VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Axle lube

I've heard so many conflicting suggestions as to the better gear oil to use in the differential of a Chevy 1932. Weights suggested: 85/140, 160, 680. Is there any yellow metal in a rear axle where EP fluids should not be used? I have just installed a set of 3.50 gears. Russ

I would suggest 85W-140 or straight 140.!60 hasn't been made for years.Don't know what 680 is but there is a very heavy 600 available from Model A people.With nice new gears would stay with the 85w-140.

Try Lubriplate SPO 299.

If you need to pump the oil, go here:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...p;item=2477676819&sspagename=Merch06

Gotta have an original pump to pump the oil into an original car...right?

Hi Russ,
The original type 600W wont make your new gears any happier but is a little thicker and wont mess the garage floor as bad. Snyders has it. Click on - www.snydersantiqueauto.com Use search for - OIL -
Herb

Russ! Did you install those 350 gears yourself, if so, was it difficult? I bought some last year from Larry Jackson and still haven`t installed them yet. Have you had a chance to use them yet?

I don't know anything about these gear oils. Mobil still makes 600w which is a steam cylinder oil. This has a similar consistency as 140W. The tech rep from Mobil said that this was fine for our tranmission/rearend applications. He stated that some of the new gear EP oils use sulphur base additives which can react with brass and bronze bushings.
I called Lubriplate some time ago and talked with their tech rep and they said that they have a gear oil SPO-277 which is comparable to today's 140w or Mobil 600w. It is a modern oil that doesn't contain the animal fats of the 600w. He and Their website literature says it is safe for bronze, brass and silver alloy. He also mentioned the SPO-299 but said the literature didn't mention about other metals. www.lubriplate.com or Technical Service Center:800-347-5343

In the differential. I have used MEROPA 460 or 680 from Texaco in many years on my Chevrolet.(1926 -1929 and 1932) . No problem at all. It's heavy. Like thin black syrup.The main use for this oil are heavy machine parts.

Good cross section of opinions.

My experiance with 600 is limited .Several years ago I did drain and refill my transmission (1934) with 600 and experianced the following.

When starting the car (engine "cold") and in anything but the warmest weather , letting out the clutch with the transmission in neutral the drag caused by the heavy gear oil would actually cause the engine speed to drop noticably.Also was difficut to shift untill fully warmed up and made some strange noises.

I feel that proper lubrication when cold is far more important than "thick, heavy gear oil" when warm.Have same opinion about using a heavy engine oil-ie-higher than #30.The modern additives and better film strength of todays lubricants eleminate the need for "heavy" oils.Also few collector cars are driven for long enough periods to fully warm up the gear oil.Usually requires more than an hour of high speed driving.Remember the lubricant needs to creep into some might small spaces-such as between the pinion gears and differential case and shaft etc.

I put the high speed gears im my 31 Chevy, and use the heavy oil. If you're going to install the gears, make sure you can find someone to rivit the ring gear in place. Also, you will have to find a couple of rivits to go into the pinion gear. Those don't come with the set. So far, I've only broken one axel with the new gears, but I purchased two now onesto take with me for long trips. The shifting is a little sticker with the heavy oil in the transmission. In any event my car is road worthy and can achieve a good speed for highway driving. I installed a second Chevy tail light for safety. For some reason, it's much brighter than the existing one.

Good going! The 3.50 gears are a dandy and you will love them! Happy touring!