Oil

[Mattias78]

Hi guys!

I'm about to do my first oil change om my 48 dodge business coupe, have the original engine in it.

Is there any rekommendations for witch type of oil i would use?

[Andydodge]

I would use a full Zinc mineral oil, not a synthetic but that's just my preference........nice car btw, andyd 

[Don Coatney]

If you do a forum search you will find this subject has been beat to death. Use what ever oil that makes you feel good as your engine will not care.

[54Illinois]

I use National, Shell, Farm Fleet 30w, 5w-30 etc.  Sometimes I add a bottle of blue STP.  Just make sure it had the starburst of approval.

[desoto1939]

Does your engine have the Oil filter already installed, HAs the engine been rebuilt or is it old and still original.

If a filter then a multi weight oil detergent could be used. If no filter then sugeest straight weith 30.

I have a rebuilt engine inmy 39 Desotoand have been using 10/40 and have the oil filter with the drop in filter. for 27 Years.

Rich HArtungT

[Mattias78]

Hi guys!

As far as i know the engine i original!

I do have oil filter installed!

I use 10/40 mineral oil in my chevy truck so i will use the same then!

Thanks !!

[54Illinois]

Mineral oil???  You mean motor oil??

[JDaniel64]

Be aware if you use detergent oil on a original/unmolested engine, my oil was dirty black after about 500 miles (~800km).

Might want to check for sludge in your oil pan when you change the oil too (stick your finger or a probe of some sort into the drain hole), I had about 1.5cm of the junk in my oil pan when I dropped and cleaned it.

Now going about 2000 miles before it goes black again, I believe that there is still some stuff clinging to the innards of the block.

10w40 sounds like a good choice for your engine, the extra viscosity over 30wt will not hurt.

Just food for thought, have fun! ....these cars aren't too fussy.     

[55 Fargo]

Any engine in run in the last 50 years most likely had some type of detergent oil. I have heard so  many "oil soap operas" , hell most of these old engines should have been plugged up with all this modern oil, needing "castor oil" to get all of the bung out.

Having said all of this, it is in  my opinion, that dropping the oil pan is a good service maintenance, in these old engines. But the notion they are all going to plug after using modern oil that is detergent oil, the same oil that has been most likely used for 50 years is getting old and laughable.

Any oil today, including the re-refined oil is most likely superior to anything in the 40s and 50s, will include the 60s and 70s too.

Hey buy and use the oil that gives you the most comfort, and add a little MVO, STP, or Rislone. I like a little Lucas thrown in for good measure, none of it will hurt, well maybe the wallet......LOL

[DonaldSmith]

Oil filter:

 

I just changed the oil in by 47 DeSoto (15W-40 diesel-engine-type; makes me feel good).

 

I had been getting an oil filter that fit tightly and didn't have the right size round rubber gasket for the top.  So I went looking on-line for a filter number.  The Wix site, for that year, said "51071".  I searched on-line for "Wix 51071" and one of the entries was O'Reilly, part available locally within 24 hours.  I ordered the filter at the store and picked it up the same evening.  The round rubber gasket fit the top, and the cartridge slipped easily over the center tube.  Sweet.  

[1941Rick]

15/40 is a good choice as it has the good stuff in it our engines like to see, ZDDP

[Tom Skinner]

NAPA 30wt Non-Detergent - also a shot of ZDDP Additive - makes it run like a sewing machine (251cu.in. Flathead)

[Mattias78]

Great!

Will try to find ZDDP here in Sweden!

[50 coupe]

15/40 is a good choice as it has the good stuff in it our engines like to see, ZDDP

Can't go wrong with the '18 wheeler' stuff. I have used the Rotella in high mileage cars, trucks and sport bikes. It is what I will use in the coupe when I get it on the road.

[dlrides]

Can't go wrong with the '18 wheeler' stuff. I have used the Rotella in high mileage cars, trucks and sport bikes. It is what I will use in the coupe when I get it on the road.

 

 I've been using 15/40 Rotella in everything for years. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.

 

I know two professional motorcycle race teams, and a car rally team that pour the sponsor out of the bottles, and fill them with Rotella.

[55 Fargo]

Don't worry about adding ZDDP, just buy a quality diesel oil like Rotalla 15W40. These low RPM, valve spring tension is not too high. Buy a quality oil as mentioned, You Be Fine..

[Lumpy]

If you really want to baby the old girl, go to any motorcycle shop or dealer and browse through the motorcycle oils. In the U.S., the motorcycle oils still have the good stuff in them, that has been phased out of car-oil due to global warming, and invasion by aliens, smog-laws, the EPA, and all that.

 

Having said that, I really only use moto-oil in my Super Beetle, as it is an air cooled engine, which runs hot compared to a water cooled engine, and it is a hi-po engine that I spent a little bit of $$$$$ on. Lumpy usually gets a synthetic, although at the moment Castrol 30wt and a pint of STP are what is coursing through her veins.

 

ken.

Edited June 26, 2014 by Lumpy