The Stovebolt Site Forums Project Journals Project Journals 1953 Chevy 3100 - Restoring the Basketcase

Prior to multi-viscosity oils, it was common for crankcase oil to be diluted with kerosene in the winter time to thin it out. My 1939 Packard shop manual specifically says to dilute the 30 weight oil with 10% kerosene when temperatures are expected to be below 45 or so. It may even say that in the AD Chevy shop manual. Kerosene isn't as oily as diesel and it didn't harm the engine.

My dad worked at a Howard Johnson's service station as a young man and one of the regular services offered was a diesel engine flush similar to Jerry's description.

Diesel will act as a solvent to remove built up crud throughout the crankcase and will leave an oily film, unlike kerosene. By overfilling the crankcase with the two extra quarts, the crankshaft will churn the oil/diesel mix like butter and splash it all over, dissolving the crud.

Jerry and others will probably comment on the missing chunks of pistons but the missing pieces are long gone. Whatever damage they may have done is already done. The pieces probably got expelled into the exhaust system.

Stick a bendy magnet down the plug holes and see if you can fish anything out if you're worried.