[Healeys] BJ8 Oil consumption

[BJ8 Healeys]

Niels, generally for a good break-in to seat the piston rings after a
rebuild, it's:  take it easy on the engine for the first 500 miles.  No fast
accelerations, moderate speeds, and no steady speeds for long periods of
time.  Do not use synthetic oil during the break-in, and change oil after
500 miles.  As for specifics, everyone has their own opinion about the exact
procedures.   Here's one from a piston ring manufacturer:
http://www.hastingsmfg.com/ServiceTips/breakin_procedure.htm 
It's important to seat the rings well (i.e., allow them to wear against the
cylinder walls to match the surfaces) to avoid excessive oil consumption
later on. 
If your oil consumption is because of non-seated rings after 1400 miles, as
far as I know the only way to remedy that is to remove the pistons and rings
and start over by re-honing the cylinders and installing new rings.

If valve guides are worn, smoking from the tailpipe generally happens on
acceleration, especially after a period of idling.  Constant smoking is more
likely to be the rings. 

Steve Byers
HBJ8L/36666	
BJ8 Registry
Havelock, NC    

-----Original Message-----
From: healeys-bounces at autox.team.net [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net]
On Behalf Of Niels Bengaard
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2011 2:25 PM
To: Healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] BJ8 Oil consumption

So far thank you all for your quick responses.
I was lucky to make contact with a member of the danish Austin Healey Club 
who lives nearby and thursday I will go visit him. He will have a look if 
the oil spilling is normal or not, he will also check if the valve guides 
are worn, and if there are other problems. It4s so nice that people are 
willing to help with such short notice.

I haven't tried to run the engine hot or at higher rpm , so I dont know how 
much spillage that gives. By reading the archives I got the idea that it 
should only be dripping lightly. I maybe misunderstood that.

The engine doesnt normally drip at all, it had the improved rear seal 
mounted when it was renovated. I noticed some oil drops from that area after

the long run, perhaps 5-10. I will have to follow up on that continues or 
not.

Regarding breaking in piston rings, how many miles does it take?
The mileage in San Francisco in 2007 when it was exported to Denmark was 
33,758.
The previous owner had the engine fully renovated because of oil pressure 
problems, and only used it a few times.
I bought it in May 2010 with 34,214 miles.
Today it4s at 35,600 miles.

I changed oil and filter in april 2011 at 34,575 miles. 20w50 Castrol 
Classic.
July 18. filled up to max with 0.8 litres (0.85 quarts)  of oil at 35,250 
miles
Today oil at 20% above min, 35,600 miles.

If you have any more ideas please let me know, and I will talk with the club

member i am going to visit. I will return with what he concludes.

Niels, Denmark