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Technical Girl needs help please!!!!

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Sharlene Holmstrom, Sep 14, 2016.

?
  1. yes

    11 vote(s)
    25.6%
  2. no

    32 vote(s)
    74.4%
  1. I am the proud new owner of a 1956 Buick Special. I'm in love with the blue beauty but I'm dying from the smell of fumes when I'm driving it. Wondering about the oil bath filter. What kind of oil should I replace the old stuff with and how much do I need? Would it make sense to change the oil bath to a new paper style filter. I appreciate any feedback from you wise fella's. Thanks in advance.
     

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    Ron Funkhouser likes this.
  2. 57 HEAP
    Joined: Aug 16, 2006
    Posts: 3,288

    57 HEAP
    Member

    What type of fumes? Oil on the exhaust? Fuel leak?

    You should find the source before changing things that won't help.
     
  3. chiro
    Joined: Jun 23, 2008
    Posts: 1,320

    chiro
    Member

    Exhaust leak? If so, you must have that fixed ASAP. Keep the oil bath air cleaner. They work a million times better than any paper filter. I use transmission fluid in mine as per an old timer. Works great.

    Andy
     
    302GMC likes this.
  4. Good advice. ^^^^

    I would change the filter anyway, but I am not a restorer and always changed them when I was a kid. :D

    I don't know about the condition of the motor but when I was buying those old cars in the '70s the normal culprit for fumes was the road draft tube. Those old motors were usually on their way out by then. Exhaust was also a common problem.
     
    wraymen likes this.
  5. belair
    Joined: Jul 10, 2006
    Posts: 9,036

    belair
    Member

    What a great car and trailer combo. I loved my 55. You don't have air filter problems. You have an exhaust leak or gas and or oil fumes are coming in the car. Look under the hood and make sure there are no leaks, then look for ways that air under the hood is getting inside the car. Check the draft tube. If the engine is worn, there will be a lot of blowby. It could be coming back in the car. Last of all, check out the entire exhaust system. VENTIPORTS FOREVER!
     
  6. HOTRODPRIMER
    Joined: Jan 3, 2003
    Posts: 65,031

    HOTRODPRIMER
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I agree with Beano,the road draft tube very well my be the culprit.HRP
     
    dan c and Speedys Garage like this.
  7. Sharlene, Welcome to the H.A.M.B. That's a Kool Buick and camper you have. Yes, If you have an Exhaust leak, By no means drive her until its fixed. If you don't have a lift go to your nearest garage and have it checked out. Post some more pictures of her. You may just have some oil or trans fluid on the Exhaust. Photos would help. Also your thread ***le really works{ Girl Needs Help} lol Thanks, Ron...
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2016
  8. czuch
    Joined: Sep 23, 2008
    Posts: 2,688

    czuch
    Member
    from vail az

    Look at your rubber fuel line, and just replace that.
    I do that every time I get an old car, or get one running. Its real easy, cheap and then you know its done.
    Oil bath air cleaner is not your problem.
    Maybe an exhaust shop is in your future. They're not really expensive.
    Either way, *****en car. You'll do fine.
     
  9. Lost in the Fifties
    Joined: Feb 25, 2010
    Posts: 466

    Lost in the Fifties
    Member

    Be sure that your tailpipes exit past the rear bumper so the fumes are not ****ed back into the cabin.
     
    wraymen likes this.
  10. HUSSEY
    Joined: Feb 16, 2010
    Posts: 628

    HUSSEY
    Member

    Great looking car, at trailer too! The mid-50's Buick are some of my favorites. As already suggested, I would focus on fixing the culprit of the fumes first. With that said, I would then get rid of the oil bath. There's a reason they went away from them. A paper element is much easier to maintain.
     
  11. 270ci
    Joined: May 17, 2010
    Posts: 485

    270ci
    Member

    Great combo! Along with checking your exhaust system for leaks, check your trunk seal as well. If your trunk seal is gone or deteriorated, exhaust fumes will be ****ed into the cabin through the trunk.
     
    belair likes this.
  12. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,618

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    EGAD! "Throw the oil bath air cleaner away???" "There's a reason they went away from them?"

    1. How many engine miles are on the Buick? (has engine been overhauled in its life? My guess would be yes, but one never knows. Not until researching.)Where are the fumes coming from? Exhaust leak? Road draft tube? If excessive miles, it would be emitting smoke (fumes) from the tube. Engine may be 'tired', from 120K+ miles...
    Have a compression test done, then a cylinder leak down test. This will confirm the engine's condition pertaining to oil burning.
    2. Reason they stopped using the oil bath air cleaners was production cost. The oil bath air filters are superior in design, but require periodic washing and changing oil inside.
     
    302GMC likes this.
  13. Crazyolman
    Joined: May 24, 2014
    Posts: 188

    Crazyolman

    Replace your road draft tube with a PCV system. This is easy to do and will eliminate those oil fumes that come up into the car every time you go up a hill or accelerate away from a stop. I had the same problem on my 55 Buick and the PCV system solved the problem. You can check out my flickr photo page to see my 55.
    https://www.flickr.com/photos/buickfan/albums/72157594218766363
     
  14. Lebowski
    Joined: Aug 21, 2011
    Posts: 1,564

    Lebowski
    BANNED

    Welcome to the HAMB. Where are you from? I had a '56 Special a couple of years ago and one of the exhaust manifolds had a big crack in it. If you're going to drive it as is for a while make sure you leave all the windows down. Good luck with it....

    PICT0042.JPG
     
    Ron Funkhouser likes this.
  15. Torkwrench
    Joined: Jan 28, 2005
    Posts: 2,774

    Torkwrench
    Member

    Oil bath air filters really work well. After paper filters were used by the factories, oil baths were still available as a heavy duty, (dusty use), option. At least that is how it was with GM products.

    As far as what oil??? Straight 40 wt. perhaps? That's just a guess, though. Do you have an owners manual? If so, that should state what weight of oil to use.

    The oil level should be marked on the lower half of the filter. It will be visible after the filter top is removed.

    That is a really nice Buick that you have. Especially cool with the matching trailer.
     
  16. willys36
    Joined: May 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,236

    willys36
    Member

    ***uming the exhaust system is sound I agree with the draft tube being the problem. It will smell like unburned fuel, exhaust, hot oil, all the nasty smells a car cam make combined. Check all the other systems mentioned above to make sure they are sound then replace that draft tube with a PCV valve. That is one pollution control device I almost like. Eliminates the nuisance fumes you are experiencing and recycles unburned fuel raising the engine efficiency 0.00000001%. Every little bit helps!
     
  17. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,670

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

  18. great g'pa
    Joined: Oct 6, 2015
    Posts: 2

    great g'pa
    Member

    Also, check the vent tube on the gas tank...could be cracked or split and the gas fumes are coming into the car via trunk.
     
  19. texasred
    Joined: Dec 3, 2008
    Posts: 1,221

    texasred
    Member
    from Houston

    We don't know where you live, but I'm sure there is another HAMBER close by that can check it out for you
     
  20. clunker
    Joined: Feb 23, 2011
    Posts: 1,609

    clunker
    Member
    from Boston MA

    If the carburetor is running rich it could exasperate the problem. Just went through this with my own car; rebuilt my carb, dis***embled it and cleaned it a few more times, but something still just wasn't right, running rich/serious fumes. So I rehabbed a different core (carburetor needing a rebuild). I installed the new carb and fumes improved 100%. Sometimes there are internal problems on a carb that defy solving. I'm not suggesting that this is your problem, just saying it's a possibility.

    Love your trailer!
     
    mario711 likes this.
  21. crminal
    Joined: Jun 6, 2010
    Posts: 1,941

    crminal
    Member

    Welcome. IMHO there is no reason to remove an oil bath air filter. Usually just clean with a solvent such as kerosene and oil per spec.
    They work well when in proper order.
    Check the oil draft tube. Is it pumping smoke when idling?
    Like others mentioned, check exhaust.
    Beautiful car, enjoy....
     
  22. tb33anda3rd
    Joined: Oct 8, 2010
    Posts: 17,588

    tb33anda3rd
    Member

    @falcongeorge area?
     
  23. tfeverfred
    Joined: Nov 11, 2006
    Posts: 15,788

    tfeverfred
    Member Emeritus

  24. 57JoeFoMoPar
    Joined: Sep 14, 2004
    Posts: 6,514

    57JoeFoMoPar
    Member

    I have to agree with Crazyolman. The fumes you're experiencing very well may be exhaust, but it's not an exhaust leak per se. If the engine has worn piston rings, you'll be experiencing the exhaust fumes, along with oil vapor, through the open road draft tube. What is suggested above should eliminate that issue, however, if your rings are so badly worn that the amount of blowby exceeds the amount of vacuum in the crankcase, you'll still experience the unpleasant fumes to a degree. If that's the case, you may need to convert to a crankcase evacuation system, where the crankcase vapors are dispensed directly into the the exhaust pipes and shipped out the tail pipes. This will eliminate the fumes coming from the engine bay, but basically just relocate them to the rear of the car. If your engine is so worn as to require that action, a rebuild is not too far off in the horizon.
     
  25. Beautiful car. Agree on suggestions about road draft tube and checking for cracked exhaust manifolds and exhaust leaks. The stuff you can smell is unpleasant but won't kill you, You can't smell carbon monoxide, it is odorless, but it can kill you.
     
  26. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,339

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    ZZZZzz, snork...Huh?! Wha?
    I know NUTHINGGG! NUUUTHINGGG!!
     
    clunker likes this.
  27. tb33anda3rd
    Joined: Oct 8, 2010
    Posts: 17,588

    tb33anda3rd
    Member

    i googled "long joe road" and it came up with B.C.
    F.Y.I. don't just google "long Joe":eek:
     
  28. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,339

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    Took me a minute to figure that out...Ohhh, clever aren't you?:D I will look it up and see how far away she is, just looking at the pic, I think its in the Northern Interior, which means she is several hundred miles from me.
     
  29. Rusty O'Toole
    Joined: Sep 17, 2006
    Posts: 9,756

    Rusty O'Toole
    Member

    Do not throw away the oil bath air cleaner. Take the top off and look inside. There is an oil reservoir in the bottom, it should be filled to the line with 50 weight oil. There will be a line marked 'Oil Level' or similar. If it is over filled, or filled with thin oil it might slosh around and get into the engine.

    The oil bath air cleaner will last the life of the car and only needs to be serviced every 5 years or so. At oil change time take the top off and check the oil reservoir. If it is low top it up with 50 weight. If it is more than half full of dirt it is time to clean it.

    How to service an oil bath air cleaner. Only if it needs it.

    Take the top part and soak in cleaning solvent, kerosene or Varsol. Rinse and let drip dry, do not blow air in it.

    Pour the oil out of the base and clean it out with rags or cotton waste. Put it back on and fill to the line. Pour a little 50 weight into the filter media and put the top back on. There, done. If you drive on good paved roads it will stay good for years, even in very dusty conditions should go for months.

    You can buy 50 weight motor oil at any good auto parts store. 1 quart or 1 liter will last for years.

    Reasons for changing from oil bath to paper filter:

    1) They were making hoods lower every year and paper filters are easier to squeeze into a small space

    2) Paper filters are CHEAPER for the manufacturer to install

    3) They make more PROFITS selling replacement paper filters

    This is why they quit using oil bath air cleaners that last the life of the car, and went to cheap paper filters.
     
    Last edited: Sep 14, 2016
    deadbeat likes this.
  30. Truck64
    Joined: Oct 18, 2015
    Posts: 5,325

    Truck64
    Member
    from Ioway

    A road draft tube won't have any noticeable fumes if the engine is in good order. The engine (and the rest of it) should be gone over by a competent mechanic who is familiar with old school iron.

    Oil bath filters work well. Typically the operators manual would specify the same weight oil as used in the crankcase. 30 weight or "10-W30" would be fine for spring through fall.

    Cool car
     

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