Re: OIL FILTER MYSTERY

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2011/3/5 15:26:06

Tim, not disagreeing at all, and strongly agree about the oil filler cap and air filter. I suspect the oil filler cap mesh is ignored much of the time and certainly leads to engine wear from ingested dirt.

The Senior Packards (Twelve, 320 and 385 Eights) had full-flow Purolater filters from 1934 thru the end of the line for them, 1939. Bypass filters were standard beginning in 1940 on all models with hydraulic lifters (initially, just the 356 engine).

You're right on target about the gaskets in the 55/56 filter boxes. One vendor supplies two gaskets and one will be the correct one, another vendor supplies just 1 and it will be incorrect. Also, the 55/56 filters with the deep conical and stamped steel covers are indeed prone to being bent, probably from overtightening and thereafter are always a problem. My own leaked and I ultimately replaced the lid with the cast steel (domed) lid, end of problems.

PS - actually I take exception to the statement that the bypass filters are pretty much of a joke. Judging by the amount of sludge in the bottom of the canister, they certainly do perform some filtration.