was reading through my 1950 canadian pontiac maintenance manual for series 2000-2200, came accross this statement  5-w engine oil is recommended only for those territories where the temperature remains below 10 deg F belw zero for long periods. if 5w engine is not available 10w engine oil plus 10% kerosene may be used....this begs a question  I have no idea what sort of oil was last used on my 1950 fleetleader or when the last time it was changed, and since I have not tried to start it yet, could say adding a little kerosene for a little while thin thin out the oil to possible clean out whatever sludggy deposits might be sitting there  before changing it out since it dont have an external filtersystem . motor is a flathead 6

or what else might work  

I don't think you would want to do that in the summer. If you want to clean it out, drain the existing oil out, Overfill with kerosene and let it sit for a few days, turning over by hand. Drain and refill with regular 10-30 and run for a few minutes, drain and refill with some of the Hi-Mileage type oil or some of the type oils for diesel engines

Thanks eeluddy, I might just try that, with no external filter who knows what lurks within the oilpan...

Bill

If you want to clean it out, you can use a litre of ATF. It has very high detergency. Change the oil to the cheapest oil you can find and use the atf in place of the last litre of oil. Run it for about half an hour and drain. Then change the filter and oil normally. You can also just add a litre atf just before you change the oil, run the engine for about a half hour, then change. It works just like an engine flush.

Thanks for the info RacerRick, I dont even know if it runs yet, right now its going through an interior upgrade, then brakes, new gas tank then we will see if it runs, I have no idea when it was last started, I have had it since october 2006 but did not get the garage built until late last year, its now sitting on an 8000# four post lift, since december 2008, and now I have some time to play with it, no more crawling under cars for me, not that I ever did, but at 60 I was not going to start hence the lift

Bill in Red Deer

Hey 50 Torpedo, check out this car i saw last night, not meaning to hi jack thread.

73SC...looks good , very similar to mine, mine is a 4 door, but it looks like I am missing the front fender scripts, was that one canadian or us model, and mine is also missing thr gravel guards on the rear fender as well

Fitz...thanks for the suggestion on pulling the oil pan, do you know if it can be removed without the motor being pulled,

yes you can, you have to lift off by the front removing the front engine mount, and the two bellhousing side one and you are OK.

Fitz.

You could fill it with diesel too & turn it over by hand and drain it. Diesel seems to work good on siezed blocks for some reason...