Oil usage

[STAG GEEK Mk.1]

Hi just back from Cornwall a 800 mile round trip in the stag, been getting about 26/28 to the gallon used no water and temp. Normal but used about 3 pints of oil, I have a small leak but nothing major is this normal for a big old hot engine???? Thank you Martin

[StagJonno]

I don't keep detailed records, though I reckon mine would use ~1.5 pints over that distance with mixed dual carriageway and B/C roads. Engine has done 45k miles.

Think your mpg beats mine by a margin

Jonno

[Nigel W]

260 miles to the pint is, I would suggest, very much towards the lowered end of what is acceptable. Back in the day, 82-86, I worked for an Austin Rover dealer on the sales side, and I know that it quoted 250 miles per pint as acceptable. However, I currently have a Stag Engine that was rebuilt by Wards in 2017 and in which I have done about 9000 miles. Consumption on that is well over 1000 miles to the pint. Last week I did just under 1000 miles around Brittany with the Worcester Stag Owners Club and was surprised to note that it had used about half a pint, only to discover that the oil filter had acquired a substantial leak! My previous Stag, which had done some 80,000 miles also used very little oil. Fuel consumption wise, I assume that is for a manual, which for that type of driving is quite good. A Standard auto would be low 20s. I have a ZF 4 speed auto and that varies between low 20s to 30 on a good run.

[Phil S]

about the same for me around 1000 miles per pint, wish that was the fuel, but my zf returned 31-32 on our long weekend to evesham, mixed motorway and sightseeing.

[STAG GEEK Mk.1]

Hi yes mine is a manual my engine was rebuilt 2006 as was the car, I had to take oil with me as I thought it may be difficult to get oil for old engines???

[Lingen]

Martin.
It is a bit on the high side. Are you using 20/50 oil? Anything thinner will not be helpful, but I wouldn't worry about it too much. Mine has done about 500 miles to the pint ever since the engine was rebuilt 60k miles ago. Just remember to check it regularly. (or try a tin of STP, but don't say I said so!)
Mike.

[STAG GEEK Mk.1]

Hi Mike
yes 20/50 Comma for classic cars, how would STP help ????

[022Dave]

A couple of weeks ago I covered about 600 miles from Cornwall to the Goodwood Revival & back. Didn't use any water, but about 1/2 pint of oil (Valvoline ZR1). Fuel was measured at 26mpg overall (ZF auto), but there was a dozen or so blokes in our group of V8 toys (from Corvettes to Interceptors), so it was playtime for about 100 miles of that trip! Worth every penny.

Dave

[Lingen]

Martin.
STP is just one of several products that when added to the oil, can help reduce consumption and boost the oil pressure a bit on high mileage engines. Most car accessory shops keep something for the purpose.
I know some people disapprove of such things, but it can do no harm to give it a try. When I was much younger (many years ago) I used to use it a lot in the rather tired cars I had then, and it definitely improved matters.
Mike.

[Phil S]

Was alway added to our "new to us" old bangers, had to stand it in boiling water ,to stand a chance of getting it out of the ring pull can.

[barkerwilliams]

Martin,

As above a little high but.....

If you are not seeing clouds of blue smoke in the mirrors are you sure you are leaking just a small amount? - Park the car on a few sheets of newspaper or similar and start the car and leave running for 15 minutes with the occasional rev and see what is being dropped.

Oil is relatively inexpensive for the mileages most of us drive each year even with a high consumption, but engine repairs can be very expensive chasing an improvement just to save a few pounds spent on oil.

Perhaps all is well for another few years.

Alan

[KOY 23]

My experience is that Stag engines do not burn oil when worn but pressurise the crankcase, forcing oil out of every orifice and rustproofing the underside. I found the transition of 500 miles per pint to under 200 miles per sumpful quite sudden and may not have been helped by my non OE fuel system. Rebore cured it.

[flying farmer]

My experience is that Stag engines do not burn oil when worn but pressurise the crankcase, forcing oil out of every orifice and rustproofing the underside. I found the transition of 500 miles per pint to under 200 miles per sumpful quite sudden and may not have been helped by my non OE fuel system. Rebore cured it.

I had exactly the same experience on a Rover V8 back in the 1980's, but they were dead cheap and readily available back then so I just changed the engine.

[garyf]

I put some of that Lucas oil additive in my Stag engine,don't think I have ever had to top up oil to be honest

[Motorsport Micky]

Try dropping the amount of oil you put into the sump.
Just because an engine has a top mark on it's dipstick doesn't mean the engine has to have that amount swilling amount in the sump. It's well known that any internal compression in the engine (there's always some, it's just a big pump with the pistons thrashing back and fore splashing the oil around) will get forced out of convenient passageways in the engine or burnt unnoticed.
Try allowing the oil to drop to the halfway position on the dipstick and then monitor it...oh, it doesn't necessarily mean the engines need rework either, I have worked in Truck dealerships (various marques with different models) and new vehicles will often do the same.

Micky