Long-life oil

Sir,

On reading your correspondence on long-life oil, I find I must have been using this for nearly thirty years.

After taking delivery of a new car, I run it in rather carefully, using a liberal amount of Redex in the petrol, for 1,000 miles. Then I have the oil changed to flush out any turnings, nuts and bolts, etc., left in by the makers, after which the oil is not changed again by me. I generally change cars at approximately 40 to 45,000 miles, but my present one (1960 Hillman Minx) has just turned the 60,000 miles this week. On its 40,000 miles’ birthday I treated it to a new set of plugs and contact points, but, apart from this extravagance, the engine hasn’t been touched—the valve cover hasn’t even been off. The car hasn’t been nursed, as I find it less tiring to rest the clog on the footboards. I don’t know the name of my long-life oil, as I ask for it by price, 1s. 4d. per pint (alas, it used to be 8d.). My present car is doing about 650 to 700 to the pint.

I might add that my TR3 gets the same treatment, but it doesn’t do the mileage as I only use it for pleasure.

D. Wheeler.
Sutton Coldfield.

[When I was motoring on 15s. a week in a series of pre-war Austin Sevens I, too, enjoyed long life from what passed as oil in the shallow tin sumps of these dependable cars; and, in 1963, I know someone whose Volvo runs on similar long-life lubricant. —Ed.]

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Sir,

What is all this about “Long Life”?

I have been drinking it for years and I can vouch that it is good!

D.E. Lawton.
Broughton.