Someone said to run kendall 50 weight in my engine, is that good, or what oil should I use?

 

That recommendation is extreme. I would only do that if the engine was burning oil badly and/or leaking like a sieve. I suspect 10w40 would be a good choice. If you have an oil pressure gauge in it, compare the pressure to spec (I belive the 300, at least newer ones, spec's 40 - 60 psi hot at 2000 rpm.) What grade are you running now?

 

Kendall 50 weight?! How bad is the blue smoke coming out of the exhaust? Is the rod knock very noticeable at idle? ...

 

Why is kendall so bad? what oil would you recommend?

 

I don't think the refernece is to Kendall, I think it is to straight 50 weight oil.
You are in Ohio and it gets pretty cold there.
Winter time cold starts, I'd expect the engine to be having to pump something just short of taffy getting twisted around on that machine I remember seeing as a kid at Daytona Beach.
Why not 10W40 as Tallpaul said, or 10W30?
What about Rotella 15W40?

I'd shy away from straight 50 weight. Matter of fact, I'd run from straight 50 weight.

 

Brian, said what I meant. Kendall is an excellent oil, made by ConocoPhillips I beleive. In fact, their Kendall GT-1 Performance oil, 10w30, would be a great choice for your engine! Straight 50 weight, is simply a "one dimensional" oil. Fuel mileage will suffer greatly, and your motor will labor unneedlessly, to overcome the thickness of a SAE 50. Even cold, in the summer, this type of oil will flow like maple syrup. Worn, loose engines, as suggestedin my prior post, I'd run a SAE 30 HD oil. Straight 50 or 60 Racing Oil, might be okay for a full race motor, but personally, I would not use it in a street application.

 

Might get away with a straight 40 in the summer. Kendall probably has one. Also NAPA brand has straight 40.

Valvoline Durablend comes in 15w40 (saw some at Pep Boys, but usu have to go to NAPA).

Really we need to know what problem your friend was trying to band aid with his straight 50 recommendation. Otherwise we are shooting in the dark.

 

why not just use a 15w40 or 10w30 diesel oil. most single weight oils are made with group I oil.

 

Like they said...

The only time I'd use straight 50 weight is when I change the oil right before driving it up to the junkyard, to make sure it doesn't fly apart before it gets there.

Here's my general methodology:
New, correctly functioning Ford Modular motor: 5w20
New, correctly functioning motor: 5w30 or 10w30, depending on season and type of motor. Possibly diesel rated, depending on type of motor
Old correctly functioning motor: Diesel rated 10w30
Old motor with mild piston slap or other non-critical noises: Diesel rated 15w40
Old motor with bad piston slap, wrist pin knock, spun bearing, or no oil pressure at speed: Straight 50 to 70 weight, to get pressure. And then only long enough to get it back to be repaired, or up to the junkyard.