Oil/Gas

A

ajhbike

501 Club
So I am talking with my auto mechanic who works on car and tractor 4-6cylinder flatheads from the 50's this weekend and he said a couple of things that I marked for questioning.
1.) He said that if your tractor smokes and uses oil, use Risolone to get the oil sweep ring decarbonized...that it is much better than sea foam and you can leave it in the engine.
2.) He also said that I should use an oil that does not have the "mineral" (he couldn't remember the mineral) because otherwise it is too hard on the crankshaft. What oil is that? He mentioned Rotella, but that is a brand I believe.
3.) He said that I should always dump a capfull of lead additive to the gas because the engine is cast. This was confirmed by another old mechanic that was listening.
So, I throw it out there for some feed back....I don't know very much about engines, but I have not heard these things on the forum. Point 1 might be an opinion as I have seen many things written about sea foam and MMO, but would like to know if point 2 or 3 are valid.
 
I don't know about point 1.
Point 2, if he is a mechanic and can't remember the "mineral" I doubt it is all that important.
Point 3, many of us do not use lead and our tractors run fine.

Just my opinion.
 
Barnyard":1op09xlc said:
I don't know about point 1.
Point 2, if he is a mechanic and can't remember the "mineral" I doubt it is all that important.
Point 3, many of us do not use lead and our tractors run fine.

Just my opinion.
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I'll 2nd all the above here except for point 1. If your tractor smokes and uses oil it needs a rebuild, nothing you add to your oil or gas will "fix" it.
 
My $.02
Point 1) Agree with the others. My Cub smoked, compression was down, new rings and all was good.
Point 2) That mineral may be zink. It used to be in most motor oil, then at some point only in oil for diesels. The EPA deemed it hazardous and it's no longer put in. I've always believed it was a good additive to have. Since zink isn't added anymore (if that's the mineral he's referring to) the point is mute. If not zink then I don't know.
Point 3) Lead additive in gas was an anti-knock agent put in when compression ratios started climbing. Modern engines use computers in conjunction with anti-knock sensors to control timing and prevent knocking. On our C60 engines with compression ratios around 6:1, or for that mater the C123, I feel anti-knock in not an issue. As Bill said they run just fine regular pump gas.
 
ya, boy, I have never done anything to the engine internals...that is a whole 'nother level of learning. But I suppose that it can't be that hard if there are instructions to follow and resources to access. I will think on that and I will see how the Rislone works, change the oil and go from there. It runs well, it just smokes for 5 minutes or so and then goes away at 1/2 throttle and below. If I goose it, the smoke comes back. I should run it hard for a good bit of time to see if that goes away too. Thank you.
 
ajhbike":3su2dgx4 said:
It runs well, it just smokes for 5 minutes or so and then goes away at 1/2 throttle and below. If I goose it, the smoke comes back.
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That sure sounds like an oil ring problem, either carboned up or just worn out. It would be interesting to do a compression check just to see where it's at. A dry and wet test will determine whether you have any valves sticking or worn rings. If the compression is down and burning oil - well you know it's due for at least a set of rings. How's the oil pressure? That could be another reason for a tear down. ...then that opens up a whole other can of worms, while I have the hood off I should probably ... So if you go that route be prepared - although its stuff that probably needs attention, so it's a good thing - right?
 
Oil used to have a zinc compound, called ZDDP. It lays down a coating that is particularly good at reducing cam and tappet wear. It was removed from modern automobile oil because it ruins catalytic converters.

Diesel oils used to have ZDDP but it think it's pretty much gone from there too. If you can find an oil with ZDDP it won't hurt the engine and may be beneficial.

I run diesel spec oils in my older engines in the hope that it has other high pressure additives that may provide additional protection for the valve train.

Realistically though, for most engines and particularly these old slow revving engines, as long as it has some kind of oil in it you're going to be fine.
 
Yea, it will be an interesting project...Probably does need attention and taken apart. I have to learn a few things first
 
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