[TR] Oil "Mileage"

[Jim Muller]

On 14 Mar 2010 at 7:56, Randall wrote:

> The TR3 owner's manual has a note to the effect that, when
> oil consumption exceeds 1 quart per 500 miles, you should
> use heavier oil <G>

I suppose the heavier oil was recommended because tolerances would 
have opened up.  For what it's worth my experience from the old days 
(with Italian engines) was that going to a heavier oil would increase 
oil consumption even further, particularly if the consumption was due 
to worn rings.  The heavier components wouldn't be scavenged off the 
cylinder walls as completely as lighter components.  Then again, my 
memory burns more oil than it use to.  In any case, in the old days 
500 miles per quart was an expected worn-engine number, not great but 
not uncommon.

When you measure oil mileage in MPG's you know it's time for a 
rebuild.


-- 
Jim Muller
jimmuller at rcn.com
'80 Spitfire, '70 GT6+