To Filter Or Not To Filter (Oil)

[BruceB]

My '41 P12 came without an oil filter (I thought these were standard from 1940 on, but there you have it).  How important is it to install one?  Do I just change the oil more often?  Thanks again. Also, I have attached a picture of my "ride".

 

Bruce

[P15-D24]

Welcome to the site! Check out the blog fir some background info.

[jcmiller]

Nice car!

[greg g]

Think about the conditions and the oil from when your car was new.  Dirt roads were common, Detergent oil was unheard of, ad oil was basically oil, average speed was about 40 mph, air was filled with coal soot, diesel particulates, and gas had lead.  Fast forward to today, you are hard pressed to find unpaved roads even in rural Indiana. The soot and particulates are not getting into the much, and even back country roads can be traveled at 55 to 60.

 

The oil change interval was 3000 miles the filter change was every other oil change. (with out filter the interval was 2000 miles I believe.)  Today's oil is so much better than the old stuff, eve non detergent has anti wear anti foam, and viscosity stabalizers, you drive your car about 2000 miles or less per season.  Change the oil at the beginning of the driving year or at the end of the season, and what's to worry about????

 

That said the filters are available on ebay most all the time, its pretty easy to plumb one in so if it will make you more confident about driving your car, and give you piece of mind go for it.  But then you miss explaining to people the whys and where fors of why your car does't have one......

[54Illinois]

I would not add it.  Did you ever pull the oil pan?  Even with the filters they have a layer of muck in them.  You can feel the muck if you stick your finger in the oil drain plug hole, but dont get it stuck, use your little finger.

 

If anything I would pull the pan and have it cleaned, then do a motor flush.

[greg g]

One further consideration.  It is related to the oil you are planing to use.  If you are going to use the factory recommended 30 Straight 30 weight non detergent, it has three main jobs, lubricating, cooling, and picking up contaminants.  When the car is shut off, these small particles fall out of the oil and gather in the bottom of the oil pan, hopefully to be removed at oilchange time.  If you are going to select multi viscosity detergent oil, in addition to those three missions, are added cleaning, of deposits, and carrying it suspended to the filter, where stuff gets removed from the flow and trapped i the filter, to be removed when the filter gets changed. That said, if you have been or are planning to use detergent oil tha the addition of an oil filter would be recommended.

[Don Coatney]

 you are hard pressed to find unpaved roads even in rural Indiana.

 

 

Not true in Indiana. Some interstate exits lead directly to dirt roads.

[Plymouthy Adams]

yes, some have a phobia toward black top akin to that of the three Sanderson sisters...

[Don Coatney]

Are you sayin you have a phobia for the Sanderson Sisters????

[Plymouthy Adams]

guess you missed that movie Don...

[Don Coatney]

Correct I missed it. But I do have a thing for Bette, She has sass among other things. Movie is on my to get list. If you have it send it to me.

[Plymouthy Adams]

unfortunately I do not have a copy but as it is getting close to Halloween..it will be run a few times I am sure...try to set your recorder...

 

Bette is a sassy thing for sure and is one of her attractions....also check her out in Drowning Mona...another offbeat movie she made...her supporting sisters Kathy Najimy and Sara Jessica Parker are a riot...look for a brief appearance of Penny Marshall....

Edited September 5, 2013 by Plymouthy Adams

[Don Coatney]

Drowning Mona is one of my favorites. Runs a close second to Second hand Lions.

[BruceB]

Having given your opinions due weight, I am tending to NOT add an oil filter.  I plan on using straight 30 weight non-detergent oil (Valvoline) with Lucas zinc break in additive.  Should I use this additive every time I change the oil?

 

Bruce

[greg g]

How much zic was in the oil in 1941??

[Plymouthy Adams]

have you just recently rebuilt the engine with new cam and lifters?  If not and your car is already broke in, the adding of zinc is really not necessary but if it makes you feel good, peace of mind..go for it..

[54Illinois]

I put Shell 10w-30 in mine.  Also have used Citgo SAE 30  No Zinc addatives for me. 

[Scruffy49]

I'd add the filter, basically because every 4 stroke infernal combustion engine we own, be it a 99cc offroad motorcycle engine, a motorhome spec 413-3 , a truck LA318, naturally aspirated or forced induction diesel tractor, or Lisa's Subaru, gets the same oil. Rotella dino juice 15W40. Best bang for the buck, I've had it in my 2.3L Ranger for 2 years, still honey colored, well over 30K miles on it.

 

Good filter, and quality oil, makes life easier.

[garbagestate 44]

Last winter I pulled the pan on my 57 Ford 292 y-block (probably for the first time since it left the factory, I've owned it since 1976) and had to use a putty knife to get the junk out of the bottom of the pan. It had accumulated to a level even with the sump strainer and had a consistency like modeling clay.

[Robert Horne]

Last winter I pulled the pan on my 57 Ford 292 y-block (probably for the first time since it left the factory, I've owned it since 1976) and had to use a putty knife to get the junk out of the bottom of the pan. It had accumulated to a level even with the sump strainer and had a consistency like modeling clay.

Years ago I bought a S10, 79000 miles on it, locked up engine, from an old guy, that had never changed the oil, or oil filter. 

 

When I pulled the drain plug off, no oil came out.       When I took the oil pan off, I got 7 quarts of oil, and several inchs of

 

solid matter.....