Found An Old Texaco Oil Can

[afoulk]

My dad passed away this past november and we finally got around to cleaning out the garage this past weekend. I was cleaning off a shelf when I found an old oil can in the back, unopened. Its called Texaco Ursa. Looking at the one picture, I don't know if the numbers are a "canning" date, but if so, it appears to be from 1982. I'm not worried about it being worth anything, I would never sell it, I just thought I'd see if you guys knew anything about this stuff. If it is indeed from 82, I was only 1yr. old at the time, but I'm trying to think back to what my parents were driving at the time. I think my mom had a 74 Plymouth Scamp with a slant six, and my dad either had a International Scout Traveler, or his 76 F250 with a 390 he bought brand new back then, but I don't remember if my parents said he sold that before I was born or right after. Not sure if this was for any of those vehicles or not.

I'm not even sure what viscosity it is. Either way, I thought you guys would atleast enjoy seeing it. Changing oil in the family cars with him was what got me interested in anything with wheels and ultimately led to me being a mechanic, so it was fun going through all his old stuff. His health declined pretty fast the last few years and he hadn't touched anything in the garage for years. Theres some old 80's Pennzoil 20w-50 bottles sitting around yet too I want take pictures of next time i get out there. They still say they are manufactured by the Pennzoil Oil Company in Oil City, Pa. Some Rotella T gallon jugs from the 90's too when he had his 87 F250 with the 6.9 diesel. Nothing worth money, but they sure bring back the memories

 

[The_Jeff]

I thought they printed the vis on the can top but I don't see it. Maybe if it was in a (sealed) case they skipped this step?

IIRC Ursa was (is?) diesel rated and you can see the obsolete diesel specs.

 

[beanoil]

Nice find!

 

[hardcore302]

Sorry about your dad.

 

[Boczech]

Sorry to hear about your dad......

 

[afoulk]

Thanks, he was in a lot of pain, mainly his back the past 8yrs or so, and was starting to have heart trouble, but it was ultimately fast moving lung cancer that did him in. He he had so much pain in his back the last few years, you could see it change him. Sad to say, but I think it was for the best.
As for the viscosity, yeah, i don't know, I've looked all over the can and couldn't find anything. I saw the diesel oil specs and figured it might be the 15w40, but don't really know for sure. I found it interesting that the can is green and white though, I thought texaco's colors were always black and red.

 

[doitmyself]

Nearly all conventional oils were dual rated up until about 1995. I remember around that time going to buy my NAPA 10W30 for my workplace compact Kubota and noticing on the new case it stated "for gasoline engines only". A call to Valvolene confirmed that federal regulations resulted in the change to "gasoline only" engine oils.

Thanks for sharing some memories.

 

[GMorg]

From what I can tell, up through 1987, it was a straight 30W for mixed fleet use. There was a Canadian counterpart that was a 15w40. I think that the Canadian formulation was in a red can. From 1988 on, it seems to have been a 15w40 in both countries. In the 60s and 70s, the grade would be stamped in the metal end cap. I don't recall the 80s cans. Have you looked on the bottom, metal end cap?

I don't think that the numbers are a date, but a paper can is consistent with mid-80s. Clearly not 60s or early 70s. I wish I could remember when the metal cans switched to paper.

 

[Cristobal]

I had a 1978 Toyota Corolla, and my late Dad got the car for me as a present brand new. I used to put that very same oil in it. It had a 1600 CC engine; what they called a 2TC. That oil was floating around a lot of the independent auto parts shops then. It makes me want to drive down to Anaheim and see what Tops Auto Supply is like now.

 

[Cristobal]

In Southern California, paper cans were around certainly as early as April 1974. as I used them then.

 

[daves87rs]

Sorry about your dad....


Very cool can though...

 

[c502cid]

I pumped gas in So Cal in the mid to late 70's. Shell stations had paper cans until at least 1978-79. And thanks for the memory on Tops, I haven't been by there in years but boy they had the parts no one else did!

 

[dorcheat]

Thanks for sharing afoulk! I am sorry for you and your father. It is tough sorting through your parents things after their death.

We like the pics of the oil can. Always trust your car to the can with the star.

 

[Solarent]

Thanks for the pic!

I think it is interesting to see some of the exact same phraseology used on today's oils were used back then:

"An exceptionally versatile premium quality engine oil"
"Don't pollute - conserve resources"
"recommended for use in all high speed diesel and gasoline engines"

I could see any one of the majors still using these marketing phrases... the more things change, the more they stay the same.

 

[afoulk]

Originally Posted By: Solarent
Thanks for the pic!

I think it is interesting to see some of the exact same phraseology used on today's oils were used back then:

"An exceptionally versatile premium quality engine oil"
"Don't pollute - conserve resources"
"recommended for use in all high speed diesel and gasoline engines"

I could see any one of the majors still using these marketing phrases... the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Yeah I thought the same thing when I read the front of the can, "Engine Protection You Can Trust." Sounds like something you would read in a oil add today.
Oh, and I looked at it again today, and after cleaning the dust off the top of the can, it does indeed have SAE 30 HD stamped in the top of it, so looks like it was the straight 30 weight. I'm not sure what he would have used that in, maybe the slant six. I was thinking lawn mower, but they lived in an apartment before they built the house I grew up in in 83 and he bought a 2stroke lawn boy when they moved in, so thats not it.

 

[UNC151]

Always like seeing those old oil cans (I am searching for a 1980s Gulfpride bottle myself for display); thanks for the photo and sorry to hear about your Father.