Oil for the Model T - the smoking gun
Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2020 12:33 pm
Apologies if proof for what SAE quality was intended by Ford back in the the day have been brought here before - given that SAE system for specifying was first established in the early 1930's (as far as I have been able to Google), but I hve just found what I will call a smoking gun! A booklet from the time that maps between the classical specifications of Light, Medium , Heavy etc and SAE.
Fords specification was "a light oil" what ever that was, and that have been discussed for decades.
In Denmark a oilcompany was established already in 1899 - The Danish Petroleum Company - abreviated D.D.P.A and it represented PRATT oils in the 1920's and 30's which later became Standard Oil at some point and sold ESSO gasoline and lubricant. In 1986 it was taken over by the Norwegian oilcompany Statoil, so the company somewhat still exists.
Anyway - in the early 1930's it published a booklet titled "Know you car" ("Kend din vogn"):
The booklet brings you through all parts of your car and how it work, and the last part of the booklet is a table showing what oil you need for your car (or motorcycle):
The top of this page holds a list of STANDARD oiltype and it is "translated" to the brand new - TADAAAAAAA - S.A.E visocity classification system!
So now it is just about to find Ford Model T and that is on the next page:
SO! Ford Model T should have STANDARD Motor oil Medium = SAE 20 (and Model A Standard Motor Oil Heavy = SAE 30)!!
And that is actually compliant with my experiences that the engine have fewer "noises" when running on SAE 20 than 30, and the explanation is simple: Model T have splash lubridation and the thinner the oil the easier it comes into the bearings, which originally was intended to come from the sides and into the middle of the bearing.
OK - Now let the party begin!
Fords specification was "a light oil" what ever that was, and that have been discussed for decades.
In Denmark a oilcompany was established already in 1899 - The Danish Petroleum Company - abreviated D.D.P.A and it represented PRATT oils in the 1920's and 30's which later became Standard Oil at some point and sold ESSO gasoline and lubricant. In 1986 it was taken over by the Norwegian oilcompany Statoil, so the company somewhat still exists.
Anyway - in the early 1930's it published a booklet titled "Know you car" ("Kend din vogn"):
And that is actually compliant with my experiences that the engine have fewer "noises" when running on SAE 20 than 30, and the explanation is simple: Model T have splash lubridation and the thinner the oil the easier it comes into the bearings, which originally was intended to come from the sides and into the middle of the bearing.
OK - Now let the party begin!
