Quote:
Originally Posted by bgadow
I have a '51 Ford; it doesn't have the famous V8 but a flathead straight 6; actually a better engine than the flathead 8 in some respects. I don't know the full history of this engine, only that the car has around 86k. (I have to wonder if it was rebuilt at some point). I change the oil every 2,000 miles and it uses about a quart in that time which I find outstanding for something that age. Most of the older vehicles I've owned either burned or leaked oil, or both. The first couple vehicles I owned, as a teenager, were a 67 Impala with a 283 V8 & a 78 Ford F100 with a 302 V8. Both needed at least a quart of oil per week.
Most oil until at least the 60s was non-detergent. A large percentage of cars didn't have oil filters. The dirt in the oil (and there was plenty, thanks to the air filters in use back then) would gradually sink to the bottom of the oil pan. If you changed the oil regularly you might keep it fairly clean. My '51 had some deep black oil in it when I got it, which I promptly changed. At first it used about a quart every 150 miles or so but quickly improved. After a couple oil changes the dipstick looks so clean you can barely see the oil, even after a couple thousand miles. I still use non-detergent oil out of concern that there could still be some sludge inside that modern oil could stir up. There are stories of this causing the engine to suffer a "stroke" as the oil pump screen stops up.
My old car gets used quite a bit; I use it for errands, going to church, day-trips. I've taken it on some weekend trips, maybe 3 hours one-way. Stuff does wear out faster than on modern cars but they're so simple that, really, only so much bad can happen. The only time this Ford was Found On Road Dead with me as the owner? Vapor lock, the first summer I had it. I added an electric fuel pump as a backup and when it acts up I just flip the switch.
Old British cars have a reputation for poor reliability (especially electrical parts) but some of them are very easy to get parts for and should be simple to work on. That's what I'd look for, something basic, not loaded up with tons of options. It's nice to have power this and power that but on a car that age, all of that stuff is very failure prone.
|
those straight sixes were better as far as longevity and I dont think they had problems with cracking like some of the V8's (trucks were better).
Im not so sure about using non-detergent in it. That causes a lot more wear on the pistons/rings for one. Some mechanics used to use non-detergent after a rebuild for the 1st 100 to 1000 miles to wear them in quicker, the rings. But I can understand your logic too, worrying about junk coming loose in the engine. Ive just never heard of doing that. Interesting.
the only close thing Ive had happen was a 1985 Bronco with 351w I bought 9 years ago. Of all the cars and trucks Ive owned i never saw any oil half that dirty. It was trailered home as it wasnt licensed. I changed the oil and filter (cheapest oil I could buy) and ran it 10 minutes, changed oil and filter again and ran it an hour. Even after 2 oil changes it was quite dirty from cleaning the engine. i changed it the 3rd time and all was good. Anyway, if you ever go the detergent oil route, keep this in mind, what I did.