Back in the mid-50's Chevrolet had a public relations nightmare when many of
their
V-8's (newly introduced) burned oil at the rate of up to 1 quart every 200
miles. It has
been publicly acknowledged - on The History Channel's "Automobiles" series - by
a
Chevrolet engineer of that era that, indeed, factory service bulletins were
issued to
dealerships advising that a good dose of Bon-Ami poured down the intake hastened
the seating of the piston rings and avoided or postponed additional warranty
claims.
It was also a GM trick of the trade to add a quart of automatic transmission
fluid (Dextron)
to the crankcase to try to eliminate noisy/sticky hydraulic lifters. Who really
knows what
other "fixes" there were ( or could still be around today) that are unknown to
many. Probably
a book full! I've heard from GM mechanics that the Dextron idea really works.
It's actually
a higher quality (detergent) oil than your run-of-the-mill crankcase oils.
Consequently, one
wonders what that Marvel "Mystery Oil" really is?
-GS-
'58 Sprite (vintage)
'82 Corvette (street)
|