Guest Posted October 24, 2001 Share Posted October 24, 2001 what kind of oil should be used in the shock absorbers on a 1937 Zephyr? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted October 25, 2001 Share Posted October 25, 2001 HI Nez, not really my field of expertize, but Bill Uhouse did come up with some kind of magic potion that is aupposed to do this job, couldn't get the posts to go back far enough, but I know he did address the question, good luck, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 25, 2001 Share Posted October 25, 2001 Ok Guy's here is what I did on the Houdale shocks, but first remember that all shocks are basically hydraulically operated, wether by air or oil.I took some of the oil from the shocks and had it analyzed, just a spectrum analysis by a friend of mine who works for the GOV.and it turned out to be the basic hydraulic oil used in jacks, however the original oil contained a parafin base, like many oils back in the pre-war day's. We compared it to the normal hydraulic oil used in jacks and the only difference is no parafin,but has some deteregent.The benifits using jack oil is that the viscosity does not vary like the parafin oils. So just get some good jack oil.<P>BILL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stude8 Posted October 26, 2001 Share Posted October 26, 2001 Hello: If your shocks are the Houdaille rotary hydraulic type the correct fluid originally used was glycerine base stock, not mineral base. You will find the only solvent to clean it with is alcohol. By this date the glycerine will be congealed to a gooey mess and all check valves will be hopelessly gummed up. If you can successfully clean the old fluid out you could use Mobil One Synthetic Oil which has the most temperature stable viscosity range for this application. I did that on a 1933 Studebaker race car I did restoration work on and it performed well afterward.<BR>Unfortunately by this date several well thinking unknowledgable mechanics may have added mineral base "Jack" oil to top them off and you now have a real sticky milkshake inside that no solvent alcohol or mineral spirit will touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 20, 2001 Share Posted November 20, 2001 I noticed that Kanter Obsolete Auto Products has Delco shock absorber fluid, 11oz. for $10 listed on there web site.<BR>Would this be OK?<BR>Thanks,<BR>Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSpringer Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Anyone have any updated information on what fluid might be available that is compatible with the original? These things are pricey to rebuild and I'm hoping just feeding them the right stuff will keep them working. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peecher Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Dave, Apple Hydraulics ( rebuilds these shocks) recommends and uses hydraulic jack oil which is non-foaming. I got a pint at my local NAPA dealer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSpringer Posted October 6, 2011 Share Posted October 6, 2011 Thanks, Dee. I had the impression that jack oil did not mix well with the original glycerine based oil, but I'll give it a try. One of them is so gummed up it won't make any difference what I use, and that one's going to Apple after I win the lottery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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