Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

My 1926 Packard tends to overheat particularly on hills. The engine block was extremely dirty and after many cleans and flushes the coolant is now reasonably clear. The running temperature is still quite high. There is a section in the Packard Service manual 1922-1928 about antifreeze solution and glycerine is recommended between 30 and 45% by volume mixed with water. Has anyone tried using glycerine as a coolant /antifreeze? Are there any risks to the motor?

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Hi Phil,

My '28 526 has nearly the same motor (making the assumption that yours is a single six from the photo), and it runs consistently between 160-180 on even the hottest days and under extended load (lots of hills where I live too). I'm running 50/50 off the shelf glycol.

If you haven't already, I'd check the radiator, waterpump, and thermostat before switching to exotic coolant mixtures. Is your radiator an original honeycomb? If so, I'd definitely have it flow tested.

Great looking car btw!

Glycerine (and methyl alcohol) were the standard anti-freeze components before the advent of ethylene glycol solutions and in every respect the ethylene glycol was a significant improvement; I'd never use glycerine when a modern anti-freeze was available.

Of course if you don't need an anti-freeze, plain water has better heat transfer properties. You might try using one of the "water wetter" additives to help heat transfer but I think, as stated in another post, your cooling system is sub-standard.

G'day Phil,

Great to see your '26 is now up and running and looking forward to seeing you and Marjorie together with the '26 at the National Rally next month. And hopefully you'll have any overheating problems solved by that time. On the Thursday run to Vintage Motor Garage(where for others information, the major restoration work on Phil's Packard was undertaken) there is a long pull from the Hawkesbury River up to Mangrove Mountain. Not overly steep but more a continuous climb.

Link to post of the '26 at VMG.

And link to photos of the '26 at VMG.

Good afternoon Phil...

The distributor can often be the problem. I don't know if yours has been rebuilt or if it is pretty old. The springs and bareings can hang up and cause the engine to run in a retarded fashion. An old condenser can also cause an engine to run hot. Also, if you look on the Packard Club Web Site, on the left side, well down the list of options, you will see a red tool box. Click on it and go to the section on overheating. There is a really good list of possibilities. Someone pointed out recently, that old head gaskets leaking between cylendars can cause over heating and make us use bad words!

Good Luck...Ernie

Phil,
I agree with the the previous comments, the type of coolant is not going to fix serious overheating, I would be getting the radiator flow tested and if it is the original radiator core then the chances of it having all flow passages clear are not good neither are your chances of cleaning it.
Engine tune certainly needs to be checked but if you have an old radiator core its the number one suspect in my book.
I suggest you talk to our PACA Technical Advisor Peter Toet about his radical method of cleaning out an old radiator.
Also keep in mind The Vintage Honeycomb Radiator company in Brisbane run by our Qld PACA member Greg who also has a 1920's 6 cyl Packard like yours.
If you can live with a non authentic core a new ribbon type core will give you the best cooling and some margin on the original core.
Good luck David

I wasn't able to upload a video of the clean-out method using a car exhaust. I may be able to PM it if anyone wants to see the method. it avoids removing the radiator and can be used to clean out the block as well. PT

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An aside. Who's that standing at the corner of the building operating the tap to supply water to the flushing process on Peters command? No prize involved. Some hints: He's a PackardInfo member and contributor, a noted Packard parts authority but is not often seen standing still long enough to be caught on camera!

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The Flackmaster perhaps?

Brian,

You've nailed it in one! Photo from the 2009 National Packard Rally here in Oz.