VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 216 motor oil

I'm new to the vintage car hobby. I recently purchased a 1937 coupe with the original engine. I would like to know what oil most guys use in there cars, I will only be driving my car in the summer Thanks for any in put, Bill

Congrats on your "new" 1937 Chevy!!

10W30 weight seems to be the oil of choice for the 216.

Have fun with that '37.

Thanks, I'm sure that I will have other questions as other thing come up. Bill

All the old timers I've talked to say to use non-detergent SAE 20W or 30W. Unless the engine has been torn down for complete cleaning/rebuild DO NOT use detergent oils such as 10w30.

I'll stick with the original oil requirements for the 216 and word of the old timers. They have never steered me wrong.

Non-detergent oil can be purchased at any outlet that sells farming equipment/fluids. It is still used in many tractors. Also, they do carry the proper Fram oil chartridge which I believe is a PH4.

I don't know if I qualify as an oldster (I'm only 83), but my advice is to use 10w30 detergent. You can take that to the bank.

You can take the advice of your old timers or several of us that own and DRIVE old Chevrolets. Several of us put thousands of miles on pre-WWII Chevys each year. We have learned over the past 20 years that the "old timers tale" (similar to old wives tale) to not use detergent oil in old engines that have not been cleaned is pure bunk. The theory that the detergent will solublize the the sludge just doesn't happen to any extent. I have taken apart numerous old Chevy engines and the sludge is still there!!!!

BTW I am only 72, owned and driven old Chevys (mostly late 20s and early 30s) for only 45+ years.

Detergents will help keep sludge from forming but does not remove present sludge.
When a 1940 was new they required an overhaul job by 35,000 miles because the rings were plugged with carbon.....and the pan full of sludge. With todays oil I can see where these engies would easily do 100,000 miles with just a valve job.
I also am 83 year old old timer but living in the present, not the past and saw these engine apart when they were new.

I am at the threshold of 82 and agree with use of 10w-30 as well. Wal-mart brand is just fine and cheaper. You gain nothing by buying the higher cost brands or oils.

If you want to increase the production of sludge, use the non-detergent. You'll have fun with that putty knife in cleaning the bottom of the oil pan upon overhaul.

Always use the lightest oil that willl do the job. For all around use, 10w-30 is most suitable.

Charlie

I think that if you have been running non-detergent oil you should not disturb the sludge build up with detergent oil. What the old timers were talking about is fear of a large chunk of sludge coming off and blocking the dipper in the trough. This could lead to a knock and replacement of a rod or adjustment of a rod cap. I run non-detergent 30W. I also clean out the lower end by running a Kerosene mix of 3 qts. and 2 of oil. After running at idle until normal temp. remove oil, the refill with mix. Run low idle 3 min. drain and refill with new oil. Per the book every 500 miles. It has worked so far and I do not see any reason to change to the new oil.

If anything would loosen a "chunk of sludge" it would be the kerosene.
Chevrolet never recomended kerosene for flushing. Years ago they recommended 3 Qts. of #10 oil, run until hot, and drain.
If you use a dteregent oil there is no need to flush.

Members in the 40`s and 50`s
learn the most from members who have /'been there done that"
thanks for sharing