I have a theory on why it is that old trucks never need new oil. It is related to the fact that old trucks are so leaky. See, an old truck pops a new oil leak every chance it gets (when you aren't looking). Originally I assumed that those leaks were a product of sloppy workmanship at the factory, or perhaps abusive treatment by the (former) owner. But now it has dawned on me that the leaks are really a shrewd move by the truck to guarantee its longevity. See, it's sandbagging oil, all over the engine-compartment, in anticipation of a time when the owner fails to refill the oil in a timely manner. At times like that, a sort of reverse-osmosis occurs, and the engine sucks back previously leaked oil in order to keep from overheating. A diligent leaker can store up enough oil that way to go for many months of the owner forgetting to refill.
This is the only explanation I can think of that jibes with my experience. Exhibit A: Snowflake, a 1976 Ford F-100, which has gone I-don't-know-how-long since an oil change, whose oil-level, when I checked it yesterday, after several trips where the the oil-light blinked at me at nearly random intervals, registered but a speck on the tip of the dipstick. This vehicle has traveled miles upon miles in this condition.
By contrast, I have experience with a 90's era Chrysler sedan, whose engine compartment was leak-free, until one day when all-at-once it leaked the majority of it's oil, while travelling up to Snoqaualmie Pass. In that case, I had about 7 seconds, I would estimate, to pull over and stop the engine or suffer engine-block-lock. Being the deliberate person that I am, I waited about 12 seconds, which was plenty of time for the Chrysler fill the power-void created by my indecision, take command of the vehicle and insist that we pull over. At the time, I attributed this to just plain rude behavior by the Chrysler, but now I realize it was just not cagey enough to have packed away oil-storage for just such an event.
Anyway, I put some more oil in Snowflake yesterday, and you know, I think she just wasn't used to it, because, almost immediately she began spewing it out in big clouds behind us as we drove up the road. I'm going to have to expand on my theory to explain that.
2 comments :
1985 Chrysler LeBaron.
I know cause Dad and I bought it.
I think Bop-Op remembers the day it "leaked" as well because I think he bought the new engine, twice.
You may want to be careful putting oil in a beast that isn't used to it.
Much like that old man of yore that reached a ripe old age eating bread and water, the King celebrated by throwing a feast in his honor only to kill him from the richness of the repast.
When an engine has worn valve guides (and the valves are on top of the engine), oil will leak from the oil chamber at the top of the engine, down into the cylinders, where it burns off as soon as you start the engine. It will probably do that all the time, but even more so right after you have poured a couple of quarts of new oil into the top of the engine. You probably noticed that the blue smoke disappeared after a mile or two of driving.
The Chrysler didn't "leak" that oil out, it blew it out through every orifice it could find. The sudden pressure in the oil chambers was caused by the half inch diameter hole that was blasted into one of the pistons. The back pressure of a plugged catalytic converter was the cause, and the stupid mechanics at the dealership couldn't figure that out, even after they had charged me $100 three times to replace melted vacuum hoses. That still makes me hate having work done at a dealership.
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