1964 & 1965 Valiant Owner's Manual Recommendations

Engine Oil Recommendations

The engine of your car is made with parts fitted to close limits. These parts are finished to such a smooth surface that that there is actually no wearing-in process and the original clearance between the moving parts remains more constant. For this reason, light body oils of the consistency recommended in the chart should be used for lubrication.

As the car owner must necessary be responsible for the lubrication of his car and the selection of lubricants, the choice of engine oil is of major importance. Based upon the lubrication recommendations, CHRYCO SUPER MOTOR OIL, or an oil of known quality from a reputable oil refiner or distributor should be used. The type of service for which an engine oil is intended is usually designated MS, MM, or ML on the container. These service classification have been established by the API (American Petroleum Institute). This classification does not replace the SAE rating for grade of weight of the oil. The "oil recommendation chart" indicates the weight of body of the oil recommended for the various temperature ranges. When oil is selected that has been labeled by the refiner, with more than one SAE rating (multipurpose oil), the container designation should include the SAE recommendation for the anticipated temperature range.

For best results and engine protection , the car owner should select: (1) an oil that conforms to the requirement of API classification "for service MS" (2) an oil of proper viscosity, SAE number for the anticipated temperature range as shown in the "oil recommendation chart".

Oils that do not have an SAE designation and an "MS" classification on the container should not be used . Straight Mineral Oil should never be used.

When to Change the Engine Oil

The optimum engine oil change period will vary widely depending upon the type of operation, weather conditions, and other operating variables. For instance, during short trip driving in cold weather or driving on dusty roads, oil changes should be made as frequently as every 500 miles. Cross-country driving with good oils will permit 4,000 miles of operation between changes. As a general rule, however, it is recommended that the engine oil be changed approximately every three month (or 4,000 miles, whichever occurs first). We suggest that you consult with your dealer to determine the oil change period required to meet your special operating conditions.

The oil added to the engine at the factory is a high quality oil "For Service MS". It should be drained in accordance with the type of service in which your car is used as described above - after approximately 3 months (or 4,000 miles, whichever occurs first) of city traffic operation.

Severe service, such as taxi and police driving, which is principally short trip operation, including frequent and prolonged idling, requires more frequent oil changes. For this type of service, the engine oil should be changed every 2,000 miles, with filter changed at least every second oil change. It is not necessary to add any materials to crankcase oils for most types of service. In some instances, where a car is operated infrequently or for short trips continuously, rust may form in the engine. CHRYCO ENGINE OIL SUPPLEMENT contains an anti-rust material to prevent this occurrence. It also has anti-scuff properties and should be used during the break-in period following a major engine overhaul.

New engines frequently consume some oil during their early life. This is a normal part of the break-in process and should not be interpreted as an indication of difficulty. If it is necessary to add oil during this initial period, an oil "For Service MS" of the proper viscosity grade should be used. Nondetergent or straight mineral oils must never be used.

IMPORTANT: During winter, all oils used should have a pour point or cold test below the lowest anticipated temperature that will be encountered during its use.

It is always advisable to drain the crankcase while the engine is at normal operating temperature. Oil will drain more completely when hot, and will, therefore, carry more of the foreign material and dirt with it if drained while the engine is warm.

Dust Roads and Dust Storms

Driving over dusty roads or through dust storms introduces abrasive material into the engine. Air cleaners which are kept in good clean condition decrease the amount of dust that may enter the crankcase. However, if the oil become contaminated with dust or dirt, it should be drained promptly to prevent harmful engine wear. The frequency of draining depends upon the severity of the dust conditions and no definite draining periods can be recommended. It should be remembered that an oil change to eliminate abrasive dust may be considerably cheaper than to take a chance on worn engine parts.

Winter Driving

During winter, if the car is driven for short distances of only a few miles at a time, moisture will condense in the crankcase and form a sludge which may freeze and clog the oil inlet screen. This is especially true if winter temperatures are extremely low for an extended period of time. Under conditions of this kind, the engine does not become sufficiently warm to expel the water through the crankcase ventilation system, and the oil should , therefore, be changed about every 500 miles and under extreme conditions, less than 500 miles, to eliminate sludge. The engine should be thoroughly warm before it is drained.

As an alternative to this frequent change period during winter, an occasional drive of 30 miles or more at speeds of 50 miles per hour or higher, will do much to eliminate the water through the crankcase ventilation system and the change period may be extended, if these longer drives are indulged in frequently.

If the engine is, to quite an extent, operated in unusually low temperatures, or on short runs where normal engine operating temperatures are not shown by the heat indicator, it is advisable to cover part of the area of the radiator grille with a grille cover.

The Oil Filter

The function of the oil filter is to remove dirt and foreign material from the oil in order to assist in keeping the oil clean. This is a continuous process, and the filter cartridge will continue to trap dirt until it becomes clogged. Due to the manner of connecting the oil filter to the oiling system, clogging of the filter will not stop the circulation of oil to the bearings. However, when the oil filter is clogged, it ceases to filter the oil. It is, therefore, advisable to install a new oil filter at the intervals specified in the Maintenance Schedule. In dusty areas, it may be advisable to examine the oil and change filters more frequently, or at any time when the oil appears to be excessively dirty.

Engine Oil Dilution

Due to natural conditions in all automotive engines, the engine oil, in use, is constantly being impregnated with fuel, water and acid, depreciating the value of the oil as a lubricant. However, a ventilating system has been built into the engine in your car which expels a very large percentage of these undesirable elements. With this ventilation, the frequency of draining the crankcase oil is also reduced, but nevertheless it is advisable to drain at the intervals specified.

Fuel accumulates in the engine oil because of certain excess of fuel in the combustion chambers not burning and working down the cylinder walls into the crankcase. Only certain percentages of of vaporized fuel and air, when mixed, will ignite and explode in the combustion chamber. If the mixture contains too much fuel, the excess fuel will not burn, some of it will remain on the cylinder walls and work down into the crankcase by the action of the pistons.

Water vapor is product of combustion. There is approximately as much water vapor formed by weight as fuel consumed. That is why you may notice white vapor and water coming out of the exhaust pipe, especially in cold weather.

A certain amount of this vapor condenses on the cylinder walls and is also carried into the crankcase by action of the pistons. A very large percentage of this water and fuel is carried out of the crankcase by means of the crankcase ventilation system.

Fresh air enters at the oil filler pipe which is capped with an air cleaner for catching dust dust and preventing it entering the crankcase. Due to the rotation of the crankshaft, the air and vapor in the crankcase are kept whirling. This air is drawn out of the cylinder head cover by manifold vacuum in to the combustion chamber and dispelled with the exhaust gases.

This system of crankcase ventilation, as you can no doubt readily understand, reduces to a great extent the a natural formation of sludge in the bottom of the crankcase. An excess amount of this sludge will interfere with proper engine lubrication.

Acid forms in the combustion chamber also due to natural causes in all automotive engines. fuel contains varying percentages of sulphur and, when burned, changes to sulphur dioxide. The sulphur dioxide unites with water in the combustion chamber, making sulphurous acid.

These accumulated non-lubricating elements in the engine oil have damaging effects on the highly finished steel surfaces. Fuel thins the oil, reducing its lubricating ability. Water is a non-lubricant and is likely to freeze, causing stoppage of the oil circulation. The sulphurous acid attacks highly finished surfaces and causes excessive wear. The rapidity of accumulation of these elements increases as the temperature decreases. That is why it is recommended that the engine oil be drained more frequently in cold weather than in warm weather.

The best time to drain the crankcase is after a run and while the engine is still heated. The oil is thinner when it is hot an also thoroughly mixed. It will therefore carry off sediment more completely.

Kerosene should never be used for flushing out the oil pan an lubricating system. A certain amount will remain in the system, collecting in pockets from which it cannot readily be drained and will dilute the oil.