wozz

Hi,

I recently purchased a '59 S88 with 80.000 miles - it had been stored for 15 years. I replaced hoses and flushed fluids, but wonder which of the modern oils / additives are recommended to run in this vehicle:Any help would be appreciated - along with a recommendation if I should even plan on driving it with the clicking of a couple of valves and poor compression on a couple of cylinders with puffs from the breather tube? I wanted to get it registered and do some general brake / suspension and otehr work on it before considering removing the engine.

Thanks,
Wolf

Tedd Thompson

If mine Id probably change the oil filter and the engine oil using a high detergent non synthetic type oil with a zinc additive and maybe run it for less than 100 miles then change them again, no telling how much sludge you will bust up. I use lucas zinc additive but there are others out there just as good. That lifter valve noise may go away if you get it clean Old's lifters of this era are very sensitive to dirty oil.

If you have the hi compression engine you will be stuck with the hi test stuff or it will ping for sure.My 394 wanted the best gas available and it still pinged on heavy acceleration, boosters didn't help, your milage may differ.

I use Dextron and it is what is recomended for our type transmissions.

As far as differential oil I just use what is offered at the lube shop if I ever need any( don't ever remember having to add any)

I use ATF on the power steering and have for years with no problems..Just my thoughts ..Lost in the fifties...Tedd

MDchanic

Search is your friend:

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...-oils-use.html

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...fications.html

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...n-my-65-a.html

https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...nsmission.html

Welcome to ClassicOlds.

- Eric

wozz

Tedd, Eric,

thanks for the tips and links!
What a change for me from a 1.6l VW world to the 6.5l engine.

Wolfgang

MDchanic

Wow. Quite a change.

I had an '81 Scirocco with a G cam and an open exhaust many years ago, and, man, was that car a lot of fun.
Weighed nothing, and you could really throw it around.
Used to lift the inside rear wheel on turns, if I recall.

- Eric

kirkwoodken

If you have puffing smoke out of a breather, it MAY indicate a broken ring. Before driving it farther, I'd do a leakdown test on it to pinpoint the problem. Broken rings can turn into major problems. My 55 is doing the same thing, but I'm not driving it until I have a definite answer.

D. Yaros

Assuming a sound engine, then lubricant selection is not all that esoteric. Any high grade 10w-30 should work just fine. Addition of zinc will not hurt. Do not know if at this stage in the life-cycle of the engine it will help? Am sure you will as many opinions on this as there are zinc additives out there.

BTW, even though people refer to it as "snake oil," STP in the blue can contains more than enough zinc to replace what the modern oils have removed.

On gas, my '62 Olds runs just fine on regular. I would recommend you start out with regular and work you way UP if needed. And yes, I do ad TEL to my gas.