Gear lube

[Pete F]

So what’s the preferred gear lube in a 39 3 speed tranny .
Is everyone using 600 or have you guys switched to modern 90-140
Or something else
Thanks


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[JSeery]

Do we really need to start this up again??? And Ford NEVER recommend 600 anything for V8s. It's a brand name for a steam engine lubricant. Ford calls out in the owner manual what viscosity it recommends. If your really interested in the topic there is an endless number of past threads on this.

[Pete F]

Originally Posted by JSeery

Do we really need to start this up again??? And Ford NEVER recommend 600 anything for V8s. It's a brand name for a steam engine lubricant. Ford calls out in the owner manual what viscosity it recommends. If your really interested in the topic there is an endless number of past threads on this.

Just skip over the post if it bothers you
Sorry


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[cas3]

600 is a term the model A folks like to use, does not apply here. v8 fords like regular gear lube in the rear end, (gl5), and gl4 for the trans of either 80-90, or 80-140 what ever your climate and driving needs are. gl4 is noncorrosive to the brass parts in the trans. to learn more, like jseery says, lots of talk on this. google " gl4 fordbarn" and get comfortable for the read

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Pete F

Just skip over the post if it bothers you
Sorry


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Will do!

[Pete F]

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Originally Posted by cas3

600 is a term the model A folks like to use, does not apply here. v8 fords like regular gear lube in the rear end, (gl5), and gl4 for the trans of either 80-90, or 80-140 what ever your climate and driving needs are. gl4 is noncorrosive to the brass parts in the trans. to learn more, like jseery says, lots of talk on this. google " gl4 fordbarn" and get comfortable for the read

Thank you


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[19Fordy]

Sta Lube GL-4 140 W in both transmission and rear if you live in a hot climate.
StaLube GL4 multi viscosity if you live up north.

Do a search on StaLube gear Oil for more info. Look through this.
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/searc...archid=9957087
Here's a good article.
http://www.benchmarkworks.com/articl...h/gearoil.html

[glennpm]

Hi 19Fordy,

I've been just looking online for the the CRC and found a few places to buy it.

Does anyone have a "fluid capacity" link. I have a 1939 transmission and think it takes maybe 1 1/2 quarts. Searches have not provided this.

Thanks

[glennpm]

I located this which says 2 1/2 pints for a 1934.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showp...09&postcount=9

[19Fordy]

glenn: Manual says to fill transmission to level of transmission fill plug. If you buy a gallon you can fill both the transmission and the banjo.

[glennpm]

Thanks, I ordered a gallon. I found the 140 GL4 to be too thick in cold weather and just need to change out the transmission.

Glenn

[qmdv]

Originally Posted by glennpm

Thanks, I ordered a gallon. I found the 140 GL4 to be too thick in cold weather and just need to change out the transmission.

Glenn

So you are using 140 in the rear end and 90 in the transmission.

Tim

[glennpm]

I presently have 140 in both the rear end and the transmission. For the last couple of short rides when it was in the 30's, the transmission was not shifting well and I knew I had to use some lighter weight fluid. The 140 weight was also GL4 fluid.

I bought the 140 weight at O'Reillys but they don't have the 85W90. They're my go to store. I got a good deal off of Amazon for a gallon of the below.

[cas3]

the GL4 can be hard to find locally, and i dont trust the stuff that says its good for both. they dont really tell you what it is!

[19Fordy]

cas3: Now I am confused. What did you mean by " don't trust the stuff that says its good for both. they don't really tell you what it is!" Thanks, JIM

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

cas3: Now I am confused. What did you mean by " don't trust the stuff that says its good for both. they don't really tell you what it is!" Thanks, JIM

I am at a loss as to why this is dredged up almost weekly, there are a LOT of threads on this topic, very easy to do a search.

[19Fordy]

I think it's because some folks who don't post very often just figure it's easier to ask a question. "Searching" does not occur to them.

[1937hemi]

why do some people have to come across as a jerk when someone is asking an honest question?

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by 1937hemi

why do some people have to come across as a jerk when someone is asking an honest question?

Lot of merit in what you say! After you have posted very detailed information (with diagrams and all kinds of backup information) who knows how many times, it gets old when folks won't bother to take even a casual look at what is available. I spends hours attempting to answer questions I can provide information on (I know, who cares, LOL). Anyway, 1937hemi, I need to just stop reading these repetitive weekly post. I will attempt very hard to heed your wise advice. All ready said that once on this thread and you see how well that worked out!! I will try harder in the future.

[50fordcoupeman]

JSeery.............you are a class act for your above post!!!!!!!!

[Pete]

There is the old saying, "the customer is always right" but when you hand him his change if you give him that "you sure are a dipshit" look, he will usually get the point. LOL

[cas3]

in response to 19fordy, #15, i am no engineer, but when a product boasts that it can do both, i am skeptical. and in todays world, nobody at the store knows crap. so, you look at the labels on the gear lube bottles, and some say GL5, and some say GL5 compatible for manual transmissions. how can that be? they are two different purpose oils. so, for me, to keep it simple, i want the bottle to say GL4. also, in jseery's defense, most simple Q's like this are easy to find. for those that do not know, google is the way, not a search here on the barn. simply type in your question with either fordbarn, or hamb ending the sentence, and results will show for many common problems, or questions. usually, after a few links show, another thing in fine print shows up that will say" show only results from fordbarn .com" click on that, and you get more. now, i will agree, i thought jseery, sorta "jumped" a bit on this one, but i can see it from his perspective too, he is a frequent contributor on the barn, and a respected source of info for many things. takes personal emails to sort out photos, and has sent me personal photos and links to sort out issues i have had. so, "jerk", i think does not apply, but gosh jerry, lighten up a bit for the questions that WILL come again. best wishes, skip

[19Fordy]

JSeery: I always read your helpful info so keep posting even if its repetitive. Thanks.

[Pete F]

You know guys I have been in the business for 50 years and things are always changing from day to day so asking frequent questions is not a bad thing because the answers are always changing .
Hot rodders were and are guys that do a lot of experimenting and come up with answers even the engineers haven’t figured out so let’s lighten up with the pompous attitudes and listen to each other’s opinions we may learn something and if we don’t maybe we made a new friend.
This whole thing started because I asked about 600 weight gear lube and some jumped on me.
I use 680 lube in the trannies I rebuild for old Caddy’s and Duesenberg’s so I was just asking if anyone had tried it in old Fords.
If you were to put 80-140 in one of those old trannies you would have leaks and noise so I wondered if anyone had tried it in there Ford, but my God I started a whole discussion on how the group should look things up before asking a question.
This isn’t school it’s a hot rod group.
Let’s try and have some respect for each other.
Thanks


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[JSeery]

"It is a mystery how or why the term "600W" became synonymous with Model A steering-transmission-differential lubrication. The only reference to "600" or "600W" I can find in Model A Ford literature is on page 377 of the Service Bulletin where they are discussing the seven tooth steering system. On page 375 of the Service Bulletins they recommend M-533 lubricant for the transmission and differential whereas on page 216 the recommend simply, "gear lubricant."

"So far, we have been unable to locate information which defines the characteristics of what we commonly call 600W. cone 1919 Model T literature describes it as a "Steam Cylinder Oil." Elsewhere, the 600 is defined as the flash point of a specific steam cylinder oil. I have yet to buy "600 oil" where the container provides any information as to its contents."

"I would prefer using a known viscosity oil rather than an oil about which I know nothing. Rather than buy an unknown, I would recommend a quality high pressure gear lubricant for the Model A steering-transmission-differential such as SAE 250 or SAE 140 in that order. SAE 80W-90 is a little thin for quiet shifting and you will probably hear more transmission and differential noise than with 250 or 140. Some companies are packaging an 85W-140 oil which is a little thin for our purpose. -- Lyle Meek, Technical Director"

Lubricant Viscosity Chart

[Pete F]

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This is the 680 lube I use in the old Caddy and Duesenberg’s

[19Fordy]

PeteF: I used 600W in my 40 Ford transmission and rear for many years with no problems- both winter and summer.
Didn't know it wasn't recommended by Ford but, it seemed to work fine. Then I read about GL4 not having additives that would harm "yellow metals" so I switched to that.

Also read that GL 5 (although it has additives that can harm yellow metals at high temperatures) can be harmful to transmission synchronizers (over time) but not to rear ends as they have no yellow metals in them. Also read posts by folks saying that GL5 is "safe" to use in both transmissions and rear ends as temperatures don't reach harmful levels. Truth is, there are many opinions on this subject. In the end, one has to independently make a decision.

I wonder what kind of "lube oil or gear oil" was used in gas stations in the 50's and 60's when all the mechanic had to due was pull down the hose and "fill'er up"? All cars got the same gear oil from that hose connected to a pressurized drum of gear oil.
Here's an article well worth reading. Explains GL4 and GL5 attributes and negatives. Very interesting. http://www.widman.biz/uploads/Transaxle_oil.pdf

[glennpm]

JSeery,

Please keep providing your thoughtful and informative posts here!

Glenn

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Pete F

You know guys I have been in the business for 50 years and things are always changing from day to day so asking frequent questions is not a bad thing because the answers are always changing .
Hot rodders were and are guys that do a lot of experimenting and come up with answers even the engineers haven’t figured out so let’s lighten up with the pompous attitudes and listen to each other’s opinions we may learn something and if we don’t maybe we made a new friend.
This whole thing started because I asked about 600 weight gear lube and some jumped on me.
I use 680 lube in the trannies I rebuild for old Caddy’s and Duesenberg’s so I was just asking if anyone had tried it in old Fords.
If you were to put 80-140 in one of those old trannies you would have leaks and noise so I wondered if anyone had tried it in there Ford, but my God I started a whole discussion on how the group should look things up before asking a question.
This isn’t school it’s a hot rod group.
Let’s try and have some respect for each other.
Thanks


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I agree.....Relax guys, and help each other out whenever possible.

[Henry Hopper]

If I need to know something I will usually try searching first, but I find question posts helpful in a browsing kind of way...if I'm on here I trawl down the list of topics and click on to read...many times it's not because it is relevant to me at that particular moment but interesting non the same.If people get frightened from posting for fear of ridicule the site will suffer.Everyone take a chill pill and think of it as all stood at the bar shooting the breeze about old Fords.

[Yoyodyne]

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

I wonder what kind of "lube oil or gear oil" was used in gas stations in the 50's and 60's when all the mechanic had to due was pull down the hose and "fille'er up"? All cars got the same gear oil from that hose connected to a pressurized drum of gear oil.

Mostly plain SAE 90 gear oil. I saw it in the barrels at service stations and dealerships and I used it in everything up through the 70s until my 5 gallon pails were all used up, in truck and tractor transmissions and rears too then started using 90/140 and 85/90 when it became available. I never saw a GL designation on any of the pails, I can't say when that started. I learned about 600W when I got a Model T in the late 60s and needed some for the rear.

Some truckers tried using the good old 600W in newer transmissions and had failures because of closer bearing clearances etc. until they learned. I recently had to buy a new pail of 600W and learned a few things. 600W steam cylinder oil is still sold by Mobil, but now it's available in 460 and 680 iso viscosity. Regular 600W is still the go-to lube for worm gears in much industrial machinery, I use it in the gearbox of a horizontal bandsaw that has a bronze worm wheel. It's properties are perfect for the shearing action in a worm gear and is doesn't hurt the bronze. Amazon and Zoro.com are online sources of Mobil 600w, if you can handle 5 gallons.

600W is WAY thicker than 140 regardless of what the viscosity charts say, at least at room temperature. I can hardly get it to travel up the tube of a suction gun. If you don't have it in a pump it's a lot of work to get it into a transmission.

BTW, the synchronizers on my 36 didn't work very well so I tried SAE250 and it didn't make a bit of difference from SAE 90.

[steve-cook]

I used the advance search and found this very helpful, thank you.

[Kahuna]

Thank you, J.
Always appreciated. Keep it coming
Jim

[TagMan]

Damn kids - get OFF my grass !!!