Periodic Maintenance Schedule - 1960 Mercury Comet

Service Operation Mileage Interval

EVERY 1000 4000 6000 10000 12000 16000 20000 24000

LUBRICATE CHASSIS
(see Chassis Lubrication Chart below) X

LUBRICATE BODY
(see Body Lubrication Chart below) X

SERVICE ENGINE
(Includes changing oil in crankcase, replacing engine oil
filter, cleaning oil filler tube cap screen, and cleaning
carburetor air cleaner filter)
NOTE: oil change should be performed at 4,000 miles or
4 months, whichever occurs first. X

ROTATE WHEELS AND TIRES, CHECK WHEEL BALANCE X

CHECK FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND ADJUST
AS REQUIRED IF UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR IS INDICATED X

PERFORM MINOR ENGINE TUNE-UP
(see below †) X

CHECK BRAKE LININGS, CLEAN AND REPACK
FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. REPLACE LININGS IF REQUIRED X

REPLACE FUEL FILTER
NOTE: Replace filter at 12,000 miles or 1 year, whichever occurs first. X

CHECK STEERING GEAR PRELOADS X

FRONT AND REAR U-JOINTS - DISASSEMBLE AND
REPACK WITH WHEEL BEARING GREASE X

LUBRICATE FRONT U-JOINT YOKE AND
SHAFT SPLINES X

REPLACE CARBURETOR AIR CLEANER FILTER ELEMENT X

ADJUST TRANSMISSION BANDS, DRAIN AND REFILL X

PERFORM SEASONAL SERVICES (see below ‡)

† ENGINE TUNE-UP
Your dealer is equipped to periodically tune-up your engine and thus help keep "new car" performance at
your command. This service is performed at a reasonable cost. The tune-up should include checking the battery,
ignition timing, carburetor adjustments, and transmission linkage and shift points. It should also include inspection
and adjustment of the distributor breaker points and rotor, as well as lubrication of the distributor. Finally, all
spark plugs should be checked, cleaned and gapped or replaced, if necessary. As you will note in the chart we
recommend that this service be obtained every 10,000 miles.

‡ SEASONAL SERVICES
There are several service items which should be performed on a seasonal rather than mileage
basis. These include:

Flushing the radiator each spring and fall.
The addition of rust inhibitor to the cooling system each spring and fall.
The addition of anti-freeze to the cooling system each fall, if required, due to expected temperatures.
Inspection of all hoses each spring and fall - replacing hoses that may be cracked or show any other possibility of leaking.

1. Steering Linkage:
Use chassis lubricant at tie
rod ends (2 each side). Use
chassis lubricant at connecting
links (1 each side). 7. Front "U" Joint and Transmission:
Output Shaft Splines
Use B8A-19589-A, molybdenum base grease.

2. Front Suspension:
Use chassis lubricant at ball joints
(2 each side). Use chassis lubricant
at spring seat pivots (1 each side). 8. Brake Master Cylinder:
Use heavy duty hydraulic brake
fluid (MK-19542), fill to 1/4 inch
from top of filler opening.

3. Steering Gear:
Use steering gear lubricant
LA-19578-A as required. 9. Transmission, Clutch and Brake Linkage:
Use SAE 10W engine oil at linkage
joints and pivot points (Except those
with rubber insulators).

4. Clutch Equalizer Bar:
Use Chassis Lubricant. 10. Transmissions:
Use SAE 80 multi-purpose gear
lubricant as required for standard
transmission. Use "Type A, Suffix A"
automatic transmission fluid for
Comet drive. Fill to full mark on
indicator. DO NOT Overfill.

5. Rear Axle Housing:
Use SCL type hypoid gear lubricant
SAE 90 (MG-19581-B) for sustained
temperatures above -25° F. Use
SAE 80 (MG-19581-A) For sustained
temperatures below -25° F.

6. Front and Rear "U" Joints:
Disassemble and pack with
wheel bearing grease. 11. Drive Belts:
Inspect drive belt tension

1. Door Locks
Apply lubricant 8L-19586. Use
sparingly on striker plates
and rotor teeth. Use SAE 10W
oil on rotor shaft. 6. Body and Door Drain Holes:
Use a small screw driver to
clear any drain holes which
may become plugged.

2. Door Check Arms:
Use Lubricant 8L-19586 Sparingly. 7. Rubber Weatherstrips:
Lubricate, using silicon
type seal lubricant.

3. Door Hinges:
Use light engine oil (SAE 10W)
at each hinge point. 8. Luggage Compartment Lock:
Use lubricant 8L-19586 on
rotor and latch.

4. Hood Lock and Auxiliary Catch:
Use lubricant 8L-19586 sparingly
on lock dowel and catch. 9. Luggage Compartment Hinges:
Use light engine oil (SAE 10W)
on hinge assembly pivots.

5. Hood Hinges:
Use light engine oil (SAE 10W)
on hinge assembly pivots. 10. Station Wagon Tailgate Hinges:
Use light engine oil (SAE 10W)
on hinge assembly pivots.

This info taken from the 1960 Mercury Comet Owners Manual (FORM MD-3691C-60)

Service Operation	Mileage Interval
Service Operation	EVERY	1000	4000	6000	10000	12000	16000	20000	24000
LUBRICATE CHASSIS (see Chassis Lubrication Chart below)		X
LUBRICATE BODY (see Body Lubrication Chart below)			X
SERVICE ENGINE (Includes changing oil in crankcase, replacing engine oil filter, cleaning oil filler tube cap screen, and cleaning carburetor air cleaner filter) NOTE: oil change should be performed at 4,000 miles or 4 months, whichever occurs first.			X
ROTATE WHEELS AND TIRES, CHECK WHEEL BALANCE				X
CHECK FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND ADJUST AS REQUIRED IF UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR IS INDICATED				X
PERFORM MINOR ENGINE TUNE-UP (see below †)					X
CHECK BRAKE LININGS, CLEAN AND REPACK FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. REPLACE LININGS IF REQUIRED					X
REPLACE FUEL FILTER NOTE: Replace filter at 12,000 miles or 1 year, whichever occurs first.						X
CHECK STEERING GEAR PRELOADS							X
FRONT AND REAR U-JOINTS - DISASSEMBLE AND REPACK WITH WHEEL BEARING GREASE							X
LUBRICATE FRONT U-JOINT YOKE AND SHAFT SPLINES							X
REPLACE CARBURETOR AIR CLEANER FILTER ELEMENT								X
ADJUST TRANSMISSION BANDS, DRAIN AND REFILL									X
PERFORM SEASONAL SERVICES (see below ‡)
† ENGINE TUNE-UP Your dealer is equipped to periodically tune-up your engine and thus help keep "new car" performance at your command. This service is performed at a reasonable cost. The tune-up should include checking the battery, ignition timing, carburetor adjustments, and transmission linkage and shift points. It should also include inspection and adjustment of the distributor breaker points and rotor, as well as lubrication of the distributor. Finally, all spark plugs should be checked, cleaned and gapped or replaced, if necessary. As you will note in the chart we recommend that this service be obtained every 10,000 miles.
‡ SEASONAL SERVICES There are several service items which should be performed on a seasonal rather than mileage basis. These include: Flushing the radiator each spring and fall. The addition of rust inhibitor to the cooling system each spring and fall. The addition of anti-freeze to the cooling system each fall, if required, due to expected temperatures. Inspection of all hoses each spring and fall - replacing hoses that may be cracked or show any other possibility of leaking.


1. Steering Linkage: Use chassis lubricant at tie rod ends (2 each side). Use chassis lubricant at connecting links (1 each side).	7. Front "U" Joint and Transmission: Output Shaft Splines Use B8A-19589-A, molybdenum base grease.
2. Front Suspension: Use chassis lubricant at ball joints (2 each side). Use chassis lubricant at spring seat pivots (1 each side).	8. Brake Master Cylinder: Use heavy duty hydraulic brake fluid (MK-19542), fill to 1/4 inch from top of filler opening.
3. Steering Gear: Use steering gear lubricant LA-19578-A as required.	9. Transmission, Clutch and Brake Linkage: Use SAE 10W engine oil at linkage joints and pivot points (Except those with rubber insulators).
4. Clutch Equalizer Bar: Use Chassis Lubricant.	10. Transmissions: Use SAE 80 multi-purpose gear lubricant as required for standard transmission. Use "Type A, Suffix A" automatic transmission fluid for Comet drive. Fill to full mark on indicator. DO NOT Overfill.
5. Rear Axle Housing: Use SCL type hypoid gear lubricant SAE 90 (MG-19581-B) for sustained temperatures above -25° F. Use SAE 80 (MG-19581-A) For sustained temperatures below -25° F.
6. Front and Rear "U" Joints: Disassemble and pack with wheel bearing grease.	11. Drive Belts: Inspect drive belt tension


1. Door Locks Apply lubricant 8L-19586. Use sparingly on striker plates and rotor teeth. Use SAE 10W oil on rotor shaft.	6. Body and Door Drain Holes: Use a small screw driver to clear any drain holes which may become plugged.
2. Door Check Arms: Use Lubricant 8L-19586 Sparingly.	7. Rubber Weatherstrips: Lubricate, using silicon type seal lubricant.
3. Door Hinges: Use light engine oil (SAE 10W) at each hinge point.	8. Luggage Compartment Lock: Use lubricant 8L-19586 on rotor and latch.
4. Hood Lock and Auxiliary Catch: Use lubricant 8L-19586 sparingly on lock dowel and catch.	9. Luggage Compartment Hinges: Use light engine oil (SAE 10W) on hinge assembly pivots.
5. Hood Hinges: Use light engine oil (SAE 10W) on hinge assembly pivots.	10. Station Wagon Tailgate Hinges: Use light engine oil (SAE 10W) on hinge assembly pivots.