Question - Valve Stem Lubrication on Open Valve Engines

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CudaMan
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First Name: Mark
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1924 Cut Off Touring (now a pickup)
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Question - Valve Stem Lubrication on Open Valve Engines

Post by CudaMan » Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:24 am

Not strictly Model T, but related - My 1912 Flanders engine has an open valvetrain. How much and how often do the folks with Model Ts with open valvetrains lube their valve stems? Do you use the same oil as what's in the sump, or something thicker, like 600W? Thanks! :)
Mark Strange
Hillsboro, MO
1924 Cut-off Touring (now a pickup)

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Darren J Wallace
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1913 Canadian Touring 1905 Queen model B
Location: Woodstock, Ontario, Canada
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Re: Question - Valve Stem Lubrication on Open Valve Engines

Post by Darren J Wallace » Thu Jun 24, 2021 10:53 am

I have a 2 cylinder Queen with open valves that don’t benefit from any crank case oil. I spray them with an Amsoil product specifically for motorcycle chains. Amsoil Chain Lube. I use it on the car’s chain too. It doesn’t attract dirt or dust and lasts a long time.
1913 Canadian Touring & 1905 Queen, both cars are 4 generation family owned cars

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Mark Gregush
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
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Re: Question - Valve Stem Lubrication on Open Valve Engines

Post by Mark Gregush » Thu Jun 24, 2021 11:58 am

Good question! If you think about the early fuels, the valve stems might have gotten their lubrication from the fuel, but with today's drier fuels, wouldn't something like an upper lube help? ( LOL no I am not going to say the brand!) The lifters on the Model T would get their lube the same way as normal, the hole was added to the closed valve chamber to let the oil drain back down. Doesn't the Queen have a flat engine, so may have different requirements for oiling the valve train.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup


Dan McEachern
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Re: Question - Valve Stem Lubrication on Open Valve Engines

Post by Dan McEachern » Thu Jun 24, 2021 2:52 pm

Marvel Mystery oil in the gas tank will lube vale stems as well as/or a pint of engine oil in a full tank of gas.

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