67, 289 Cougar oil.

[67Cougar]

Couple years ago I picked up another old Ford. 67 Cougar, standard 289 4bbl, automatic. Previous owner had engine rebuilt to fairly stock, just a slight cam and carb upgrade. He gave me a case of PennGrade High Performance, Partial Synthetic 10w 40. It has no API rating. Label has "contains high levels of zinc and phosphorus ".
He said the engine builder said to use this and over fill it by a quart. It has a stock oil pan.
It's not a race engine, no roller rockers, or solid lifters, 95% stock.
Is there any reason not to use this oil, but when I do change it, I'll only fill it with the stock 5 quarts. Mostly my wife's toy.
We only drive it to car shows and out for pleasure cruising in the summer, it doesn't get any street racing use like my 68 Mustang.

 

[DuckRyder]

just a slight cam and carb upgrade.

The problem is you really don't know what slight cam (and more importantly what valve springs) it is. One guys slight cam could be another guys 3/4 race cam.

Got any recipes or a cam card? Does it have any sound?

 

[TiGeo]

My first car...dad bought new. '67 XR7 289 4bbl premium fuel auto. Always used QS 10W30

Had a mild cam and Holley Carb. Loved that car.

 

[67Cougar]

No cam card, it is fairly stock by the feel if the engine, not lopy, feels stock to me, nothing like my 68 street fun car.. Has the stock stamped style rockers, as I pulled the valve covers to replace with finned aluminum. I would not imagine there are anything other than stock springs.

 

[67Cougar]

Pics

 

[JeffKeryk]

If the valve springs are stock pressure, any 10w30 is probably fine. I use Castrol GTX Classic High Zinc oil in my 2 classics.

 

[67Cougar]

Question is should I use the Penn Grade he gave me or use it in my old Case tractor with an old Onan twin....

 

[67Cougar]

Ill just use the same Castrol synthetic 10w40 i use in my 390 Mustang, will use up the non graded oil in my tractors

 

[Zaedock]

The Penngrade would be fine. Summit sells it. I’ve used latest API 5/10W30 in my early Bronco with a stock 302. No issues.

 

[Nessism1]

If the valve springs are stock pressure, any 10w30 is probably fine. I use Castrol GTX Classic High Zinc oil in my 2 classics.

Isn't GTX Classic 20W-50?

 

[ecotourist]

Can't think of any reason not to use that oil.

 

[67Cougar]

Ok, thanks gentlemen!

 

[BornSlippy]

The oil is GREEN! Run it!

 

[Bud]

I bought a 66 Mustang new with the stock 289. I used 10w30 most of the time but even used a 10w40 supposedly racing oil. But then I was young and just thought it was cool.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Isn't GTX Classic 20W-50?

Yes. My understanding is, other weights, like 10w30, have maximum allowed ZDDP, or whatever they call it.
The 20w50 has like 1300ppm. Pretty stout, old API SJ rating. Strong detergent pack as well.

Castrol GTX Classic spec sheet

 

[DuckRyder]

Question is should I use the Penn Grade he gave me or use it in my old Case tractor with an old Onan twin....

I'd use the Penn Grade in it.

 

[Lubener]

I wouldn't use an oil w/o an API rating.

 

[FordFETruck]

I've been using Penngrade 1 10W30 and 10W40 in my new 351W in my truck. Seems to be working well but once I'm out of it I'll be using M1 Euro 0W40 in it.

 

[paulswagelock]

Penn grade oils are a great choice for that engine. Old school formulation, high zddp, blended for that application specifically.
They used to be produced in Bradford Pa at the American Refining plant and I did tons of work there and had a chance to speak with them at length. As long as the new owner stuck with the formulation, and they claim they did, good oil for your application.

 

[addyguy]

Beautiful car!
I’d definetly run that Penngrade oil in it; great stuff for old engines.
Dad had a ‘67 Mustang 289 coupe as his DD in the 1970’s. Body rusted to nothing but the engine never gave him a lick of trouble over about 150k miles, and it was driven hard.