The Ford Barn

Terry,NJ · 06-11-2014, 03:08 PM

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

Mike V. Florida · 06-11-2014, 03:09 PM

ANY lubricant today is better then 1930's

ford3 · 06-11-2014, 07:21 PM

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

29 Tudor · 06-11-2014, 08:17 PM

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

Willie Krash · 06-11-2014, 08:26 PM

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."

eagle · 06-11-2014, 08:46 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

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.

FL&WVMIKE · 06-12-2014, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ford3

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

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)

V4F · 06-12-2014, 02:35 PM

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

C26Pinelake · 06-12-2014, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry,NJ

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

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

bikejunk · 06-12-2014, 07:06 PM

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

Terry,NJ · 06-13-2014, 09:26 AM

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!

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikejunk

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

Terry,NJ · 06-13-2014, 09:45 AM

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by C26Pinelake

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

Mikeinnj · 06-13-2014, 10:09 AM

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.

Terry,NJ · 06-13-2014, 12:04 PM

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeinnj

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.

06-11-2014, 03:08 PM	#1
Terry,NJ Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Northern Bucks Co. Pa Posts: 632	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

06-11-2014, 03:09 PM	#2
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil ANY lubricant today is better then 1930's __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

06-11-2014, 07:21 PM	#3
ford3 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: oroville calif. Posts: 1,453	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

06-11-2014, 08:17 PM	#4
29 Tudor Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Magnolia, TX Posts: 161	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 Last edited by 29 Tudor; 06-12-2014 at 02:30 PM.

06-11-2014, 08:26 PM	#5
Willie Krash Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Phoenix, Oregon Posts: 661	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." __________________ Mike Stitt "A business that make nothing but money is a poor business." -Henry Ford

06-11-2014, 08:46 PM	#6
eagle Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagle Bend, MN Posts: 2,025	Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) 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.

06-12-2014, 02:35 PM	#8
V4F Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: ca. Posts: 2,522	Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil i like power punch as an additive for my rear end . ......... __________________ V4f

06-12-2014, 07:06 PM	#10
bikejunk Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: beautiful down town Passaic NJ Posts: 293	Re: Here we go again! Maybe! Oil so are you using just Lucas oil stabilizer or is it a mix ?

06-13-2014, 10:09 AM	#13
Mikeinnj Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northern New Jersey Posts: 1,262	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.