Re: New Packard owner questions....

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2008/10/27 15:25:34

Your 55 Patrician should run nicely on premium fuel, and maybe even mid-range. No fuel additive should be needed unless you intend to drive regularly at high speeds in which case you might consider adding some tetraethyl lead to the gasoline for valve lubrication.

Everyone has their favorites on motor oil but unless you live in a very warm or very cold climate I'd recommend SAE15W-40 such as Shell Rotella T or Mobil's Delvac, though there are many other good brands as well. If your engine is reasonably tight and in good condition SAE10W-30 should also be OK though I'd steer clear of 10W-40. You could also use the straight viscosity oil of the range recommended for the temperatures in your area according to the 55 Packard owner's manual, though if I did this I'd select a detergent grade.

But if the car is new to you and you don't have any prior history of it being done, I'd first have the oil pan dropped and cleaned, along with the oil pump intake screen.