Oil consumption for 308

Lee ODell
Lee ODell Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
What is the normal oil consumption of a 308 at highway speeds, 70-75 MPH

Lee O'Dell

Comments

  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I dont think there is any. Back when I drove them at those speeds (speed limit was reasonable and proper) I used straight 10w in the winter and20w in the summer and my 51,52,and 54 didnt use any oil. I changed every 1000-1200 miles. This was in the dark ages.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    Far as I'm concerned, unless an engine is set up loose for racing, anything more than 1qt. per 1000mi. is too much.
  • mikeyb
    mikeyb Senior Contributor
    When I took my ´49 Stepdown the 3000mls to Sweden and back last year all it needed after that trip was half a quart of oil and a new bulb for the right rear turn signal.
    About 60% of that trip was on the German Autobahn and we constantly drove it at 70-80 mls. Having 3 gears with overdrive actually the car liked that speed very much. With overdrive engaged the engine (308 single carb) did not feel right below 60mph in 3rd gear. Without OD it ran nice up to about 50mph. So between 50 an 60 there was a "hole" where you could cruise but not accelerate very well, for example to pass a truck. So I tried to keep it at speeds above 65 at least and that worked very well. The engine did run pretty cool at that speed, too. All that it did not like was the stop-and-go traffic at the meeting, here it would get hot pretty quick... I was happy that I had installed an electric fan in front of the radiator.

    I had a friend with a 1960 Desoto accompany me. This car has a rather short rear axle ratio so it accelerates pretty fast, butthe engine revs pretty high on speeds above 60... so the owner did not want to go over 60mph. We made it a running joke the "the Hudson is too fast for the Desoto"

    Mike
  • bob ward
    bob ward Senior Contributor
    On a recent 2000 mile trip in a 53 Hornet I used a litre of oil at mainly highway speeds. Not as good as a modern of course but not too bad for 60 year old technology.

    A bigger worry than oil consumption is fuel consumption, at current prices fuel burn is around $20 an hour at highway speeds.
  • Browniepetersen
    Browniepetersen Senior Contributor
    My 1952 Hornet, with a rebuilt engine did not use any oil at all between oil changes every 3,000 miles. My 1950 Commodore has had one oil change since I got it and it did not show any oil use. The engine on the 1950 is original and has 80,000 miles on it.
  • LanceB
    LanceB Senior Contributor
    I think I leak more on the garage floor then burning it in mine!
  • ESSX28-1
    ESSX28-1 Senior Contributor
    LanceB wrote:
    I think I leak more on the garage floor then burning it in mine!

    Reminds me of what we used to say about British cars: If it aint leaking oil then there is none in the sump!!
  • mikeyb
    mikeyb Senior Contributor
    mine stopped leaking when I put back carpet on the garage floor. :whistle:
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