Quote:
Originally Posted by marc hildebrant
Uncle Bob,
So.....what do you run in your Model A transmission ?
Marc
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As a matter of convenience I use readily available 85w/140 gear lube, usually Chevron. Technically it's way overkill performance wise, but it's the recommended viscosity range and available in handy quarts. Some worry about the EP additive (sulfur-phosphorus compound), but there's little yellow metal in Model A gear boxes, and the EP isn't very reactive at the typical temps we see. EDIT: there are any number of other lubricants I would use were it not for the convenience factor. Most of the reasonable alternatives are not typically packaged in small usage containers nor readily available in standard retail venues.
Terry, I'm not sure where you would get a "peanut butter" consistency analogy from the data I presented. Perhaps it's your attempt at humor? Viscosity is measured in relatively sophisticated equipment to procedures tightly controlled for repeatability. No comparison to the results from a calibrated eyeball. As for "why a steam cylinder oil?"; the observation that lubricant technology was in it's infancy in the day is appropriate. Steam cylinder oils developed in the 19th century (such as 600w) used what was known at the time. In that case, the "w" likely represented whale oil, which over 100 years ago was learned to have natural adhesion in wet environments. We've learned in the progress of discovery that the molecular structure of whale oil contained polar molecules that would adhere in wet environs (similar to a magnet adhering to steel/iron). This enhanced the lubrication process. I would suppose that the Ford designer/engineers used a technology they believed would benefit the application and the polar nature of a steam cylinder oil would give added protection. Since the ban on whale oil other organic compounds were developed that had similar physical, polar, properties as a replacement.
Gear oils, industrial oils, motor oils, almost all compounded lubricants contain rust and oxidation inhibitors. Oils without at least those two additives are not readily available to the general consumer unless you're talking about straight mineral oils (often food grade) or small machinery oil e.g. sewing machine lube.