I run straight 30 weight oil in my station wagon that during the summer months drive almost daily and have no troubles 65 psi cold and 20 or so hot idling. I was always told sae 30 over 30 degrees and sae 20 under 30 degrees

1962 f250 currently heartless
1961 country squire 292 3 speed
1963 galaxie 390 powered
1976 f250 4wd 390 powered

You are correct that the FORD recommendation was mono or MM Grade oil, however after running "Y"'s hard on short tracks I remmember that the guys running thick oil seemed to squeeze and burn the bearings out and soon there after a rod where as with 30W we Did not lose engine one in the six years thay I ran them before going to FE's with the Later Model Body Styles, But as they Say "To each His own"

Tom

What?

I'm with Ted, don't run below 40w. The old engines have the clearances that like thicker oils. Oil technology has moved on so much in 60 years with multi grade oils and what Ford recommended back then was the compromise that was made with mono grade oil. It is still a compromise now just not as much, as the perfect oil would not change viscosity when the temperature changed. I run 20w-60 but we never see freezing here and that particular oil has 1610ppm zinc content. If it got colder here I would run an oil with a lower starting number. Remember even when it is below freezing in winter over there, that oil with a low end number is still extremely thin when your up to running temp at 180F.

You mention a couple of things as you go along, and with others responces it seems that you may be using an electronic guage and my opinion would be that is like using no guage at all as for oil I only use S/W mechanical guages. As for oil FORD Recommenede SAE-20-20W above +32 degrees F with SAE 10-10W +32 degrees F to -10 degrees F and below -10 degrees F SAE-5W and every FORD Mechanic that I ever knew back in the day when these were every where you looked always said NOT TO USE THICK OIL IN THEM. We used 30W when we ran them on the Dirt Tracks in the Mid-West and it worked just fine because they ran hotter. I do use 10W30 myself, however it is Brad Penn Racing and has the Zink addative in it. Back to your problem, you also mentioned occasional hammering and between the oil pressure problem and the hammering I would have to believe that you have a cam bearing doing the old occasional spin trick. If you really want to find out with out breaking it down just put some thick oil in it and you should know within a few miles, however I would recommend pulling the cam and take a look see.

What?

The standard Wix spin on filter for the 1957 – 1980’s Ford V8’s is #51515 while the heavier canned filter rated for higher oil pressure is #51515R.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I had a nice Sun 270° sweep 80 lb gauge in my Fairlane which became ‘sprung’ as a result of the high cold oil pressure. Replaced it with a Stewart Warner 200 lb. gauge and life has been good since. Even my ’55 Customline with its 272 will bump 70 lbs during cold weather starts with 10W-40 oil. The 272 still bumps the 50 lb. mark when hot and running down the road.
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Gary is spot on regarding the oil. If unsure about the zinc content in the oil, just be sure you’re using an oil with 40 or more in the weight classification (ie. 10W-40). Regarding the high oil pressure when cold, it does sound like a sticking oil pump relief valve. The problem could be with either the slide valve or the bore in which it resides so removing the pump would be the recommended course of action so that both areas can be examined closely.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

After hearing from you all,I feel that I can live with the situation. My real concern is the hammering up and down that it does for a short time. The only casualties are 3 cheap gauges .They will only put up with it for so long. Got a good SW in now. Thanks again.

Do not use a lower weight oil. Stick with 5w40 or 10w40. using ?w20 your asking for cam failure and I would not be using 30w either unless it has enough zinc to stop cam and lifter wear.

-Gary Burnette-

ARE you in a cold climate? Im with Ted so long as it comes down as the oil gets hot I think your fine.. I wish mine was that good, both my Y block and Flathead lose oil pressure as the oil gets hot and at idle I barely have any !



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

I did a search but did not find what I was looking for. What it the Wix part # for oil filter for a 292

tom in iowa

54 Merc wagon

54 sunvalley