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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!
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| | | | Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 148 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 148 | I have just recently removed the original blown 216 out of my 49 pickup and replaced it with a 48 216 oil splasher, would have loved to have done something better but don't have the money for a rebuild or another engine (the splasher was given to me) anyway, I was wondering if there is a certain type oil you guys would recommend for this old engine. Also would you recommend detergent or ND. Thanks for any advice guys. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | Plain old 10w-30 or 5w-30 or as I've been running, 15w-40 Shell
Rotella T. I've been using that in my 216 for nearly a decade.
Used it when I brought her home with 58k on the speedo when it
was in need of a rebuild due to worn cylinders. But I drove it
for about five years like that. Then about five years ago I had
the engine completely rebuilt and I still run the Rotella T in
her.
Over the life of those engines you can bet that just about
anything that would lubricate them was poured in the crankcase
and most of them are still running 50 or 60 years later. Really
taint rocket science.
Denny Graham
Sandwich, IL
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,847 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,847 | | | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 687 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 687 | I think it's more critical to change oil/filters reguarly then the type of oil used. Just my opinion...
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 872 | | | | | | Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 583 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Feb 2011 Posts: 583 | I've always used 30w detergent oil in my 1939 216. I am getting ready to change the oil and filter, would you also recommend the 15w-40 Rotella T for it?
1939 Chevrolet Stake Truck
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 9,671 | Oil technology has come a long way in the last couple of decades Rick. The single weight
oils are getting hard to find and have pretty much been replace by the multigrade oils
which are slowly giving way to the synthetics.
Lots of the guys are using the Rotella T oil for these older trucks but as we mentioned
earlier, you would be fine with 10w-30 or 5w-30 a lot depends on what kind of weather
you’re anticipating. In the end it taint all that critical
DG
Denny G
Sandwich, IL
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