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

Guys, I've been out of town and away from my Packard for 3 weeks.
The overdrive unit is toast! I've located a used, serviceable unit thru
David Moe at Packard Seattle. I'm going to pick it up from him today.
I hope to have it installed and back on the road on Monday. I suspect the failure was caused by lack of lubrication.any recommendations for what to use for gear oil? I'm leaning towards a modern synthetic.
Thanks for all the replys.

I've always used what Packard recommended (SAE 90 EP gear oil) or SAE 85W-140 EP gear oil and never had a problem with an overdrive due to lubrication.

The problems with the R9s only occurs when they have not had the fluid changed regularly and it has gummed up--then it can not get into the planet gear needle bearings.

In the old days, gear oil was known for thickening in use which is why Packard said to change it in the fall so that it would not be too thick over the winter. When these were $75 used cars, no one did that even once a year and the oil turned ever thicker.

So I recommend you take you new overdrive apart and make sure all the little holes and passages are not gooed up. The 90 weight gear oil, and I like to use GL-1 'cause it lets the synchros work so well, will be just fine.