early V-8 question from a Model "A" owner...

[ericr]

do I correctly recall reading somewhere/sometime that the first V-8 owners had so much trouble with oil consumption that they poured Bon-Ami into the cylinders? Which makes no common sense, perhaps I have brain fade.

[alanwoodieman]

yes, it was somewhat common practice to do this to try to "seat" the rings

[Pete]

Originally Posted by ericr

do I correctly recall reading somewhere/sometime that the first V-8 owners had so much trouble with oil consumption that they poured Bon-Ami into the cylinders? Which makes no common sense, perhaps I have brain fade.

It was supposedly to help seat or re-seat the rings.
Akin to putting sawdust or oatmeal in the transmission or rear end to quiet them down.
Also, a spoonful of epsom salt in each battery cell to rejuvenate it for a week.
Used car lot tricks.
30-30 waranty. 30 feet or 30 seconds.

[RalphG]

I don't know about Ford but I have factory service bulletin for a Case 500 diesel tractor in which they describe the process of feeding Bon Ami into the intake manifold on a new engine to seat the rings. It must have worked.

[paul2748]

I understatnd the same thing was used for V8 55 brand x cars

[Bob C]

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Originally Posted by RalphG

I don't know about Ford but I have factory service bulletin for a Case 500 diesel tractor in which they describe the process of feeding Bon Ami into the intake manifold on a new engine to seat the rings. It must have worked.

Same with Caterpillar, they even had a part number for it 7F5225
break in powder.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by paul2748

I understatnd the same thing was used for V8 55 brand x cars

HEY HEY, now! I actually owned two different 265-inch brand X V8s back in the '60s, both well-used when I got 'em, and STILL operating smokelessly, and I didn't pamper either one! You sure you weren't thinking Y-blocks? DD

.

[cas3]

I have a friend who only works on air cooled VW's and Porches. they had a customer who had this big dollar restoration on some fancy old porche, and it only got driven out of the trailer and into the show. So, rings never seated, customer complained that his 150k car smoked too much, its embarrassing when he drove into the show grounds. first, they redid the cylinders, with no miles on them, and it still smoked too much, customer complained, so next they poured bon ami, or somthing similar into then cylinders and it fixed it enough to get the guy to shut up. I would have just driven the car...but thats me.

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

HEY HEY, now! I actually owned two different 265-inch brand X V8s back in the '60s, both well-used when I got 'em, and STILL operating smokelessly, and I didn't pamper either one! You sure you weren't thinking Y-blocks? DD

.

Them Yblocks where plagued by upper oil issues. There are simple fixes, ask Tim McMaster the guru of yblocks. Them first 265s were something else. As they say it's best to get the last model of an old design, then the first model of a new design. The 292 and 312 with a 57 dizzy and ecz-g heads are torque monsters. Before they choked them off. They are a real heavy beast though.

[frnkeore]

Regarding '55 brand X's. My folks bought one new, when I was ten. It was a red/white two door, 210.

My dad was a die hard Ford guy and a ex Ford mechanic. So, my mom must have talked him into it!

Anyway, I don't remember oil consumption issues but, I do remember him complaining about gas mileage (10 mpg I think) and rear tire alignment and wear.

They got rid of it before a year was up!

[35ragtop]

Hi Guys,
interesting idea to seat the rings, but for us “Colonials” downunder, can you describe what Bon Ami is please. Obviously it has some scouring qualities, maybe a dish washing aid?
Dave h

[corvette8n]

Used to clean pots and pans, bathtubs etc, not as abrasive as some of the others supposedly.

[rivcokid]

My question would be, who ever thought to put Bon Ami into an engine? I could come up with lots of things to put into an engine before I'd get to Bon Ami! And then, who opted to do it with their new car?

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by rivcokid

My question would be, who ever thought to put Bon Ami into an engine? And then, who opted to do it with their new car?

POSSIBLY ......some conniving Ford dealer back in the day, looking for a quick & dirty way to "overhaul" a smoker under warranty? DD

.

[highbeams]

Originally Posted by rivcokid

My question would be, who ever thought to put Bon Ami into an engine? I could come up with lots of things to put into an engine before I'd get to Bon Ami! And then, who opted to do it with their new car?

Probably someone that took the Bon Ami phrase "hasn't scratched yet" a 'bit' too far!

Bon Ami uses all-natural no harsh chemicals. (corrections welcomed.) It is the best!

[5851a]

I worked for an RV dealer in the 70's, the mini homes were almost always Dodges. I'd imagine there was a lot of start and stop during their production. Customer would bring back to us with high oil consumption. I would drive them to local Chrysler dealer, mechanic would rev them up and pour bon ami down the carb. I nearly fainted first time I saw it. These were brand new under warranty. It worked, but I have no idea how long engines lasted.

[J Franklin]

Here is an old advertisement I found.

[ursus]

Originally Posted by corvette8n

Used to clean pots and pans, bathtubs etc, not as abrasive as some of the others supposedly.

Gramps used it to clean his false teeth. He called it "tooth powder". Only later did I learn its real and intended use.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by 35ragtop

Hi Guys,
interesting idea to seat the rings, but for us “Colonials” downunder, can you describe what Bon Ami is please. Obviously it has some scouring qualities, maybe a dish washing aid?
Dave h

Used a can of "Brasso" down the throat of a flatty once (it didn't work).

GB

[highbeams]

Colonials: Bon Ami is a scouring powder in the US with a logo of a chick and the phrase "Hasn't scratched yet". Possibly the oldest scouring powder; all natural cleaning elements, no man-made chemicals.