Engine rebuilds-Oil

[david l greenberg]

> Currently my '73 455 is getting 10mpg and however at 106,000 it
>uses 1qt. oil every 500 miles.
> I would like to do a rebuild eliminating unseen "on the road"
>problems with a 106,000 mile motor AND reduce/eliminate oil
>consumption.
>
>Thanks for any help.
>Jerry & Meri, Sandy, OR.
>>
>
>
Depending on what kind of care yours has had I don't think you have to be
overly concerned about the 100k miles on your engine. My first engine was
replaced at 277k and the current 455 has 302k and still fairly strong.

Oil consumption elimination should not be your main objective. From what
I understand from veteran Olds engine mechanics the engine is designed to
consume oil and most owners are seeing consumption in the range of 700 to
1,000 miles per quart.

One thing you can do is to check the dip stick after your next oil change
and refill. I found some sticks don't give an accurate reading and need
to be re scored. In my case oil consumption was reduced from 800 to 1,100
miles per quart on average.

Oil is a pretty cheap commodity when you consider what it does for your
engine. But unless you know you are losing oil through rings or valves I
wouldn't worry too much about it.

David Lee Greenberg
The GMC Motorhome Registry
Dedicated To The Classic GMC Motorhome
www.gmcss.com/registry.htm

 

[richard waters]

> Depending on what kind of care yours has had I don't think you have to be
> overly concerned about the 100k miles on your engine. My first engine was
> replaced at 277k and the current 455 has 302k and still fairly strong.
>
>
> David Lee Greenberg

Dave,
My question to you is sort of like what they ask the
guy who's lived to be over 100.

What have you done to make your engines so longed
lived? Do you know something that the rest of us don't?
If you do, how can this be since Tim Brown has
reported in this format that you are more "mechanically
challenged" then he is?

I am especially interested because I have now have 140,000
miles on what appears to still be a strong engine. It
consumes about 1 qt oil every 1000 miles or so. The
PO said that was his experience as long as he can remember.
I baby the engine, no full throttle anything and rarely drive it
faster then 65. The PO changed the oil and filter every 2000
miles and so do I.

The engine does not make any unusual noises and all the
temperatures and pressures seem to run well within normal
limits (according to my new Custom Instrument Panel).

So how about it Dave? Have you found the "Fountain of
Youth" for these engines?

Richard Waters
1976 Palm Beach
"with only 140,000 miles on the original engine:
Troy, MI

 

[david l greenberg]

>So how about it Dave? Have you found the "Fountain of
>Youth" for these engines?
>
>Richard Waters
>1976 Palm Beach
>"with only 140,000 miles on the original engine:
>Troy, MI
>
>
Perhaps it is because I am mechanically challenged and leave engine
matters to the Pros that it has lasted so long. Of course this current
engine is a Mondello rebuild which speaks for itself, in my opinion.

All I do is follow the service schedule, I don't abuse it and other than
that I can't say why some engines crash and some, like the Eveready
Bunny, keep on goin'!

David Lee Greenberg
The GMC Motorhome Registry
Dedicated To The Classic GMC Motorhome
www.gmcss.com/registry.htm

 

[jerry & meri]

So if the dipstick reads one qt. low the next morning why is that ? It
is obvious that there is no way this could happen with a good engine.
Using proper oil filling will that mean on day 2 the stick should then be
calibrated
Or after the oil change should the stick be marked? What happened to that
qt. of oil on your measurement?
Thanks Jerry & Meri, Sandy, OR. 73 GMC 26'

> In a message dated 2/18/00 7:52:35 AM Central Standard Time,

>
> One thing you can do is to check the dip stick after your next oil change
> and refill. I found some sticks don't give an accurate reading and need
> to be re scored. In my case oil consumption was reduced from 800 to 1,100
> miles per quart on average.
> >>
> True ,after reading this one on the net.I changed my oil and filter using 6
> quarts.started the engine and then let it set until next morning and checked
> it.the dip reads that it almost a quart low.
> Gene C

 

[david l greenberg]

On Sat, 19 Feb 2000 09:30:42 -0800 Jerry & Meri
writes:
> So if the dipstick reads one qt. low the next morning why is that ?
It
>is obvious that there is no way this could happen with a good engine.

The oil is still there! It is the dip stick that is the problem. If you
didn't check the stick right after doing the oil change (and why should
you when you know you added 6 qts of oil and it didn't run out on the
ground, right?) and then drove 50 miles down the road and checked the oil
to find the stick says you are a half quart low, you would be adding oil
sooner than you have to.

Of course the coach should be level when you check the oil. In my case I
filed a new mark on my stick after the coach sat overnight on level
ground and with 6 quarts of new oil in the crankcase. That became my new
"FULL" mark.- I filed a new "ADD" mark about the same distance down the
stick.

It works for me.

David Lee Greenberg
The GMC Motorhome Registry
Dedicated To The Classic GMC Motorhome
www.gmcss.com/registry.htm