Page 1 of 1
Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 12:52 am
by Myxr6turbo
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,
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 1:03 am
by Norman Kling
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
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 1:04 am
by Steve Jelf
Yes, it's an eternal question, but you have to ask if you don't know. 
https://dauntlessgeezer.com/DG103.html
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 1:46 am
by Myxr6turbo
That was a good read.
I pulled the engine down and cleaned everything so all good there.
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 1:48 am
by TRDxB2
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
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 2:45 am
by Myxr6turbo
I found this chart so I think 10W30 for Australian conditions should be fine.
https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/download/file. ... &mode=view
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 5:35 am
by Kerry
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.
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 5:59 am
by Myxr6turbo
Just saw autobarn have 25% off. Does it matter if it's full synthetic?
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:34 am
by Kerry
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.
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 6:44 am
by Alan Long
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
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:00 am
by Myxr6turbo
I did a quick google. Who would have thought. Bunnings
https://www.bunnings.com.au/valvoline-5 ... l_p0066162
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 8:12 am
by TXGOAT2
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.
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 11:52 am
by John Codman
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.
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 3:06 pm
by TRDxB2
Myxr6turbo wrote: ↑Thu Aug 18, 2022 12:52 am
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,
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.
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
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 5:07 pm
by Erik Johnson
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.
Re: Oil
Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2022 7:44 pm
by Alan Long
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
Re: Oil
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 10:14 am
by Quickm007
Thank you for the recall, always good to remember. Good for Canada either.
Re: Oil
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 10:49 am
by TRDxB2
John Codman wrote: ↑Thu Aug 18, 2022 11:52 am
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.
Since both T4, T5 & T6 are "synthetic" to some degree but only T6 is Fully Synthetic. Is that what you use?
Re: Oil
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 7:53 pm
by TWrenn
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.
Re: Oil
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2022 11:45 pm
by Steve Jelf
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.
Re: Oil
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 12:39 am
by TRDxB2
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.
Re: Oil
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2022 8:16 am
by TWrenn
Steve Jelf wrote: ↑Fri Aug 19, 2022 11:45 pm
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.
[/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.