Re: 1952 250 Mayfar 327 ci

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2008/8/10 8:25:28

Detergent oil was available starting in 1947. By 1952 every major auto maker and oil company was recommending detergent oil.

I worked in a gas station in the 60s and every car used the 10W30 detergent oil. This was the automatic choice for oil changes and top ups.

So any car that was in use in the 50s and 60s had 10W30 in the crankcase. There is no reason to change to a cheap, inferior oil now.

The only people who used 30wt non detergent oil were cheapskates with worn out, oil burning clunkers. They didn't care what they put in their cars, they were only trying to keep them on the road and out of the junkyard for a little longer.

We kept bulk oil in glass bottles for them, it was 30wt non detergent.

I wish someone who has a 1952 Packard owner's manual could tell us what he factory recommends. I have the recommendations for Lincoln and Chrysler (detergent, multigrade oil) but not for Packard.