Oil

[Geert-Jan]

I just bought a GTD and am wondering what kind of oil is best to use for the engine. The engine is a tuned 302 with supposedly 480 Bhp. The previous owner advised me to use Valvoline 20w50. Is that what you also use, or do you advice different?
The car also leaks a bit of oil (not major). Is that normal?
How much oil is totally needed when drained?
Does anyone know a specialist in these engines in Holland or Belgium?

Thanx!

 

[Geert-Jan]

No replies yet??oke:

Am I too impatient?

Or you guys don't use oil:laugh:

 

[Jack Houpe]

I would think 20-50 to be a good oil to use, your choice of manufacture. In the winter I would look at using a lighter (5-30) weight oil if you have a high volume pump. Most engines leak oil, the amount is concern, we can not see with your eyes my friend. The amount of oil your engine takes is easy to figure out. Drain oil, fill and add up the number of quarts (liters) till it gets to the full mark on your dip stick.

 

[Jac Mac]

No replies yet??oke:

Am I too impatient?

Or you guys don't use oil:laugh:

Nope!
Yes!!
Only when they leak..

Probably due to your newbie, low post count we were hoping you would use the search function & read the couple of thousand posts on these matters first.... BUT seeing your so impatient I will try to answer to best of my ability..

The recomended oil (valvoline 20w/50) should be OK, but if you have a flat tappet cam, make sure it has a suitable ZDDP content, & if not use an additive to acheive this.. ( The oil co's are being pressured by enviro concerns to lower the ZDDP content & you have to ask continually to keep abreast of changes.)

Do these motors leak oil, not really if in good mechanical condition, you will find several posts/articles on rear main seal leaks, but these are mainly caused/result from people not using the correct sealants or fitting procedure at assembly, Ford have used three seal types over the years,
1. graphite rope ( 2 piece/trim to fit/Dogs Turd)...
2. Rubber/Neoprene 2 piece ( this can be retrofitted to the Rope type once the location pin is removed from rear main cap..& must be staggered in relation to cap faces[1up/1down])
3. One piece full circle rubber ( Only in later 5 liter 302 blocks & some aftermart blocks)

How much oil reqd?.. depends on which make of pan your car is fitted with & whether you have a cooler/remote filter & or accusump etc installed.
Not likely your going to have been told that, so I would suggest that if your happy with the current oil level that you note the level on the dipstick, then drain & refil to the same level while noteing the amount reqd..be aware that if its a filter change & cooler drain as well that you might have to run the motor a few times & top up a reqd to get the full amount reqd.
Also if the pan/sump is currently overfull, this might explain some of your oil leaks etc..

 

[Tony Hunt]

Don't take the oil level on the dipstick as gospel until you're certain that the level is correct. When I bought my car secondhand, the oil was up to the mark on the dipstick - but there were only a couple of pints in the engine! The dipstick had never been calibrated.
To do this, calculate where on the crankshaft the oil level should be, then transfer this measurement onto the dipstick and make a mark. Fill the engine to this level, noting how much you put in. That's your engine capacity.
Don't set the oil level too low (obviously), but don't set it too high either - this causes frothing and general unhealthiness.

 

[Bill Cooke]

I just switched from a 20/50 Castrol to 20/50 Royal Purple syn' and saw a decrease in oil temp as well as a increase in oil pressure in the 347 in my Daytona coupe.
Bill

 

[Mike Pass]

I use Valvoline Racing VR1 20W -50 as recommended by both my local V8 engine builders. Plenty thick enough and I think has the zinc compound which is good for flat tappet cams. It is a racing oil so does not have detergents to clean your engine so regular changes are a good idea but you would change regularly anyway wouldn't you? Only had a weep from the rocker cover due to bolts needing a tweak - otherwise dry. Chase down where any oil is getting out and fix until oiltight.
Cheers
Mike

 

[Jim Rosenthal]

I agree on ZDDP content, these are old engines and they need their lubrication. I don't fill them to the full mark- I think you get just as good oil system function with the oil level halfway between full and "add"- and less frothing and wasted power, if only by a small amount. Less crankcase pressure as well.

I use Valvoline or Castrol, 20-50 is fine but it won't start very well in the winter. Since my GT40 isn't on the road yet, my experience is from my Cobra, which has a similar 302 in it. I have had no problems with those oils, but to be fair I am not running a flat-tappet cam, either.