Back to Chassis lubrication
Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2023 10:43 am
I decided it was time to really check out the system following it's overhaul last year and about 1000 miles done.
Situation: The oil level has dropped, so the pump was working...and there was witness of oil - particularly towards the rear of the car. but I was not convinced that the Heineken Syndrome was in place (Reaching the places other etc...)
Action: Having acquired a Wanner oil/grease gun on the Bay of E I set about purging the system. I was pretty sure that the "drip feeds" were all clear, but there was air or congealed "lubricant" in the lines. Methodically (with a very competent assistant) we started to check the pipes. It became clear that the 90 grade oil was a bit thick for this , so the gun was filled with SAE 30 and nipples screwed into various places along the lines until clean oil came through. It took a bit of time (perhaps two and a half hours) but we got the system purged to our satisfaction, and topped up the reservoir with 90- working on the premise that the thicker oil would push out what was left of the 30 in the system.
We will see! Plenty of oil on the garage floor where it had not been before though!
A quick trip down the road suggested that the car had quietened down noticeably, and subjectively felt smoother! Maybe wishful thinking, but it was a good feeling!
We also removed the plug in the UJ and screwed in a tiny nipple (not as easy as you might think...)it didn't look as if it had seen fresh grease for 50 years! I left the nipple in situ as it was a B###er to swap back. I don't think it will upset the balance!
In view if recent water pump correspondence I checked mine for wear...all good. However the lubrication system had been disconnected to the water pump when the pump was replaced some years ago and a nipple put in place...what grease should be used? I seem to recall water pumps don't like being force fed too much grease?
Incidentally the car started " on the button" after a couple of turns of the starter (-6c outside the garage the night before!)
Situation: The oil level has dropped, so the pump was working...and there was witness of oil - particularly towards the rear of the car. but I was not convinced that the Heineken Syndrome was in place (Reaching the places other etc...)
Action: Having acquired a Wanner oil/grease gun on the Bay of E I set about purging the system. I was pretty sure that the "drip feeds" were all clear, but there was air or congealed "lubricant" in the lines. Methodically (with a very competent assistant) we started to check the pipes. It became clear that the 90 grade oil was a bit thick for this , so the gun was filled with SAE 30 and nipples screwed into various places along the lines until clean oil came through. It took a bit of time (perhaps two and a half hours) but we got the system purged to our satisfaction, and topped up the reservoir with 90- working on the premise that the thicker oil would push out what was left of the 30 in the system.
We will see! Plenty of oil on the garage floor where it had not been before though!
A quick trip down the road suggested that the car had quietened down noticeably, and subjectively felt smoother! Maybe wishful thinking, but it was a good feeling!
We also removed the plug in the UJ and screwed in a tiny nipple (not as easy as you might think...)it didn't look as if it had seen fresh grease for 50 years! I left the nipple in situ as it was a B###er to swap back. I don't think it will upset the balance!
In view if recent water pump correspondence I checked mine for wear...all good. However the lubrication system had been disconnected to the water pump when the pump was replaced some years ago and a nipple put in place...what grease should be used? I seem to recall water pumps don't like being force fed too much grease?
Incidentally the car started " on the button" after a couple of turns of the starter (-6c outside the garage the night before!)