Rodney Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 What oil is required for 1926 Buick gearbox and diff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant L. Meredith Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 I’ve used oil 90 or higher on my 1928 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 O' Reilly carries 140W GL-4: https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/c/masterpro-chemicals/masterpro-chemicals-conventional-gear-oil/mp03/80040?q=gl4+oil&pos=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 SAE 250 is best. You can buy it online from Restoration Supply Co. Restoration Supply Company – Authentic, hard to find restoration supplies and accessories for the antique automobile and marine enthusiast (restorationstuff.com) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grant L. Meredith Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 I have used 600W that the Model T guys get from Lang’s I’m the transmission with great success Mark Shaw. My understanding is that’s an old measurement of that oil viscosity and modern number for viscosity is around 200? You're thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloo Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 (edited) Its not so much "old" versus "modern" as "flash temperature of the oil in Fahrenheit" vs "viscosity". 600W has become a brand. Maybe it always was. Today it's owned by Mobil. With that out of the way.... 600W was and is steam cylinder oil, also rated for gears in steam equipment, especially worm gears. Steam cylinder oil was really heavy, or at least it seemed that way at room temperature. In the days before cars were everywhere, automakers used it because it was there, and it was OK for gears. The thickness helps slow down transmission gears when there is no synchromesh. When the automakers replaced 600W with mineral oil in the mid 30s, that was SAE 180. SAE viscosity ratings are ranges, not specific viscosities, and SAE 180 is a deprecated standard, and nobody seems to know exactly what range of viscosities it covered. Maybe someday we will have an SAE member in here who can figure it out and tell us. Today we have SAE 140 and SAE 250. It is very likely that SAE 250 is the closest substitute, but I have no hard proof of that. Model As predate the change of common automotive gear oil from 600W steam oil to the supposedly equivalent SAE 180 mineral oil. As such, a lot of Model A owners want 600W and ask for it by name. What you are getting might be Mobil 600W brand steam oil (today available in 2 different grades) or it might just be an appropriate substitute for use in an unsynchronized transmission. Maybe SAE 250? You'd have to ask the vendor. If you just want oil for an unsynchronized transmission it probably doesn't make any difference which it is. Any substitute for 600W in a car should be pretty thick. Edited July 18, 2023 by Bloo (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Shaw Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 How to Read a Gear Oil Viscosity Chart - AMSOIL Blog 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian_Heil Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/product.htm?pid=980305&cat=41748 This is re-bottled modern Chevron Meropa 600wt/SAE250 Has all the modern additives including EP and anti oxidation safe with all metals. Been using it for decades in my 1923 Buick as have thousands of Model T and A users. Anything lighter and your transmission will not shift as well. 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leif Holmberg Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian_Heil Posted July 20, 2023 Share Posted July 20, 2023 (edited) An additional comment. Steam cylinder oil is still available and required for steam engines as it is lard based and dissolves in steam and is ‘carried’ to the bore/ring surfaces. Back in the day, it was the only heavy lube readily available. There are far better petroleum based lubes with modern additives included now available in a heavy viscosity similar to that of steam cylinder oil. Edited July 20, 2023 by Brian_Heil (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubert_25-25 Posted July 21, 2023 Share Posted July 21, 2023 Rodney, This blend is what I use in my 1925 Buick and 1922 Dodge. I have used 600W and M-533 in the transmission and I have not been happy with them. Any of these are fine for the rear axle, but the transmission is where you will really love or hate an oil. Hugh 600 W, also called Steam oil, is a very heavy gear oil. Used by OEM in rear axles, transmission, steering boxes. It is very thick. It has less of a tendency to leak out. 600W is old junk. IMO Rear axles. Fine. Not a super harsh service. There are better alternatives. At least use Snyders M-533. For the transmission (as recommended by the Model A club, and I also recommend using the synthetic versions.) 60% Lucas 80/90 gear oil 40% Lucas HD Oil Stabilizer This is a modern blend. The transmission shifts so much better. These oils are locally available as well. I have bought it at Walmart. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hidden_hunter Posted July 22, 2023 Share Posted July 22, 2023 https://www.penrite.info/en/vintage-classic/transoil-250 is what we use - not sure on availability outside of Australia though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now