Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

I am having a great time getting to know my '52 packard. I have had my car 1 WK. today.
I have read threads on what type of fluids to use etc
(like oil and ATF) I want to cchange these fluids so i have a baseline to start from.
What type of fuel should i use. ??? Do i want regular or supreme? Here in hawaii i can get fuel or gasoline without ethanol. Should i use that. I am told this new fuel with ethanol attracts moisture.
Do i want to put any addatives in my tank? I am not real big on lots of xtras.

Any advice. ??? thanks

Your 52 will be pleased as punch to run on regular without ethanol. Avoid mixing up cocktails of additives as it seems some combinations are hard on the fuel system components.

In all but 40 years of driving Packards, and twenty years of wrenching on them full time I have settled on the following regimen for the "collector cars" I drive regularly (my newest car is a 63), and they all seem to like it right well.

Rotella 20W-50 oil
Type "F" trans fluid plus Lucas if the trans is a "groaner".
Standard brake fluid to be changed every 2 years or so.

Your idea to establish a baseline is a good one, and once you have gone through the car, you will find that it requires very little attention.

thanks for the advice. The trans sounds good. nice and smooth. So you put lucas in the trans.?
how about lucas with the engine oil.?

I only put the Lucas in the tired automatics, otherwise nothing, I add nothing to the engine oil; I find now that my cars are all switched to Rotella and have some time with it they are running better than they have in twenty years.

The best gas for your car is low octane regular without alcohol.

When your car was built the best available gas was about 80 octane. Today's lowest regular is higher than that. Your car will actually run better and produce more power on low octane gas than on high test.

Some like to add a little Marvel Mystery Oil , Redex, Bardahl or similar upper cylinder lubricant. But once again, the gas your car was built for was low lead as well as low octane.

If the engine is not worn out 10W30 oil will probably work as well as anything. Rotella 15W40 is good oil and should be fine for your warm climate.

thanks for the advice guys. i will locate some rotella.
can't wait to check it out.

That's actually good to know about the octane as the manual said to run premium so I've been running 93 octane since that is the current premium. I'm going to give regular a try on my next fill up. I've been running lucas for the fuel since they listed that it helps replace the benefits of leaded fuel.