Hello Scotty,
I have a 1965 Olds Vista Cruiser with 2barrel carb and the small V8 (I think it's a 330). Odometer reads 293971(the 1 is in white). It is in good shape but not restored. Is there a brand or type of engine oil and/or trans fluid you would suggest? I live in the rust belt of NW Indiana but the land is flat. So the only strain on the motor is waiting in traffic; most of my travel is stop and go, in town. Drives beautifully (but loud) on the highway. It gets put away in the winter months, which is when all the trans fluid leaks out. I have to put in fresh trans fluid every spring. Love your YouTube videos!
Thanks for your reply!
Susan
Any good quality oil should work OK. There is some controversy over whether a high ZDDP (zinc+phosporous) oil is needed for flat-tappet engines. Some say that stock engines already broken in that are used for ordinary driving don't require it. Others say that it's best to have the additional ZDDP to protect cam and lifters. My own experience with cars of that vintage is that I have not done anything special and had no problems, but they are driven very little and not used for towing, extremely high speeds, or any other high-stress use.
If you want to be certain there are specialty oil formulations designed specifically for classic cars, or you could select a common name-brand oil such as Mobil 1 15W50 that has a higher level of ZDDP than most of their other oils. You can see a chart here:
Another popular oil for classics is Valvoline VR1 "Racing Oil":
However, these oils may be a bit too heavy for cold weather. (Not an issue if the car is not used in winter.)
As far as the transmission chances are, if that car has its original drivetrain, it will have the 2-speed "Jetaway" (aka "Super Turbine 300") transmission. The original fluid specified would have been Type A Suffix A. That fluid was superceded by Dexron in 1967. The closest to the original fluid you'll find today is Dexron III/Mercon, frequently labeled "Dex/Merc". (That fluid is no longer licensed by GM but oil companies have not forgotten how to make it.)
The current Dexron VI is a superior fluid and is supported by GM to be backward-compatible with their older transmissions. However it is sufficiently different from the earlier Dexron versions (for example it is lower viscosity) that GM warns to use it in transmissions only, not in power steering or other hydraulic systems that previously specified the earlier fluids. (Did GM test Dexron VI in a Super Turbine 300 transmission? I don't know. A forum devoted to classic GM cars with that trans might have information from people who have used it.)
My vehicles' transmissions are not from GM but were designed for Dexron II and III. I use Valvoline Dex/Merc in them since I doubt that GM tested the new fluid in "Brand X" transmissions. Also Valvoline Dex/Merc is attractively priced at WalMart.
You need to re-seal that transmission!!!
The "Motor Oil Geek" has released a video delving into this issue in detail: