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

My 1926 Packard Limo has a skinner oil rectifier and I would like to find any information on the operation, maintenance and repair for this rectifier.
Any assistance will be appreciated
Thanks
Barry
336-516-7009

Here is something that explains the operation a bit but I don't remember which club had the info -- Willys-Knight maybe. Anyway, not Packard so not sure how much it differs.

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Howard, thanks for all you do for all the members of this and the Packard club website. We are truly fortunate to have you and we appreciate your assistance and acumen.
Randy

ditto. its like someone at the Packard factory sits in an office all day and just monitors the forum and helps out Packard owners. its crazy awesome!

We have a Skinner Oil Rectifier on our late Third Series SIX.

I am not an engineer, but this is what I have been told.

The basic assumption is that the oil is being contaminated by fuel residue on the cylinder walls.
Accordingly, lines were installed into the cylinders and oil sucked from the bottom ring groove. Since the Rectifier is mounted on the exhaust manifold, the oil is 'cooked'.
The 'light ends' are returned to the carb and the 'heavy' is returned to the crankcase.

You might say this is a miniature cracking plant.

...and THAT's the rest of the story!

Thanks for that input, I guess the main question is how do I figure out if its really working and is the maintenance on it anything like a vacuum tank, seems to have a lot of the same type parts.

Ours is not connected and I have no interest in hooking it up... it's just fun to explain the theory to folks.
It is also fun to talk about the spark plug in the top of the carb.

Bob

wow, Im jealous, I don't have a spark plug on top of my carb.
If yours is not being used would you consider selling it?

There is an interesting story about Packards and their oil rectifier systems I would like to share.

The Fred Harvey Hotel company had a series of hotels along the AT&SF railway line in the western part of the US in the early part of the 20th century. There was a growing tourist business at that time in New Mexico and Arizona. A touring company, Indian Detours Line, was established to take tourists from the hotels to points of interest.

Initially, the company bought Packard touring cars as their transportation vehicles. I believe they were the 1929 models. Most of the driving was over unpaved roads into rural areas where the pueblos and sites were located. The Packards did not do well in this dusty environment. More frequent oil changes were necessary, but even with the increased maintenance, engines wore out prematurely because of contaminated oil.

The company switched to Cadillacs which had a conventional oil filtering system. Packard later went to the Purolator filter system, but it was too late to recapture the touring company business.

There was an article in a CCCA bulletin a couple of years ago about the Indian Detours Company and the cars they used.

(o[]o)

Just a point of note...La Posada Hotel in Winslow, Arizona has photographs of these Packard and Cadillac automobiles setting out with tourists and also at some of the destinations. The garage where the cars were kept and maintained is still just across the street and only a couple of long blocks from the statue of the Eagles and their song about 'Standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona. The Flat Bed Truck is still at the curb! Ernie