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From a 1952 (fifth) printing of Floyd Clymer's Motor Scrapbook. The question is: What is an oil rectifier?

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Someone on the PAC forum asked that question a month or so ago because their Packard had one installed. All I could easily find then was an article by Willys-Knight club people.http://www.wokr.org/library/skinner_rectifier.pdf

Apparently it is some kind of early oil cleaning device. The unit they describe and show for the Willys looked very similar to the unit in the photo the poster supplied. Maybe it was best technology of the time or possibly even a fad like the later upper cylinder lube units.

Essentially, the oil rectifier was a distillation mechanism. It's purpose was to remove water and fuel contaminants from the oil using the boiling/condensing properties of lubricant versus fuel/water.

Cheers,

Tom

Correct, Tom. And the one that Packard used was based on a design by a Mr. Skinner. It's use was not novel to Packard, quite a few high-end makes used it for a few years, you might browse this from the Willys-Knight folks:

http://www.wokr.org/library/skinner_rectifier.pdf

Thanks for the replies. It helps in my continuing education.
I appreciate all your responses.

I don't doubt that a new 1925 Packard could run across country non-stop. George Jepson told me one of his cars used 1 quart in 1500 miles. Given it's a 10 quart sump - no problem.

However, even if the oil is 98% it's the other 2% that's the problem. If that 2% is dirt you decide.

It's interesting how faddish automakers could be. In 1932 everybody went cuckoo over free wheeling. And then there were fins in the 50's. The oil rectifier came and went and nobody used it again. It was basically a mini refinery. It would make for an interesting science project.

However, that ad overplays the benefit to excess.

Have many had experience with freewheeling? .... I had this in my 34 Plymouth Deluxe and it was supposed to give you terrific MPG....You essentially slowly accelerated up to 45-50 mph then lifted yout foot, allowing the vehicle to coast down to around 30 mph, which could take a few miles on the Western Plains. You would then repeat the procedure. I found that it drove me crazy as the following traffic considered me a road block and got really grumpy. I also found that the lack of engine braking in hilly country had you right up the freckle of the car in front in a very short time. I understand that it was outlawed in a number of US States fot this reason. I would not use it again, but I have a 34 Dodge/Plymouth freewheeling box if anyone really needs one. PT

Quote:
"However, even if the oil is 98% it's the other 2% that's the problem. If that 2% is dirt you decide."

IS that to imply that ANY OTHER filtration (including modern ) system(s) will filter no less than 100% of "dirt"????

OR to put it another way:
Does that imply a 100% effectiveness of other filtration systems???

Or to put it a 3rd way:
Is there some filtration system that is significantly better than 98% effective????

When a filter is rated 98% efficient that means that it removes 98% of the 2%