Oil Change

[LAKOTA169]

I'm changing the oil in the Plymouth. I have a couple of gallons of Rotella T 15W40 that I bought to use in my old motor that was burning oil (quart in less that 100 miles). I replaced that motor. Would it be OK to use the Rotella in this motor? I have used some of it to top off when I was 1/2 quart low and didn't seem to be a problem. Oil pressure is good in motor.

[Ulu]

The truth is that almost any modern oil is much better than the oil available in 30's & 40's. Your engine will last longer with a modern oil. In mine I used 15w40 in the summer months here in the desert, and 10w30 in the winter. Rotella is good stuff for the money. One of the best values in motor oil IMO.

 

(Assuming you don't have the semi-automatic trans...) the one way you will hurt an old Plymouth is if you put modern high-detergent oil in an old engine that has run all its life with non-detergent oil.

 

This will loosen up all the dirt in the engine and send it everywhere, Also it'll solvent the varnish and carbon caked on the pistons & rings and when they loosen up it'll probably start smoking.

 

But if your engine has been rebuilt & has always had high-detergent oil, then there's no problem.

[LAKOTA169]

This only gets driven April - October. I thought it would be OK, but just wanted to double check. Thanks.

[Ulu]

Unless you live "down under" you'll be warm enough for 15w40.

 

If you live in the Dakotas, it might be getting a bit cold for 15w40 by October though. In Minnesota, we changed the oil around Sept and May. Thinner in Sept and thicker in May. Even with multi-weight oils, we changed them because of the -40F winters.

[LAKOTA169]

I live near Detroit (still cruisin' Woodward). Early October usually isn't too bad.