Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

Most of you know I'm still kind of new to Mod A.s. And, I like alternative stuff that might be an upgrade, without changing the basic cars. I'm a firm believer that there are better lubricants around today than in 1930 and I won't hesitate to use them. That being said, today I changed/replaced some of the oil in my transmission with Lucas Hub Oil. I drained about half of what I had put in the when I changed the bearings. STP and Lucas Oil Stabiliser.
The car was quieter (seemed smoother) the trans whined a lot less. Shifting was better, less grinding of gears. Generally better performance. Right now, about 7-8 miles later, I'm happy! Ask me again this winter, I may hate it then.
Another issue was put to bed! (At least for me) I did an old test where I put some of the old oil (STP and L.O.S. on the flats (Tapered) of a screwdriver and tried to grip it. It slipped away each time. When I tried it on the round shank of the screwdriver, I could hold it. So the STP and the Lucas product are at least, lubricants! Maybe not oils as we know them, but they have lubricating abilities .
Terry

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

ANY lubricant today is better then 1930's

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

one thing I found out about STP is, once you put on metal you cant wipe it off with out some sort of cleaner, lacquer thinner or acetone, using a rag will never get the job done, it just wont wipe off, It sure clings to metal

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

I used to be a believer in STP until a friend of mine that runs a machine shop told me that when added to the crankcase, a portion of it settles to the bottom of the pan and NEVER "dissolves". He said he had seen it in many motors. Well, when I pulled the pan on my 427, there was 1/4 - 1/2 inch of very sticky "stuff" in the bottom of the pan. I have worked on many engines an never saw that kind of deposit before. Needless to say, I don't use it anymore in the crankcase. I have used it to pre-lube the mains and rods during a rebuild.

SD

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

I'm still a fan of Lubriplate 288.
Helical gears it seems to me would do better with an oil made for such. Straight cut gears are really levers. The two mating surfaces would be very high pressure on the mating surfaces as opposed to helical.
Helical seem to me to be more sliding in nature, i.e a much larger footprint between the driving and driven gear, more contact surface.
I am not an engineer so I don't know for sure if I have anything right.
I will say SPO288 is slippery and "stringy."

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

I've used Lucas Hub oil and it works wonderful, makes an amazing difference in the shifting. However, I noticed that it fades as it warms up though, so switched to Lucas Oil Stabilizer. Have had great results with it.

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

This is what makes STP so great for using in the steering box.
I would not use it in the transmission or rear end.
I am surprised to hear of it settling in the oil pan.
MIKE :) (mikeburch)

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

i like power punch as an additive for my rear end . .........

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

I don't think there is any question that lubricants are better today than in 1930. That is what research and technology are all about !!??
Wayne

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

so are you using just Lucas oil stabilizer or is it a mix ?

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

It is a mix. At first, I was looking for an oil to use in my just "Refreshed" trans. Some guys were using straight STP and I didn't care for that. STP is an additive, not an "oil". Besides, it gets lighter when it's hot, but some guys had combined it with Lucas Oil Stabilizer and seemed to be having good results. So I put about 50/50 STP and L.O.S. in. It was ok, but I was never happy with it. I read up on Hub Oil and liked what I saw, except in the winter when the stuff gets like cement so I decided to leave half of the old lube in and fill it with Hib oil. So far, I'm happy!

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

Yes! That goes without saying , Yet there are some guys who seem to discount this and want to see what Henry used in 1930. Like non detergent oils for instance. About a year ago, I bought an engine that was worn out on ND oil. The screen of the oil pump was 80% clogged with sludge. since the engine was bored .040, it was on it's, probably, second rebuild. Which, Probably means it was running into the fifties and sixties, or even later. Certainly after the advent of detergent oils. But he had to put in what Henry said! How foolish is that?
Terry

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

I use Shell 600W Steam Oil in transmission and differential's. Bought a 5 gallon pail, of it in the 1980's and have a lot left.

Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil
 

Mike, It's good safe choice. I don't think you will go wrong using it. If I knew where to get it, (other than Brattan's, Mac's, Snyder's etc.) I probably would have gone that route myself. But I'm looking for alternatives that are available without shipping charges.
Terry