Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,021 Posts1,055,348 Members48,420 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,321 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 1,321 | I have a rebuilt 1950 216 motor. Which oil would be best to use?
Valvoline VR1 SAE 30 Conventional Motor Oil or Valvoline VR1 SAE 10W-30 Conventional Motor Oil
I like Valvoline because it is high in Zink which is what our "babies" need.
Thanks,
Harold
Harold
Is a restoration ever finished? | | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,477 Moderator, Electrical Bay | | Moderator, Electrical Bay Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,477 | Honestly Harold I prefer the straight 30 weight VR-1 in either the 216 or the 235. It does have enough zinc and the price is better than many of the others out there. Hot here. Hope it is cooler over your way.
~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,922 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,922 | I'll just repeat the joke one more time...
"The viscosity number, or the number before the "W", is the time in seconds for oil pressure to reach the last bearing in a cold engine.
10W30: 10 seconds
Straight 30: 30 seconds | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | I never heard that before. While the lower viscosity number does mean it will reach the bearings faster because it's thinner, I'm curious now if it has anything to do with the number of seconds in a one for one or just a simple measurement of time to empty a zahn cup. Since the flow rate would depend on the ambient temperature, distance it has to travel and height it has to lift in the different engines I doubt it's a one to one ratio. I have some research to do it seems.
Last edited by Tiny; 07/13/2020 10:12 PM.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 Bolter | | Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 7,440 |
Martin
'62 Chevy C-10 Stepside Shortbed (Restomod in progress)
'47 Chevy 3100 5 Window (long term project)
‘65 Chevy Biscayne (Emily)
‘39 Dodge Business Coupe (Clarence)
“I fought the law and the law won" now I are a retired one!
Support those brave men/women who stand the "Thin Blue Line"! Hug a cop!
USAF 1965-1969 Weather Observation Tech (I got paid to look at the clouds)
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,477 Moderator, Electrical Bay | | Moderator, Electrical Bay Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 4,477 | How about today's 0W40 oil? And since the Stovebolt engines have the oil pump in the middle ... which is the last bearing? Maybe we could amend the old joke to the time it takes for the rear main seal to start dribbling? Although I've never been convinced some of them ever stopped dribbling.
~ Jon
1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 Ex Hall Monitor | | Ex Hall Monitor Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 6,377 | Ah, I see said the blind man.
Save a life, adopt a senior shelter pet.
The three main causes of blindness: Cataracts, Politics, Religion.
Name your dog Naked so you can walk Naked in the park.
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 898 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 898 | To the deaf mute, as he picked up his hammer and saw.
Brian
1955.2 3100 Truck
The older I get the more dangerous I am!!!!! | | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 734 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 734 | The number before the W is the number of seconds between drips from the rear main seal.
Matthew 6:33 1952 Chevy 1/2-ton 3100 Late '55 235/SM420/torque tube 3.55 Dalton Highway survivor (using original 216) www.truckwithaheart.com | | |
|
|
