recommended oil for old engine

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Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
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I have a '65 Ford F250, with a lot of miles (obviously)
I always do my own oil changes on it, but I've never been confident in what oil Ishould be putting in there and everytime I ask at the parts store(s) they always suggest something different.

Its a 350, V8 with what I can only assume would be at least 130,000 miles (odometer only goes to 5+1 digits and I got it with 19,000 listed. Original owner (who was the ORGINIAL OWNER) swore it was 119K, but who knows.

Suggestions?
 
T2urtle

T2urtle

Diamond Member
Oct 18, 2004
3,432
3
81
hm... i would stick with a nice dino oil at this point.

Generally oil is oil in my book. But if its only $2 more or less i will roll with castrol GTX. regardless of miles and etc. Its low cost $13 +tax at walmart for a gallon jug.

everyone recommends what they use. My dad told me he likes quaker state because thats what he saw our local toyota use on his camry and he likes it. My GF listens to all the commericals and runs with the brand she remembers. All oils must meet a certain standard for and for the most they are all good if they make it to the shelf at a chain store.
 
jlee

jlee

Lifer
Sep 12, 2001
48,518
223
106
I run Castrol GTX in my truck, Mobil1 in my car, and some semi-synthetic in my bike. In all honesty, any oil brand will probably do just fine.
 
P

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,155
59
91
Probably straight 30 weight.

Don't use synthetic at this point, unless you rebuild the engine.
 
radioouman

radioouman

Diamond Member
Nov 4, 2002
8,632
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I would run 10w40. It definitely did not use 5w30. You might run 10w30 in it and see if it uses any, but I think that you should just run 10w40 and not worry about.
 
W

woodie1

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2000
5,947
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For a 1965 truck engine with that many miles I would run straight 30W in summer and 20W in the winter. If you do use 10W-30 or something similar keep a close eye on the dipstick for the first few 1K miles.
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
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Where do you buy 30W?

And why not 10W-30? People on Miata forum are always saying you should get the lowest cold number you can get for lubrication right after startup, so 0W-30. My stance is that a thinner oil when cold is also flowing off the parts more when the engine is sitting overnight so there is a disadvantage, but no one has ever confirmed this... Is that why you want 30W-30 in a 1965 truck?
 
M

mizzou

Diamond Member
Jan 2, 2008
9,734
54
91
my 327ci v8 in my silverado used 5/w30. It's basically just a lighter/updated 350, I think it still holds 5 qts of oil

Castrol GTX all the way
 
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woodie1

Diamond Member
Mar 7, 2000
5,947
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Throckmorton said:
Where do you buy 30W?

And why not 10W-30? People on Miata forum are always saying you should get the lowest cold number you can get for lubrication right after startup, so 0W-30. My stance is that a thinner oil when cold is also flowing off the parts more when the engine is sitting overnight so there is a disadvantage, but no one has ever confirmed this... Is that why you want 30W-30 in a 1965 truck?
Click to expand...

Many larger auto parts stores carry single weight oil. A 1965 engine was not built to the same tolerances as a 2000 engine. Shell makes a Rotella 15W-40 that might do the job too.
 
ChaiBabbaChai

ChaiBabbaChai

Golden Member
Dec 16, 2005
1,090
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Depends on climate, but if it's like California climate, I would suggest Chevron Delo 400LE 15w-40
 
yh125d

yh125d

Diamond Member
Dec 23, 2006
6,886
0
76
mizzou said:
my 327ci v8 in my silverado used 5/w30. It's basically just a lighter/updated 350, I think it still holds 5 qts of oil

Castrol GTX all the way
Click to expand...

I don't know that the oil of choice for a "327" vortec out of a modern silverado really helps the OP with a 45 year old Ford ;)


Also I'm pretty sure the 5300 vortec your truck has nothing in common with the 350SBC or the 327SBC (assuming that's the one you're referring to)



OP, I think that's actually a 352
 
Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
yh125d said:
I don't know that the oil of choice for a "327" vortec out of a modern silverado really helps the OP with a 45 year old Ford ;)


Also I'm pretty sure the 5300 vortec your truck has nothing in common with the 350SBC or the 327SBC (assuming that's the one you're referring to)



OP, I think that's actually a 352
Click to expand...

Yes you're right its a 352. I just normally say "350" for simplicities sake. When people ask and I say "352" they look at me confused. Apparently the majority of people think engines only comes in factors of 10.

So is the consensus 10-40?
It is ONLY run during the Spring/summer/fall in WI. She's never seen a snowflake (or road salt thank god).
 
ChaiBabbaChai

ChaiBabbaChai

Golden Member
Dec 16, 2005
1,090
0
0
10w-40 is a weird weight to find at least around here. Not as hard to find as what the new ///M cars require, but...

For several older engines I've heard of (4.1L aluminum block V8s, for example), they say Chevron Delo 400LE 15w-40. Old BMWs like even thicker stuff, 20w-50. The Delo 15w-40 is what they use in big truck engines and tractors, and you have a truck with a 352. 10w-40 is what my girlfriend's mom puts in her minivan's V6.... Since you don't drive in the winter, does it get below -10C in the fall there in WI? That's the lower limit for 15w-40 I think.
 
V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
9
0
Does it leak/burn a lot?

If no then go with 10w30.

If it leaks/burns a little then 15w40.

If a lot then 20w50 summer and 15w40 in the winter. If you live in a warm climate then 20w50 year round.

And just use the cheapest name brand you can find.
 
P

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,155
59
91
ChaiBabbaChai said:
Didn't they only list straight weight because that's all they had developed back then?? Oh, I'll answer myself: YES.
Click to expand...

And I'll give the correct answer: NO. They had multi-viscosity oils back then. Most cars still specified single-weight oil, though.
 
P

Pacfanweb

Lifer
Jan 2, 2000
13,155
59
91
mizzou said:
my 327ci v8 in my silverado used 5/w30. It's basically just a lighter/updated 350, I think it still holds 5 qts of oil

Castrol GTX all the way
Click to expand...
Other than the fact that your 5.3 has absolutely nothing in common with the older 350's, then yes, it's exactly the same.

Entirely different family of small blocks.

And yes, the Ford engine is a 352, and it's a big-block. Ford FE series.

FE is an acronym for "boat anchor"
 
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