Mileage

[SLK]

How many miles does everyone have on their cars? Currently mine is showing 21722.

I don't have a lot of history on the car before my father purchased it in the mid-90's, but I think it is accurate.

[Barry Wolk]

12,000 since '94. Had 38,000 before restoration.

[Chuck Lutz]

I'm at 67,640. I got 19 years of receipts with my car. No major overhaul but brakes and suspension work along with the usual radiator cores and carb rebuilds. I don't think these cars were designed to go 200k like we see in some cars today but I think with regular attention and not beating on them they could do well to 100k without overhaul.
Do you agree?

[Barry Wolk]

With today's oils and proper additives these engines should get 100K before a rebuild, even more. Today's engines use pretty much the same metals in the components. The difference is, in my opinion, the frequency of oil changes.

Dirt is dirt, no amount of automotive filtration will get rid of it. Since the dirt and metal is held in suspension the only way to really get rid of it is to change the oil.

While my anecdotal evidence may not be statistical I can truthfully say that none of my high mileage engines have ever failed. I attribute that simply to frequent (3,000 mile) oil changes.

What people don't realize is that it's not just the grime, but moisture and acids in old oil that really do the harm. Where there's moisture there's oxygen, the major culprit in corrosion.

My '55 Porsche takes an entire's day of running to pass 100% of the oil through the bypass oil system filter. Longevity is achieved through 1,000 mile oil changes. Some have reached 300,000 miles using this method, why not Lincoln engines?

My Mercedes ML was supposed to use synthetic using 10,000 mile intervals. Many that followed that procedure had to go into their engines. I have 156,000 miles on it and it doesn't use any oil between changes. The Porsche loses more oil than it uses. Porsche's are a lot like Harleys in that respect.:rolleyes:

[Mad Scientist]

52101 original miles.

Regarding the oil. The oil does not wear out.
However as Barry pointed out it does get dirty! And it doesn't matter if it is an el-cheapo oil or a super duper high tech synthetic they all will get dirty and contaminated at the same rate. A quality oil may do a better job of holding these contaminates in suspension and neutralizing acids but only till its additives wear out.

For long engine life changing oil frequently is cheap insurance.

[Shelly Harris]

The easiest, cheapest way of getting dirt out of your engine is dumping the oil. With vehicles I hope to keep forever (which I thought would be my VW beetles, but now is the MK II) I dump and change filter every 2,000 miles or 4 months, which ever comes first. That means changing three times a year and I'm always running clean oil. I don't use synthetic because I don't use it long enough to justify it. With the 2 cars I know I won't have more than 4 or 5 years, I use synthetic and change every 6K no matter how long it takes.

[Nick DeSpirito]

My odometer read 15,601 when I bought it back in 1988, but there is a tag on the engine that says it was rebuilt by Ford in Boston. However, I don't know when this was done. I just put over 300 miles on it in the last 4 days traveling to and from Lancaster,PA. and it now reads 17,800 and change. So I'm assuming that the car has 117,800. It ran perfectly for the entire trip and mileage was a decent 15MPG, as it was a 152 one way trip, and it took a little over 10 gallons when I refueled before making the trip back home.

[SLK]

My odometer read 15,601 when I bought it back in 1988, but there is a tag on the engine that says it was rebuilt by Ford in Boston. However, I don't know when this was done. I just put over 300 miles on it in the last 4 days traveling to and from Lancaster,PA. and it now reads 17,800 and change. So I'm assuming that the car has 117,800. It ran perfectly for the entire trip and mileage was a decent 15MPG, as it was a 152 one way trip, and it took a little over 10 gallons when I refueled before making the trip back home.

Are you sure about the 117,800? I would think that a 100,000+ car from 50 years ago would really show it's age. I don't imagine that many of these cars were daily drivers that racked up the miles. Granted, 117,800 over 53 years is only 2,222 a year.

[Phil Gevertz]

Mine has 75,000 miles. As far as I know, the engine and transmission have never been touched. It uses no oil between changes I change the oil about 3 times a year.

[Barry Wolk]

I get 15 on the highway with the top down and about 10 with the top up. It has the aerodynamics of a brick with the top up.

[Nick DeSpirito]

Are you sure about the 117,800? I would think that a 100,000+ car from 50 years ago would really show it's age. I don't imagine that many of these cars were daily drivers that racked up the miles. Granted, 117,800 over 53 years is only 2,222 a year.

Ben,

It's been restored and was finished in 1992. I've only put 2,200 miles on it in the 21 years that I have owned it and 540 of them were only in the past week.

[SLK]

I've been trying to decide how many miles I should drive the car.

Currently, I try to take the car to our weekly car night that I started. I hated the thought that we have all of these nice cars in the area that sit at home waiting for the occasional nice day. Some weeks we get as many as 20-25 with a nice mix of cars from the 50's, 60's & 70's. There are a few newer cars that also show up that are also great to have. Our older participants include a 1908 Model T depot hack and a Model T that was Mrs. Rockefeller's 16th birthday present.

How often do you take your cars out and drive? :D

[Barry Wolk]

Once a week, on average with one or two 250-300 mile jaunts per summer. They really like that. Seems to run better every time I take them out.

[Mad Scientist]

I
How often do you take your cars out and drive? :D

I’ve never understood the philosophy of building up a car and not driving it. I can see not wanting to drive it on a snowy slush and salt covered road. But to have something that is sitting on blocks, to “protect” its tires, with a velvet rope around to keep people away so everyone can look but not touch to me seems like a complete waste.

I’m building my MKII to be driven, hopefully soon, but right now I drive my MG as often as possible.

If I am at a show and someone is "obviously" interested in it I have no problem opening door and invite them to sit in it and have their picture taken. This is such a shocking departure from the usual look but don’t touch policy that it will be the highlight of the day for them. :)

Naturally this policy does not apply to the kid with the dripping ice cream cone and sticky hands.:eek:

[Nick DeSpirito]

Once a week, on average with one or two 250-300 mile jaunts per summer. They really like that. Seems to run better every time I take them out.

Barry, This is so true. I was more afraid of taking it out for fear of getting stranded. Early on, I got stuck a few times. It would die out on me on the road, but start right up after resting for a couple of minutes. Everyone thought it was a fuel issue, but I found out it was a bad coil. Since installing a new one, I haven't had a problem again, but still had the fear. Now that I've driven it long distance in the past week, my fear is ebbing.

[Barry Wolk]

They leak and fart less if you exercise them. Sound familiar?

[Nick DeSpirito]

LOL, true.:D

[SLK]

If I am at a show and someone is "obviously" interested in it I have no problem opening door and invite them to sit in it and have their picture taken. This is such a shocking departure from the usual look but don’t touch policy that it will be the highlight of the day for them. :)

Naturally this policy does not apply to the kid with the dripping ice cream cone and sticky hands.:eek:

I couldn't agree more Mad, I like them to open the door to feel how smooth it is and then see the insides of the door jambs.

What do you have for an MG?

Ben

[Matthew]

I have to add a 1+ to the comments regarding the need to drive these cars. In my opinion, they HAVE to go out AT LEAST once a week, and the more the better. I firmly believe that as the summer progresses, my Mark II drives better & better. Then Canadian winter hits, and it gets put away for 5-6 months!! (The worst thing that can happen.)

[Barry Wolk]

There's nothing stopping you from starting it during the winter and letting it warm up. However, warming up at low idle is not a good thing as oil distribution is hampered at low temps and rpm. Your choke should provide a high enough idle.

My 20KW home generator set runs once a week for 30 minutes to charge up the battery, but most importantly, replenish lubricant throughout the engine and rid the oil of the moisture that has built up in the crankcase. Moisture is added by the air in the crankcase along with condensation formed from temperature fluctuations.

The added benefit of starting a car frequently (I try to remember to start them every two weeks or so) is that it soaks the engines seals, causing them to remain swollen. Two other benefits are circulation of contaminates in the cooling system, not allowing them to become solids, and the ability to course transmission fluid through the torque converter and valves. Doesn't hurt to put the power steering through its paces either.

Your car will love you for it come springtime. Also, if something goes wrong you'll have plenty of time to fix it.:( I hate winter in Michigan!!!!!!!

We have two seasons. Winter and Construction. No fun for a car guy.

[depmike38]

Something that I've done also Barry, and it really seems to benefit mainly the gearbox and rear end, is to lift it up on jackstands and just put it in drive and let it idle itself up through the gears if the weathers too bad to actually drive it. Seems to keep all the seals fresh and everything lubricated. Make sure however that it's on a good stable set of jackstands and don't wander off and leave it by itself. You can make a regular set of stands more stable by welding a plate across the base and widening the footprint.

[Mad Scientist]

I couldn't agree more Mad, I like them to open the door to feel how smooth it is and then see the insides of the door jambs.

What do you have for an MG?

Ben

My MG is a replica of 52TD. I built it in 81 and it is based on a VW chassis with a 1690cc engine, header exhaust and two barrel Holley/Weber carb. Weighs about a ¼ of the MKII. :) I used it as a daily driver for many years. But total rebuilt it about 6 years ago so now it is primarily a show car. Went from British racing green to Metalflake Kelly green.

Aside from the MKII my other toys are:
A 63 Corvette (needs a new battery and wheel cylinders, but the MKII comes first. :D )
89 Ford Rangers (daily driver)
2000 Subaru Outback (wife’s car)

[Barry Wolk]

You made a time machine?

[Mad Scientist]

No. I think you have me confused with someone else.

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/mscientist/CS16.jpg

It's a common mistake. :D

[Barry Wolk]

I was just curious as to how you came to have a 2020 Subaru Outback.

[Mad Scientist]

AH stupid computer forgot to add a couple zeros.;)
Should be a 2000.

[depmike38]

I've got 41,000 on mine and the engine/transmission are the originals.