long intervals between changes in modern full flow filters.
Norm
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- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
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- MTFCA Number: 16175
- MTFCI Number: 14758
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Re: Oil
Yes, it's an eternal question, but you have to ask if you don't know.
https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG103.html
https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG103.html
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
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Topic author - Posts: 89
- Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:40 am
- First Name: Shawn
- Last Name: Barnard
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 coupe
- Location: Australia, Victoria
Re: Oil
That was a good read.
I pulled the engine down and cleaned everything so all good there.
I pulled the engine down and cleaned everything so all good there.
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- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: Brandi
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedster (1919 w 1926)
- Location: Moline IL
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Oil
Its best to google it to see all the past opinions, reasoning for this or that and other things to do if you haven't or don't know when the oil was last changed. Use the Forum as a book
search using this oil mtfca.com
or https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... =oil+mtfca
search using this oil mtfca.com
or https://www.google.com/search?client=fi ... =oil+mtfca
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
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Topic author - Posts: 89
- Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:40 am
- First Name: Shawn
- Last Name: Barnard
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 coupe
- Location: Australia, Victoria
Re: Oil
I found this chart so I think 10W30 for Australian conditions should be fine.
https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/download/file. ... &mode=view
https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/download/file. ... &mode=view
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- Posts: 1302
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:42 pm
- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: van Ekeren
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1916 touring, 1916 pick-up, 1924 coupe, 1926 touring, 1927 touring
- Location: Rosedale Vic Australia
Re: Oil
Shawn, most of the time that Autobarn, Super cheap or Repco have oil on special It's 15-30 or 15-40 that's perfect for a T in Australia for a good condition engine. Summer time can even use 20-50 and change the oil often.
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Topic author - Posts: 89
- Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:40 am
- First Name: Shawn
- Last Name: Barnard
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 coupe
- Location: Australia, Victoria
Re: Oil
Just saw autobarn have 25% off. Does it matter if it's full synthetic?
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- Posts: 1302
- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 2:42 pm
- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: van Ekeren
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- Location: Rosedale Vic Australia
Re: Oil
Myself I don't use synthetic in a T for the reason that it has additives to reduce internal friction for which the T clutch pack works on friction to operate correctly and I think you will find it's not recommended for wet clutch motor cycles as well.
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- Posts: 381
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 2:33 am
- First Name: Alan
- Last Name: Long
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1910 Canadian Touring Car and 1926 Australian built Utility
- Location: Western Australia
Re: Oil
I use Valvoline XLD 20/50 in our 3 Model T’s, Summer and Winter. I change it every 6 months, clean the transmission filter
and service the Roller Timer at the same time. Oil is cheap!
Alan In Western Australia
and service the Roller Timer at the same time. Oil is cheap!
Alan In Western Australia
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Topic author - Posts: 89
- Joined: Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:40 am
- First Name: Shawn
- Last Name: Barnard
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 coupe
- Location: Australia, Victoria
Re: Oil
I did a quick google. Who would have thought. Bunnings
https://www.bunnings.com.au/valvoline-5 ... l_p0066162
https://www.bunnings.com.au/valvoline-5 ... l_p0066162
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- Posts: 6443
- Joined: Sun Feb 14, 2021 10:08 pm
- First Name: Pat
- Last Name: McNallen
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926-7 roadster
- Location: Graham, Texas
- MTFCA Number: 51486
- Board Member Since: 2021
Re: Oil
I run 10W30 full synthetic in my car with excellent results. I have Kevlar bands and a transmission cover strainer and magnet. I change the oil at 1500 to 2000 miles. I drive the car on mostly rural highways at 35 to 45 MPH in 70 F to 105 F weather. I do have an air filter.
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- Joined: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:27 am
- First Name: John
- Last Name: Codman
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1927 Youring
- Location: Naples, FL 34120
Re: Oil
I use the same 10W30 Rotella in my T as I do in my large-V8 hot rod. I use Rotella because it still has 1,200 parts per million of zinc. The zinc is not important to the T, but it is for the V8 with a bit of a performance cam and stiffer-then-stock valve springs. Since I keep the Rotella in stock, I might as well use it in the T. I use synthetic in just about everything else - including my John Deere garden tractor.
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- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: Brandi
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- Location: Moline IL
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Oil
Yes, almost all places that sell engine oil will have what's appropriate. The oil is used to lubricate both the engine and transmission. Multi-viscosity oil is a best choice and the range of values is dependent on the ambient temperature you'll be driving in. Since the Model T has no oil filter, the service manual recommends oil changes every 500 miles regardless of the quality of oil. Some run longer intervals but that's their choice. Detergent vs non-detergent oil isn't really worthy of discussion if the oil is changed per the recommended interval. The oil should never contain any additive that is magnetic if you still have a magneto.Myxr6turbo wrote: ↑Thu Aug 18, 2022 12:52 amI know its probably been asked a million times, but what oil do I put in a 1926 Model T? The engine is all original except for the valves. Can I use oil from my local auto shop?
Thanks,
There are several Rotella 10w30 configurations: T4, T5, T6 and T. Now for the transmission that has what is referred to as wet clutch - there is an oil specification for that "JASO MA", "JASO MA2" or "JASO MA/MA2". This is important to some and not to other's
T4 (used be just T ) is a synthetic blend and the label has the "JASO MA/MA2" spec
T5 is also a synthetic blend but lacks the "JASO MA/MA2" spec (at least the label I read)
T6 is a fully synthetic blend and has the "JASO MA/MA2" spec
T4 or T6 price$ ? Regardless of the oil you choose you not mix brands or weights
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
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- First Name: Erik
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- Location: Minneapolis, MN
Re: Oil
When my dad first became involved in the antique car hobby in 1948 when he was 16 years old, he used the drained oil from his father's 1941 Cadillac for his Model Ts.
I know another fellow who was in the antique car hobby early-on who passed away last year at age 95. He told me that when he was a teenager, he drove a Model A Ford for regular transportation and the neighborhood garage let him take waste oil to run in his car.
I know another fellow who was in the antique car hobby early-on who passed away last year at age 95. He told me that when he was a teenager, he drove a Model A Ford for regular transportation and the neighborhood garage let him take waste oil to run in his car.
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- Posts: 381
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 2:33 am
- First Name: Alan
- Last Name: Long
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1910 Canadian Touring Car and 1926 Australian built Utility
- Location: Western Australia
Re: Oil
Not so long ago when changing the oil on my 66 Mustang I was tempted to pour it into the T. It was clean and well filtered.
I decided not to take the risk. It would have been okay and the oil so much better than what was available back in the day.
I don’t think people were that fussy with their oil changing schedules then either. $30 for 5 litres is a good investment.
Just my opinion.
Alan In Western Australia
I decided not to take the risk. It would have been okay and the oil so much better than what was available back in the day.
I don’t think people were that fussy with their oil changing schedules then either. $30 for 5 litres is a good investment.
Just my opinion.
Alan In Western Australia
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- First Name: Mario
- Last Name: Brossard
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1911 Touring and 1914 speedster
- Location: Quebec City Canada
- MTFCA Number: 30981
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- Board Member Since: 1999
Re: Oil
Thank you for the recall, always good to remember. Good for Canada either.
Myxr6turbo wrote: ↑Thu Aug 18, 2022 2:45 amI found this chart so I think 10W30 for Australian conditions should be fine.
https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/download/file. ... &mode=view
Super Mario Bross
1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
1911 Touring
1914 Speedster
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- Location: Moline IL
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Oil
Since both T4, T5 & T6 are "synthetic" to some degree but only T6 is Fully Synthetic. Is that what you use?John Codman wrote: ↑Thu Aug 18, 2022 11:52 amI use the same 10W30 Rotella in my T as I do in my large-V8 hot rod. I use Rotella because it still has 1,200 parts per million of zinc. The zinc is not important to the T, but it is for the V8 with a bit of a performance cam and stiffer-then-stock valve springs. Since I keep the Rotella in stock, I might as well use it in the T. I use synthetic in just about everything else - including my John Deere garden tractor.
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
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- Posts: 3419
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Wrenn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
- Location: Ohio
- MTFCA Number: 30701
- MTFCI Number: 24033
- Board Member Since: 2019
Re: Oil
Right now you can get Rotella 15W40 online at WalMart for $15/gal. The 10W30 is twice that much. Don't know why. 15-40 works just fine.
To me, it's the best oil around.
To me, it's the best oil around.
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- Posts: 6496
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2019 9:37 pm
- First Name: Steve
- Last Name: Jelf
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1923 touring and a few projects
- Location: Parkerfield, Kansas
- MTFCA Number: 16175
- MTFCI Number: 14758
- Board Member Since: 2007
- Contact:
Re: Oil
Right now you can get Rotella 15W40 online at WalMart for $15/gal. The 10W30 is twice that much. Don't know why. 15-40 works just fine. To me, it's the best oil around.
I asked a well known engine/transmission rebuilder who has done a lot of Model T driving. 15W-40 was his choice. Another famously prolific T driver told me he uses Kendall 20W-50. I didn't think to ask why that particular brand.
The inevitable often happens.
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
1923 Touring
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- Posts: 5459
- Joined: Tue Jan 08, 2019 4:56 pm
- First Name: Frank
- Last Name: Brandi
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: Speedster (1919 w 1926)
- Location: Moline IL
- Board Member Since: 2018
Re: Oil
Based on the prices being mentioned for Rotella, regardless of weight 10W30 or 15W40, choose Rotella T4 since it meets the "JASO MA", "JASO MA2" or "JASO MA/MA2" specification.
The past is a great place and I don't want to erase it or to regret it, but I don't want to be its prisoner either.
Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger
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- Posts: 3419
- Joined: Sun Jan 06, 2019 10:53 am
- First Name: Tim
- Last Name: Wrenn
- * REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: '13 Touring, '26 "Overlap" Fordor
- Location: Ohio
- MTFCA Number: 30701
- MTFCI Number: 24033
- Board Member Since: 2019
Re: Oil
Steve Jelf wrote: ↑Fri Aug 19, 2022 11:45 pmRight now you can get Rotella 15W40 online at WalMart for $15/gal. The 10W30 is twice that much. Don't know why. 15-40 works just fine. To me, it's the best oil around.
I asked a well known engine/transmission rebuilder who has done a lot of Model T driving. 15W-40 was his choice. Another famously prolific T driver told me he uses Kendall 20W-50. I didn't think to ask why that particular brand.
[/quote Kendall is actually a very good oil. Used by a lot of race car drivers. A local race engine shop ways recommended it and used it in his race cars.