Although the radiator was not leaking, nor was the car running hot, I tool out the radiator today to have it boiled out and rodded out. Then I changed the oil and filter (filter is very easy to reach…

[Norman Silverman]

Although the radiator was not leaking, nor was the car running hot, I tool out the radiator today to have it boiled out and rodded out. Then I changed the oil and filter (filter is very easy to reach with the radiator out), then the thermostat got changed. 

I'll have the radiator back from the shop on Monday, and will reinstall it then. 

Still having fun!

Norm

[Norman Silverman]

Never knew about that. Thanks.  I generally use Royal Purple or a good major brand, which I change yearly or at 2000 miles, whichever comes first. I don't drive them hard, never rev them when cold and always keep an eye on the oil level. Here in San Diego we don't get extreme temperatures either way, plus most of our driving is freeway (both factors are very easy on a car).  I've had over 100 old cars over the years and never had an oil-related problem-even when I lived in (dare I say it) Brooklyn, New York. However, I generally don't keep cars more than a few years so if long term problems develop I guess I would not see them. 

[Norman Silverman]

Instead of Zinc I had frequently used Royal Purple. This time I used a different oil, so I put a little ZDDP additive in. I don't really see a need because I've never had a problem-but it can't hurt. 

[Norman Silverman]

Forgot to mention: There's little to no zinc in modern oils and that substance was used to provide certain types of lubrication so I added a Zinc supplement to the oil so as to further lubricate the flat tappets.

[Jason Edge]

Oil goes from the pickup screen in the oil pan, to the oil pump, then up the oil filter support bracket to oil filter then distributed throughout the engine. The  "brief moment" it takes to fill filter and push oil out is negligible and should never cause problems as there have been millions of vehicles that have never had oil prefilled in the filter, BUT... it does not hurt anything and should theoretically help reduce wear in the engine over the long haul. What is the amount of wear it saves in the long haul? would it be in the  milli, micro, nano, pico meter range... Dunno.  Point being it cannot harm anything (unless you manage to drop the filter and spill oil all over that new garage  floor), and can only serve to help reduce wear and you know we all like to give our nurtured 390's and 429's the best care available. I have occasionally prefilled, but generally do not, however, this has again served as a reminder that it does not hurt to prefill and can only help... even if it is to stave off .000001 picometer of wear from our baby's innards!

[Norman Silverman]

Not really. I brought up oil change and you added perspective. No hijack.

[Norman Silverman]

Kevin. I think it is a very good idea, but I don't think I would have the steadiness of hand required to do this-so I don't. Also, I don't think it is a very big problem because my current 1966  Imperial (and all the other ones before it over 40 years) has a horizontally mounted filter, in which case it is impossible to fill before attaching. I've never had a problem caused by oil starvation.

Norm