[Healeys] On the Road to Conclave (Day 4) - Part 1

[BJ8 Healeys]

Hello, Healeyphiles -

A two-part report today due to message size limits.  What a pain......

Today we progressed from El Dorado, Arkansas to Wichita Falls, Texas continuing 
our route along US82.  Both BJ8s are running well, although my temp gauge creeps up to 200 deg. or so when the hot part of the day arrives in the afternoon.  George's gauge tells him it's a cool, comfortable steady 170 - 180, so one of the gauges is a no-good stinkin' liar. 
 
We both left home with fresh oil changes and made it to El Dorado without having 
to add any oil.  Those rear seal kits really work.  However, George was down 
about two quarts this morning, while I was only down less than a quart.  His oil 
is black, but mine is clear on the stick, as it usually is.  Occasionally, his 
car emits a puff of blue smoke on shifting.  Both engines were rebuilt by the 
same guy, although mine has many more miles on it now than George's does.  Does it sound like he has a ring bedding problem?  

For those of you interested in what oil we are using, it's Castrol 20W-50 
service letter SM.  George found something called ZDDP Plus on-line and we split 
a case of it.  Their website convinced us this was the best way to get the good 
stuff back in our oil.  It takes 0.8 ounces of ZDDP Plus per quart of oil and 
costs around 10 bucks for a 4 ounce bottle.