70 year old oil

[Heo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zHlxeu_yuM

[machoneman]

Interesting! I'd like to also see a test of rated oil (10w-40, any weight really, with grade markings) from say the mid-70's compared to the same modern oil.

The lawn mower engine test was the only one I question. By not removing and cleaning the entire engine, valves, ports, etc. he invalidated in my mind the value of this test. The black deposits on the head's chamber may not have appeared if said cleaning was performed or a brand new, unused engine was used. No biggie and his other tests were quite interesting. 

[BattlestarGalactic]

Agree.  He needed to run that engine with clean oil and see what deposits came off?  An old engine is not a good reliable test for this.  Too many variable.

They didn't call Quaker Sludge for nothing.....

[My427stang]

I really like the test for a fun/info combo.  I agree it would have been nice to see the engine test with both, but in the end, vapor, sludge, wear, all drive to "today are the good old days"

[machoneman]

Oh, forgot to add. We really don't know even the viscosity of that old oil either. Point is, way back then oils used were quite heavy
(straight 50W was common IIRC in pre-1950 cars) as engines were set up pretty loose and adding oil regularly, especially with a lot of highway driving, was very common. Not sure that most of the test results might have been widely different but that's why I mentioned above a later, rated oil test (1970's) would be a good comparison.

I do well remember our old Standard Oil Co. station in the mid-late 60's used a lot of those metal-canned QS oils. The oils were pretty heavy even then as each night or so we lined up all the empties and drained up to a full quart of oil from say 25-30 empties. We used that oil in our our cars for 'free'. Try that trick today with 0-20W oils!   

[gt350hr]

   Very old parafin based oils are sludge makers for sure! They were on their way out when packaging changed from "tin" cans to cardboard tin topped cans and was really rare by the time plastic bottles became the norm. While I do use "old oil" ( in sealed containers) , I am realistic and stay away from the "really old" stuff. While it looks like it does work in a lawn mower, I don't own one. LOL

[RustyCrankshaft]

Oh, forgot to add. We really don't know even the viscosity of that old oil either.

The VOA showed 11.43 cST@ 100*C which is an SAE 30wt oil which ranges between something like 9.5-12 cST@100*C.

Given it's age I'd suspect it's a monograde 30wt, and judging by it's labeling it was probably an "economy" oil for it's day even. Otherwise it would have more scifi'ish/cowboyish marketing typical of the day. Either way, it's likely also a solvent refined base oil very possible from the Amref refinery currently known for making BradPenn.

[machoneman]

Yeah, we poured a lot of straight weight oils then. Thanks for the viscosity conversion!