Aug 22 (edited)

Best Engine Oil?

Hello all, does anyone have any information regarding what oil in best to use on the royale or any reo/pre war car apart from sae 30 as to what is in manuals or other oils with higer zinc levels in the like lucas hot rod-classic car oil etc. Thanks in advance.

Aug 22, 2026

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Replies (18)

· Aug 22

For the last 50 years my dad and I have used VR1 exclusively in our collector cars. Knock on wood, never any engine failures or issues. When I was a kid my dad would run his Cadillac's up to 200k miles changing the oil every 8k with VR1.

· Aug 22

So many opinions on this subject. I like a bit heavier viscosity like 15w-40 because it helps maintain maximum oil pressure on a long run when the oil is good and hot. But in my case, the engine doesn’t hold a huge quantity of oil and has no oil cooler so it might be a bigger concern than others. I use whatever store brand heavy duty diesel oil I find on the shelf, just because it’s easy to find in that viscosity. The fact that it has more zinc doesn’t hurt but it’s really not a factor because early engines don’t need it.

· Aug 22

The Indiana chapter of the CCCA has historically sold this, and I know several who use it in their prewar cars. I haven’t personally used it.
https://inrccca.org/product/classic-car-motor-oil/

· Aug 22

I'll give you a second vote for VR1. I typically use a straight weight. Usually 30 in a good engine. Sometimes higher if I see smoke but you need to be careful with heavier weights when the engine is cold.

· Aug 22

I'm running straight 30 in my REO and I think straight 40 in the Stearns (which is sleeve valve). I've seen VR1 50 stop an engine from burning oil, at least make it much less noticeable.

· Aug 23

I’ve got an oil burner that could give that 50wt Valvoline a run for its money. World’s only 2-stroke Hupmobile.

· Aug 23

😂

· Aug 23

Thank you for making me laugh in the morning Travis.

· Aug 22

I use the Amsoil Z-Rod, mostly because it gets delivered to my door.
Zinc isn't really necessary unless you're running higher valve seat pressures like the high performance engines that started becoming available in the 1950s.
It certainly won't hurt anything to run a high zinc oil in older engines but it's not absolutely necessary.
ANY oil available now is probably better that what was available when that engine was new.

(edited)

· Aug 22

Just saw your post after I said the same thing. I agree.

· Aug 23

I use this too, but it is not cheap.

· Aug 23

I'm gonna check this stuff out. You can get the VR1 pretty easily but it is expensive and I hate putting it in crap boxes.

· Aug 22

The only thing I have to add is that old engines that have not been rebuilt typically should not use detergent oils. They can cause large sludge chunks to stop up the oil passages.. If the engine has been rebuilt.. I use VR-1!

· Aug 22

This stuff is expensive but I've had good luck using it in high performance engines. Amsoil Z-Rod

· Aug 23

The recommended engine oils, particularly the earlier single viscositys of 80 and 100 years ago as mentioned in those owners manuals are totally irrelevant to today. The science of petroleum today does not even resemble what was available back then. Would hope that there is a petroleum engineer of today that is on the forum that could deliver a nice summary here for us. Saw that some 25 years ago in the Classic Car Club of America magazine and it was thorough. Anyone still have that article?

· Aug 23

My buddy, Ed, recommend I use this in my collector cars.. It's Napa brand for fleets and comes in 5 gal buckets. He also had me get this 8 qt pitcher for easy pouring. He insists it great oil and I trust him.

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· Aug 23

I've never seen an oil discussion this civilized.
Usually it's like asking what religion is the correct one.

· Aug 23

Yup. One of those topics where you cringe a little before you click the reply button and think “Do I really wanna kick this hornet’s nest?”.