Detergent or non detergent

[Standing Elk]

Wondering how many of you use either detergent or non detergent oil. Doesn't really matter what brand just curious about the detergent part especially in a fairly fresh engine. Thanks

[Mitch]

A fresh engine with no sludge detergent is a must.

Check out our recent oil poll

https://www.vintagefordforum.com/forum/model-a/technical-reference/54306-motor-oil-weight-poll-information

[Sunnybrook Farm]

https://www.fillingstation.com/articles/earlyengineoil.htm

This guy makes the argument that detergent should only be used in clean rebuilt engines and to continue using non-detergent in engines that have been running non-detergent and have not been rebuilt. He says that detergent oil will release contaminants that have been trapped in sludge and other goo that accumulates on the engine surfaces. He also recommends additives since add on oil filters are not doing the same job as modern full flow ones as used on modern engines.

[tbirdtbird]

I am not going anywhere near this thread. Ask anyone who has torn down a lot of motors of yesteryear when non-D was prevalent what they found inside the motor. Then ask if this is what you want inside your own motor.

As far as not using detergent in an older engine, that is controversial as well. It surely does not break all the sludge up at once, but little by little meaning you get to drain it out with each oil change.

Having said that, it is easy enough to drop the pan on an A and pull the side cover, and clean all the sludge out of there, and get off to a fresh start. Your engine will thank you.

This is akin to the subset of people who drain their antifreeze during the winter stating it will harm the block if they don't. Lotta myths out there......In 2018 non-D has very little usefullness

[john in illinois]

non detergent oil is for air compressors.

John

[George Miller]

I use detergent oil in my air compressor have been sense 1957. sill works good. Lets all go out side and look at our white wall tires or check to make sure all the slots are lined up on the screws like Mitch has on his cars.

[slammin]

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mitch]

George I bet your slots are in a row now

[Mitch]

I am not going anywhere near this thread

lol you did

[H. L. Chauvin]

Just one humble attempt to explain the oil differences:

A. When doctors cut patients with a razor and and allowed them to bleed to cure an ailment, this recommended cure was seemingly equal to Model A owners still recommending Non-Detergent Oil.

B. Now that we later have doctors recommending hi-tech heart stents, and antibiotics, etc., this recommended cure is about equal to Model A owners and informed oil company technicians and testing laboratories, all recommending today's modern, Detergent Oil.

C. I remember seeing a guy who I heard never owned a tooth brush and never brushed his teeth with tooth paste ...... his smile looked a nasty dipper tray in a Model A oil pan where Non-Detergent Oil was used ............. not long after, like a Model A Non-Detergent Oil user, he had nothing in his mouth to brush.

D. We all have choices in life ...... Homeless people are the most difficult to convert ...... they prefer living a life void of ever experiencing cleanliness and that of recommending using today's recommended Detergent Oil ................. and somewhat like today's Model A owners recommending Non-Detergent Oil, the Homeless are not great believers in recommending Charmin products.

Such a big decision .... hope this helps to decide.

[CM2]

Interesting analogy sir.I personally lube with 15/40 CJ4,it prevents chafing

[davew]

The 30 I bought last fall has always had nondetergent in it. I was thinking of switching to detergent and changing often for awhile to clean things up. Guess that's not correct. I have to pull the pan etc. first.

[Mitch]

Dave take a look around with your borescope and survey the situation. At the minimum I would pop the valve cover off and clean the chamber up if it's needed.

I agree with Dave's advice above about it's not going to break loose all at once and change the oil often.

Then again we don't need a clogged pickup screen

[DaWizard]

Dave, if you pull the valve cover, run a pipe cleaner down the oil tubes for the main bearings, very important. Clean that out as much as you can if you have sludge to clean out.

[davew]

Didn't think of the borescope. Good idea. Going to pick up some pipe cleaners also. I'm a little leary of pulling the pan not so much the valve cover.

[H. L. Chauvin]

Just a few past Model A engine experiences:

One non-detergent oil problem is, over time, sticky, thick sludge builds up below the dipper tray, on the oil pan bottom; and then when oil is drained with only a gravitational force, this goo does not move towards the oil pan drain; however, when the engine is running, the greater suction force of the oil pump can suck in this thick goo which can partially block the pump's flow of oil, and also recirculate sludge.

Another non-detergent oil problem is after this sludge is lifted by the oil pump into the valve chamber, the chamber bottom oil orifices get clogged and either reduce or stop oil flow to the main bearings etc.

Then the major problem happened or even may still occur ..... sadly, not all Model A owners changed non-detergent oil often enough ..... and, also, they did not remove the oil pan often enough to remove harmful sludge.