1w (edited)
Duesenberg Oil Change
Getting ready for a tour and figured I’d change the oil using “The Edgar Technique”. I use NAPA fleet oil 40w - that I get in 5 gallon buckets and this handy pouring spout. Let the comments begin!
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· 1w
Is there any particular reason you are not using VR1?
· 1w
Be sure to top it off with a fresh can of Liquid Schwartz. Fun fact: the prop can used in the movie sold for $9100!
https://www.juliensauctions.com/en/items/94138/mel-brooks-spaceballs-liquid-schwartz-prop-with-dvd
· 1w
😂
· 1w
What's "the Edgar technique"?
· 1w
I have used both. I thought the single grade 40 would be the way to go, and I like the convenience of the 5 gallon bucket. I find the VR1 20w-50 gives me better (operating temp) idle oil pressure on a 90 degree day, and less smoke. At least, the smoke has less hang time.
I never did get the Skinner dislodged from the exhaust manifold on the M, but it has responded positively to repeated beatings with a dead-blow hammer. Much less smoke now.
The C has no Skinner, so thin smoke is better.
The J is not currently on the road, so no smoke at all.
I wish Jeff Bezos sold VR1 in a five gallon pail.
· 1w
I did our two oil changes on the J and JN last week. Also did a drain and fill on the transmission and rear end. After the tour I will change them out again and have the oil analyzed……….it saved me a failure on the ring and pinion failure that was occurring after 5k miles with a new high speed gear set. The car showed no signs of failure……no noise, no excessive backlash could be felt. When the oil analysis showed failure I didn’t believe it until I pulled the cover . The thing was hamburger……….saved an on the road breakdown. I recommend you use the oil checks once every two years on all three components. See you next week. Photo was taken two weeks ago on the CCCA caravan. We did 800 miles in mostly rain. We still had a great time.
· 1w
..and what is the "Edgar technique" ?!
· 1w
@Edinmass & @DuesyGuy two different people have asked what the "Edgar" technique is.
· 1w
The Edgar technique is that Ed Minnie recommended I use this Napa 40W oil that comes in 5 gal buckets along with the easy pour oil dispenser.. I call it "The Edgar Technique "😜. See here for dispenser details. Works really well.. much easier than dealing with 12 individual quarts!
https://www.amazon.com/Lisle-19702-Dispenser-Lid-Cap/dp/B006G3W418/ref=sr_1_6_pp?crid=2U7HWMVKERKJ7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AF6AUKkZ3RfDdnryNprchewrJboNf92zJAlzPFa0n_Erbow6RF6NgDV31QvG9Fb_pmi0uzKNk7xTTMc1VnwykVlhxYDJD_VM0bn1OWBxqCGieUFIqP_MKjEiHQlIAH575-Yh14YhiKc1_cLTKfPpxbtmve8e8FjzYqaRzx7C_BPUbTZ8JbsO67B7NaRun5xVfOVnZVVO7FHQu0L7unX5GB6h_Cos3CaMywI-5iIIvtpursKBefWS-zXz2Avyv1TvWORSlPjV44Nx9snhm3ip5xycXGAiN848a23L3n__jtw.UH_xnz0XhqwvB2ffWSkfN0RBxujmkPz1DLDPby0F6lg&dib_tag=se&keywords=oil%2Bpour%2Bspout&qid=1791742749&sprefix=oil%2Bpour%2Bs%2Caps%2C280&sr=8-6&th=1
· 1w
Duesenberg is an expensive car. Where is Napa sourcing that oil? @alsancle made a good point.
· 1w
Ed?
· 1w
According to GROK: NAPA Universal Fleet Plus (typically the 15W-40 conventional 5-gallon pail) and Valvoline VR1 are both Valvoline products, but they serve very different purposes and are not interchangeable.
In other words Ed gave you crappy advice.
· 1w
Although in fairness, even the bargain 5 gallon NAPA oil is 5 times better than what was in the car when it was new.
· 1w
The NAPA Fleet Plus is heavy duty diesel oil so it will still have additional zinc similar to the VR1.
· 1w
The VR1 has a higher zinc content than the NAPA fleet stuff but I'm not sure that matters much for our prewar cars. It does matter for later high performance engines. Don't think zinc was actually introduced in the oil until the late 1930s.
· 1w
Exactly, zinc is irrelevant in that car.
· 1w
My only problem with the 5 gallon bucket is picking the damn thing up.
· 1w
@Edinmass gave me a dissertation in text about why the NAPA stuff is a good choice. I would be nice if he put it here for everybody to see.
· 1w
Nothing like a good oil debate!
· 1w
We have been using VR1 for 50 years and have had tremendously good luck. How much the oil had to do with it? Who knows?
· 1w
I too would be interested in Ed's motor oil dissertation.......
· 1w
I should post screen shots of my texts
· 1w
Here we go. Long story short, the one guy in the world drawing breath that has actually rebuilt 150-175 Model J, JN, SJN, and Model A, and Model Y Duesenberg engines runs the Napa Fleet SAE40. If it's good enough for him, it's good for me. By the way, the same individual just made NEW REPRODUCTION Model J blocks. And I might add......the first one was good and usable. No small feat.
· 1w
Eddie, are you saying Tim is using the NAPA stuff?
· 1w
The limiting factor to how many Duesenberg's are out there was how many engines were available to build a car around. I guess with new engine blocks being cast there will be some brand new J's magically appearing. I bet the stories are already being fabricated for when the new cars show up in public.
· 1w
One of my late friends, who was a fantastic machinist, would always joke around that dirty oil was better than no oil, and that the correct oil is better than dirty oil. It's a pretty simple philosophy when you think about it.
· 1w
I don't think we will see any new cars created from scratch. Just too expensive now and the put together cars don't bring that much money. Even this car which I watched being assembled from boxes of parts cost much more to build than the million dollar it brought at auction (twice).