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Projects Oil in Flathead Gas??

Discussion in 'Traditional Hot Rods' started by 36 Penny Coupe, Mar 31, 2019.

  1. 36 Penny Coupe
    Joined: Jan 7, 2014
    Posts: 169

    36 Penny Coupe
    Member
    from VA

    I saw a post recently about a guy who puts 4 oz per 10 gallons of gas of marvel mystery oil through his Flathead V8. I assume this is [​IMG]to lubricate the valves and upper cylinders. Is anyone else out there doing this ? Sounds like a good idea to me. Does it make your car smoke?? Please let me know if you have some information guys.
    Thanks!


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  2. razoo lew
    Joined: Apr 11, 2017
    Posts: 536

    razoo lew
    Member
    from Calgary

    4 oz oil in 10 gallons of gas is pretty unlikely to cause any smoke. Probably very few people did that to original flatheads and they seemed to last ok. But do it if you want to.
     
  3. gas & guns
    Joined: Feb 6, 2014
    Posts: 370

    gas & guns
    Member

    I run my Stihl chainsaw at 40:1 and it doesn't smoke. 4 ounces to 10 gal. is 320:1
    Your not going to see any smoke.
    Will it help an old flathead? Not sure.

    I know when I brake free an old motor that hasn't run in years, I always add a little oil to the gas. I figure it can't hurt. May help free up sticky valves and rings.

    As far as marvel mystery oil? Not really sure what's in that shit. Always thought it smelt a little like diesel.
     
  4. Hud I
    Joined: Jul 19, 2008
    Posts: 164

    Hud I
    Member
    from Tennessee

    I run about 3oz. /5 gal. in my gas. Not only in the car but also in my tractors. The tractors get a lot of hours over a yrs. time. I think it counteracts the effects of the alcohol. I don't know if it helps or not but it can't hurt.
     
    3340 likes this.

  5. Slopok
    Joined: Jan 30, 2012
    Posts: 2,919

    Slopok
    Member

    As long as you're not getting gas in your oil you'll be OK!;)
     
  6. sloppy jalopies
    Joined: Jun 29, 2015
    Posts: 5,256

    sloppy jalopies
    Member

    sounds like a SAAB !
     
  7. patterg2003
    Joined: Sep 21, 2014
    Posts: 864

    patterg2003

    Maybe consider Seafoam. My friends & I have had good luck with it in non-car uses. Seafoam cleans out the fuel system and stabilizes the gas as well. Most recent use was with the gas powered auger that had not run in 8 years and my son needed to use it. I replaced the poly fuel lines and put some gas in it. It would not fire so I coaxed it to life with some ether. It was running rough so I added Seafoam at the ratio of 2 oz per gallon and let it run for half an hour. We could clearly hear the idle slowly go from a rough stumble to a nice smooth idle. Now the auger fires up on the first or second pull. Seafoam recommends 1oz per gallon for what you would like the Marvel Mystery Oil to do and an advantage is that it is a fuel stabilizer.
     
  8. Blues4U
    Joined: Oct 1, 2015
    Posts: 7,589

    Blues4U
    Member
    from So Cal

    I suspect all that is in MMO is pretty much straight low viscosity napthenic mineral oil, which provides some solvency to soften and clean up varnish deposits. But modern fuels have pretty good detergent chemistry that the fuels from the old days didn't have, to prevent varnish formation to keep fuel injectors clean and working properly, so I don't know that there would be any benefit from using MMO for that. Mixed in with the gas it probably provides a little added lubrication, which probably isn't a bad thing considering the removal of lead from gas. I don't know, I think it tends to be more of magic snake oil that actually beneficial, but I don't know that it will harm anything.

    I definitely would NOT add it to the crankcase, diluting modern motor oil, and possibly screwing with the chemistry.
     
    3340 likes this.
  9. 19Fordy
    Joined: May 17, 2003
    Posts: 8,027

    19Fordy
    Member

    I add a couple of ounces of MMO to 16 gal. of gas along with some lead additive. Opinions vary depending on if you have hardened valve seats and the octane rating of your gas.
    Doesn't seem to hurt anything, from my perspective.
     
  10. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,657

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    In the old days they said adding MMM like that would double the life of valves and rings. Today's gas has no lead, which protects valves and it is dryer as well (less oily). I would say adding MMM will do your engine good and protect against valve wear.
     
  11. dumprat
    Joined: Dec 27, 2006
    Posts: 3,479

    dumprat
    Member
    from b.c.

    Or you could just add two stroke mix oil. It works well to lubricate rings, valves etc and has stabilizers to combat the effects of ethanol blended fuels. A half a cup in a tank of fuel works well and doesn't smoke.
     
    scrap metal 48 likes this.
  12. Doublepumper
    Joined: Jun 26, 2016
    Posts: 1,535

    Doublepumper
    Member
    from WA-OR, USA

    MMO is special, to say the least. I've seen it bring back engines in ships that were literally shut off and walked away from, dating back to WW1. Many of them were stuck! I call it marvelously mysterious oil.
     
    Clay Belt likes this.
  13. AKCJ
    Joined: Jan 9, 2014
    Posts: 16

    AKCJ
    Member

    MMO can also help your gas tank not rust at the gas line if there’s a little water in the gas.


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  14. 36 Penny Coupe
    Joined: Jan 7, 2014
    Posts: 169

    36 Penny Coupe
    Member
    from VA

    Hey guys. Thanks for all of the input and comments. I decided to use the Seafoam. It’s actually a better choice in my opinion. After talking with some mechanic friends they all said it was the way to go.


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  15. flatjack
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 975

    flatjack
    Member

    I've been driving my 39 for around 25 years and probably have over 50,000 miles on it and have never used any kind of additive in the oil or gas. Never a problem.
     
    Texas Webb likes this.

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