Periodic Maintenance Schedule

Periodic Maintenance Schedule - 1961 Mercury

Service Operation Mileage Interval

EVERY 4,000 8,000 12,000 16,000 30,000

LUBRICATE BODY
(see Body Lubrication Chart below) X

SERVICE ENGINE
(Change engine oil and oil filter every 4,000
miles or 4 months, whichever occurs first. Clean
the positive crankcase ventilation system and
carburetor air cleaner filter.) X

CHECK FLUID AND LUBRICANT LEVELS
(Check transmission, power steering reservoir,
brake master cylinder, and rear axle. Add
fluid or lubricant as required. Do Not
drain transmission or axle as a perodic
maintenance operation. Add fluid, as required.) X

CHECK TIRE PRESSURE AND INSPECT FOR WEAR
(Correct wheel alignment or balance if wear is uneven.) X

CLEAN OIL FILLER TUBE CAP FILTER AND/OR
POSITIVE VENTILATION VALVE X

REPLACE FUEL FILTER
(Initial replacement should be made at 4,000 miles.
Subsequent replacements to be made at 8,000 mile intervals.) X

ADJUST STEERING GEAR PRELOADS AND BACKLASH
(Add Steering Gear lubricant, as required.) X

CROSS-SWITCH WHEELS AND TIRES
(Balance wheels and tires, if necessary.) X

INSPECT FRONT BRAKE LINING FOR WEAR X

LUBRICATE AND ADJUST FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS X

ENGINE PERFORMANCE SERVICE
(see below †) X

ADJUST TRANSMISSION BANDS
(Except two-speed Merc-O-matic.) X

REPLACE CARBURETOR AIR CLEANER FILTER X

LUBRICATE "U" JOINTS, FRONT "U" JOINT YOKE, AND
TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT SPLINES X

LUBRICATE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING LINKAGE
(Every 30,000 miles or 2 years, whichever occurs first.) X

PERFORM SEASONAL SERVICES (see below ‡)

Service operations may be scheduled on a monthly rather than mileage basis. Transpose mileage to monthly specifications as follows: 4,000 Miles - 4 Months, 8,000 Miles - 8 Months, 12,000 Miles - 12 Months, 16,000 Miles - 16 Months, 30,000 Miles - 24 months.

† ENGINE PREFORMANCE SERVICE
Your Dealer is equipped to periodically "tune up" your engine and thus help keep "new car" performance at your command. The specified items in the engine performance service include: Checking the battery, battery cables, ignition timing, and carburetor adjustments. It should also include adjusting the valve clearances (Super Economy "6" and Super Economy V-8), replacing the spark plugs, inspecting the distributor rotor and replacing the breaker points. The distributor should be lubricated. The fuel pump sediment bowl should be removed, cleaned and reinstalled.

‡ SEASONAL SERVICES
Certain service items should be performed on a seasonal rather than a mileage basis. They include: the cooling system, air conditioner, carburetor, and viscosity of engine oil.

1. Transmission, Clutch and Brake Linkage:
Lubricate at linkage joints and pivot points
7. Power Steering Pump Reservoir:
Check fluid level. Use automatic
transmission fluid C1AZ-19582.
Add as required.

2. Exhaust Control Valve:
Apply penetrating oil and graphite mixture. 8. Front Suspension:
Use lubricant C1AZ-19590 at ball
joints (2 each side).

3. Brake Master Cylinder:
Use heavy-duty hydraulic brake fluid,
B7A-19542. Fill to 1/4 inch
from top of filler opening. 9. Steering Gear:
Use steering gear lubricant
B8A-19578-A, as required.

4. Universal Joints:
Use chassis lubricant.
1 point each joint. 10. Steering Linkage
Use lubricant C1AZ-19590 at
linkage ends.

5. Rear Axle Housing:
use lubricant C1AZ-19580-A (SAE 90)
for temperatures above -25° F
For sustained temperatures below -25° F,
use lubricant C1AZ-19580-B (SAE 80)
Do not periodically drain
and refill rear axle. 11. Transmission:
Check fluid level. Standard transmission,
use SAE 80 multi-purpose gear lubricant.
Automatic transmissions, use automatic
transmission fluid C1AZ-19582,
if necessary, to bring fluid level to full
mark on indicator.

6. Drive Belts:
Check tension and adjust as required. 12. Wheel Bearings:
pack with wheel braring grease
8L-19585-B

1. Hood Hinges:
Apply light engine oil to pivot points. 6. Luggage Compartment Door Lock:
Apply light engine oil to rotor.
Station wagon - Apply light engine
oil to pivot points. Apply lubricant
C0AZ-19584-A to lock cylinder.

2. Hood Lock:
Apply lubricant C0AZ-19584-A to lock dowel catch. 7. Hood Auxiliary Catch:
Apply lubricant C0AZ-19584-A. Use sparingly.

3. Door Hinges:
Apply light engine oil at each hinge point. 8. Door Check Arms:
Apply lubricant C0AZ-19584-A. Use sparingly.

4. Luggage Compartment Door Hinges:
Apply light engine oil (SAE 10W)
1 point each hinge. 9. Door Locks:
Apply lubricant B4A-19587-A. to lock cylinders.
Use light engine oil on rotors.

5. SEAT TRACKS:
Apply lubricant C0AZ-19584-A to
seat track, sparingly.. 10. Weatherstrips:
Apply lubricant C0AZ-19553-A or B
sparingly to all weatherstrips,
("A" is a jellied lubricant, "B"
is a spray lubricant.)

This info taken from the 1961 Mercury Owner's Manual (FORM MD-3691-61)

Service Operation	Mileage Interval
Service Operation	EVERY	4,000	8,000	12,000	16,000	30,000
LUBRICATE BODY (see Body Lubrication Chart below)		X
SERVICE ENGINE (Change engine oil and oil filter every 4,000 miles or 4 months, whichever occurs first. Clean the positive crankcase ventilation system and carburetor air cleaner filter.)		X
CHECK FLUID AND LUBRICANT LEVELS (Check transmission, power steering reservoir, brake master cylinder, and rear axle. Add fluid or lubricant as required. Do Not drain transmission or axle as a perodic maintenance operation. Add fluid, as required.)		X
CHECK TIRE PRESSURE AND INSPECT FOR WEAR (Correct wheel alignment or balance if wear is uneven.)		X
CLEAN OIL FILLER TUBE CAP FILTER AND/OR POSITIVE VENTILATION VALVE			X
REPLACE FUEL FILTER (Initial replacement should be made at 4,000 miles. Subsequent replacements to be made at 8,000 mile intervals.)			X
ADJUST STEERING GEAR PRELOADS AND BACKLASH (Add Steering Gear lubricant, as required.)			X
CROSS-SWITCH WHEELS AND TIRES (Balance wheels and tires, if necessary.)			X
INSPECT FRONT BRAKE LINING FOR WEAR				X
LUBRICATE AND ADJUST FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS				X
ENGINE PERFORMANCE SERVICE (see below †)				X
ADJUST TRANSMISSION BANDS (Except two-speed Merc-O-matic.)					X
REPLACE CARBURETOR AIR CLEANER FILTER						X
LUBRICATE "U" JOINTS, FRONT "U" JOINT YOKE, AND TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT SPLINES						X
LUBRICATE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING LINKAGE (Every 30,000 miles or 2 years, whichever occurs first.)						X
PERFORM SEASONAL SERVICES (see below ‡)
Service operations may be scheduled on a monthly rather than mileage basis. Transpose mileage to monthly specifications as follows: 4,000 Miles - 4 Months, 8,000 Miles - 8 Months, 12,000 Miles - 12 Months, 16,000 Miles - 16 Months, 30,000 Miles - 24 months.
† ENGINE PREFORMANCE SERVICE Your Dealer is equipped to periodically "tune up" your engine and thus help keep "new car" performance at your command. The specified items in the engine performance service include: Checking the battery, battery cables, ignition timing, and carburetor adjustments. It should also include adjusting the valve clearances (Super Economy "6" and Super Economy V-8), replacing the spark plugs, inspecting the distributor rotor and replacing the breaker points. The distributor should be lubricated. The fuel pump sediment bowl should be removed, cleaned and reinstalled.
‡ SEASONAL SERVICES Certain service items should be performed on a seasonal rather than a mileage basis. They include: the cooling system, air conditioner, carburetor, and viscosity of engine oil.


1. Transmission, Clutch and Brake Linkage: Lubricate at linkage joints and pivot points	7. Power Steering Pump Reservoir: Check fluid level. Use automatic transmission fluid C1AZ-19582. Add as required.
2. Exhaust Control Valve: Apply penetrating oil and graphite mixture.	8. Front Suspension: Use lubricant C1AZ-19590 at ball joints (2 each side).
3. Brake Master Cylinder: Use heavy-duty hydraulic brake fluid, B7A-19542. Fill to 1/4 inch from top of filler opening.	9. Steering Gear: Use steering gear lubricant B8A-19578-A, as required.
4. Universal Joints: Use chassis lubricant. 1 point each joint.	10. Steering Linkage Use lubricant C1AZ-19590 at linkage ends.
5. Rear Axle Housing: use lubricant C1AZ-19580-A (SAE 90) for temperatures above -25° F For sustained temperatures below -25° F, use lubricant C1AZ-19580-B (SAE 80) Do not periodically drain and refill rear axle.	11. Transmission: Check fluid level. Standard transmission, use SAE 80 multi-purpose gear lubricant. Automatic transmissions, use automatic transmission fluid C1AZ-19582, if necessary, to bring fluid level to full mark on indicator.
6. Drive Belts: Check tension and adjust as required.	12. Wheel Bearings: pack with wheel braring grease 8L-19585-B


1. Hood Hinges: Apply light engine oil to pivot points.	6. Luggage Compartment Door Lock: Apply light engine oil to rotor. Station wagon - Apply light engine oil to pivot points. Apply lubricant C0AZ-19584-A to lock cylinder.
2. Hood Lock: Apply lubricant C0AZ-19584-A to lock dowel catch.	7. Hood Auxiliary Catch: Apply lubricant C0AZ-19584-A. Use sparingly.
3. Door Hinges: Apply light engine oil at each hinge point.	8. Door Check Arms: Apply lubricant C0AZ-19584-A. Use sparingly.
4. Luggage Compartment Door Hinges: Apply light engine oil (SAE 10W) 1 point each hinge.	9. Door Locks: Apply lubricant B4A-19587-A. to lock cylinders. Use light engine oil on rotors.
5. SEAT TRACKS: Apply lubricant C0AZ-19584-A to seat track, sparingly..	10. Weatherstrips: Apply lubricant C0AZ-19553-A or B sparingly to all weatherstrips, ("A" is a jellied lubricant, "B" is a spray lubricant.)