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La Salle lubricants

Started by Nicolas, July 11, 2008, 05:04:08 PM

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Nicolas

Can someone recommend a suitable chassis lubricant for a 1927 LaSalle for the transmission, rear axle, steering gear and grease gun connections.

Mike Josephic CLC #3877

Nicolas:

Please give me the original recommended lubricants (if you have the names)
and I'll try to match it up with something modern and available.

Mike
1955 Cadillac Eldorado
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
1995 Cadillac Seville
2004 Escalade
1997 GMC Suburban 4X4, 454 engine, 3/4 ton
custom built by Santa Fe in Evansville, IN
2011 Buick Lucerne CX
-------------------------------------
CLCMRC Museum Benefactor #38
Past: VP International Affiliates, Museum Board Director, President / Director Pittsburgh Region

Nicolas

1927 LaSalle lubricants for the following:

Chassis Lubricant
•   Transmission
•   Rear Axle 
•   Steering Gear
•   Grease Gun Connections

Fiber Grease
•   Clutch Trust Bearing

Unfortunately the manuals do not recommend any specific type of fluids but defer back to the dealer.

Mike Josephic CLC #3877

Nicolas:

Here is what I can determine from your information. I have books going back to the
mid 30's.

For your transmission and steering gear box, SAE 160 weight was used for
temperatures above 60 Degrees F and SAE 90 below that for winter weather.
The SAE 90 is readily available now as 80W-90 in any auto store, but the
SAE 160 is harder to find.

One source is lube #6336, available from Mobil/Exxon. 

Also, there is a company in Canada called "Penrite" that makes replacement oils
specifically for vintage cars like yours.  Their website address is: http://www.sportscarcentre.ca/images/Penrite%20Oil.pdf.. The have an SAE 160
replacement and you can order directly from them.

For the chassis grease (zerk fittings) I would use a good HP quality moly based
chassis lube.  They are available at any auto parts store.

For motor oil, for "summer" use, Cadillac recommended SAE 30.  For winter,
SAE 20.  SAE 10W-30 would most likely work fine as well.

For the "fiber" grease for your clutch bearing, the "fiber" description refers to the
length of the molecule.  These came in "short" fiber and "long" fiber types, the
"long" being thicker.  These terms are no longer used anymore, however the
composition is similar to wheel bearing grease.  You might ask those guys in
Canada who specialize in replacing "old style" lubricants.  I'm sure they
will have an answer for you.

Hope this helps!

Best regards,

Mike

1955 Cadillac Eldorado
1973 Cadillac Eldorado
1995 Cadillac Seville
2004 Escalade
1997 GMC Suburban 4X4, 454 engine, 3/4 ton
custom built by Santa Fe in Evansville, IN
2011 Buick Lucerne CX
-------------------------------------
CLCMRC Museum Benefactor #38
Past: VP International Affiliates, Museum Board Director, President / Director Pittsburgh Region

Rusty Shepherd CLC 6397

Nicolas,
You can rely with 100% certainty on what Mike Josephic tells you.  He's the Cadillac and La Salle Club's "Chemical Guru" and a frequent contributor on related subjects for the monthly magazine, The Self-Starter.

Kerry Pilling

For a different twist on lubricants check out Redline oils. You can find them on the web by typing in their name and using the w's and add oils to end of their name and then the dot com thing. They will give you their recommendations. Kerry