VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1916-1922 - Model 490 A NOVICE'S QUESTIONS (VOL. II) RE: 1920 "490"

Hello again all! Here is my next set of questions in my quest to learn more about the 1920 "490" Touring:
1) What is the size of the oil can that fits into the bracket in the engine compartment, was it copper, and was Chevrolet embossed on the can?

2) What weight oil is used in the Four Ninety?

3) Is there an owner's manual for the 1920 Four Ninety? If not, what would you suggest getting (parts book, repair manual, etc.)?

4) On the odometer I assume tenths of a mile are not shown. Is that correct?

As always, thanks so much for any information you can provide!
P.S. I'm still working on getting a picture of the rocker cover posted. - The Ol' Coach

I would get onto ebay and have a look for both an owners manual and a 1919 to 1922 edition of the repair manual.

The repair manual states to use a medium grade cylinder oil in the engine ( probably a 30 weight the same as was used up to the six cylinder engines)

The recommended gearbos lubricant is 600W Steam cylinder oil , and the same is recommended for the rear axle/ differential. You can purchase 600 W oil from Ford suppliers like Snyders.

A reprint of the 1918-1924 repair manual and 1928 master parts price list ( also includes 490) can be purchased from: www.faxonautolit
Good luck on purchase and welcome to chat.
Jay

1. Here is the shape/color of and holder to the oil can:
http://s889.photobucket.com/albums/...=view&current=P1100245-Kopi-Kopi.jpg
No brand embossed, as far as I know. It is steel, copper painted, I think.

3. http://www.20schevyparts.com/

4. Correct. But you will find the tenth on the trip odometer to the right in the S-W instrument.

Thanks so much, everybody! - The Ol' Coach

Hi Ol coach. I have a 1921 touring with 15k miles and my Dad has one with 10k on it. My oil can was gone, but Dads was still in his car when he got it(parked since 1930). It was just like the copper plated steel eagle with the short snout cans you sometimes see on Ebay. Nothing embossed on it at all and it mounts on the driver side of the compartment on US cars. A lot of us use 10-30 oil and it seems to work fine. The steam cylinder oil is available from a Amaco (Chevron)distrubutor in 5 gal buckets as an industrial sample for possibly 100 bucks. It was originally used in steam engines and is now mostly used in Steam Turbins like in power plants. It is mostly lard oil with some additives. There is also a place every new 490 owner does not know to oil and that is the bronze clutch collar. There is a tin cover on top with a small hole. Oil must be squirted in that collar and it takes quite a few squirts to fill. It is a pain in the neck to get to. Take out the floor board and push the clutch pedal all the way down. Still might be hard to see the hole! There is about 5 wooden plugs in that bronze casting that seep the oil out onto the spool. I usually mixt 50 50 steam oil and engine oil to run in that collar. I drive my 490 quite a bit so if you have questions, I will try to get on here more than I have to help out the new guy and I noticed the other guys have already helped out a bunch. We all love our little 490s!

Thanks so much for the great information, Bob! I really appreciate it! - The Ol' Coach

Ol' Coach -

The wire oil can holder on my '20 490 looks the same as Solan's - but don't buy the Eagle oil can that Gary Wallace offers on http://www.20schevyparts.com/. It's too tall and interferes with the hood.

Don in Ridgway

Thanks for the tip, Don! - The Ol' Coach

I agree with Don. Gary had the correct type/measurements some few years ago, but the maker did not continue the production. So, in order to have some similar shaped to offer, Gary was able to find a new maker. The new spout is somewhat longer and can in blue color. The original oil can holder from 1916 - 1920, may be longer was made of stiff wire.

Some times you will find the correct oil can on eBay or you can try an ad in our club magazine. The holder is more difficult to find. Thanks to Bob Kerr I got mine in Flint last summer.

Hello, Solan! I did find a wonderful one on eBay - 5 1/2 inches tall by 3 1/2 inches around the base. I have the wire holder, and it fits perfectly in it. By the way, I love Oslo!!! We were there 3 years ago visiting a WWII veteran who served under one of my best friends. He lived on top of a mountain overlooking the Oslo fjord! I'll never forget it! Take care, my friend!
The Ol' Coach

Congratulations, you got a happy ending to this story.

Nice you found Oslo attractive and met a good friend there. I also love visiting my friends in USA, but with limited money, it cannot be done as much as I would like to do. Hope to meet you in Medford in 2016.