Assembly lube preferences

[DeneFLHR]

Thinking ahead, if, and when the time comes I work on my twin cam, is there any brand or type of assembly lube that you like (when changing cams or general engine internal work), plz?

[Ohio HD]

I use Crane, or Torco. I actually like the Torco a bit better.

[jsachs1]

I use Crane, or Torco. I actually like the Torco a bit better.

[koko3052]

I use a 50/50 mix of STP & engine oil for most. Rings & pistons just get the engine oil that will be used upon fire up.

[Bakon]

I used old tube of Harley stuff and some Lucas stuff from Amazon.  Sticky

[IronButt70]

No Vaseline? 

[boooby1744]

No Vaseline? 

old school.

[still_havinfun]

lucas assembly lube has the staying power, it took two days to clean up a spilled bottle of the stuff in the tool box.

[kd]

I use a 60 /40 mix of XM5 oil stabilizer to engine oil. XM5 (previously called Moray's oil and invented in Saskatchewan) is the original formula for the Lucas oil stabilizer. The inventor passed the formula on to his sons and one went on to produce Lucas formula. I stick with the original because of their history. It is fantastic stuff and so slippery it is not recommended in fresh engines due to hindering break in.

I use it (XM5) in everything. A cob web drifted off the cap one day from under the hood to the door of my pick m up truck. It remained on the door for close to a year before I finally took thinners to it and removed it. Great for gear boxes etc. It has such high surface tension seals will stop leaking. My truck starts in the morning even if not plugged in all winter down to -40C.  Because of the residual lube left clinging after shut off it spins over great. It stays on assembled parts even if the project goes on for months.

[Ohio HD]

Torco has a few products depending on your application.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNbNjExELps

[harley_cruiser]

I still use lithium grease, that is what I was taught with, and find no reason to change.

[koko3052]

A little off topic, but in response to kd, I use that in gear boxes, anything hydraulic & in diesel fuel systems.
I did a test on my tanker with 475 Cat on a dedicated run & found that by mixing 1/4 L XM5 to approx 500L fuel, that I could save about $80 (Cdn.) per fill up by the extended mileage. After proving this by running 1 tank mixed, then 2 consecutive tanks not  mixed, 6 times repeatedly, it was constantly used.
I use it in my bike transmission & engine, but not in the primary as my clutch is very picky about what it tastes.

[kd]

Ditto. Their site shows some interesting tests. One paper is a test between 2 identical engines (same age) in a twin engine tug boat. Interesting stats just like your findings. Proven horsepower and torque of 5% and 10%. I have personally seen extreme service bearings stop failing when introduced to it. many other hard to believe personal experiences too.

http://hmfoil.ca/HMF-tugboat.pdf

http://hmfoil.ca/

[FSG]

I could save about $80 (Cdn.) per fill up 

what % is that of a full fuel storage on the truck ?

[1FSTRK]

I use a 60 /40 mix of XM5 oil stabilizer to engine oil. XM5 (previously called Moray's oil and invented in Saskatchewan) is the original formula for the Lucas oil stabilizer. The inventor passed the formula on to his sons and one went on to produce Lucas formula. I stick with the original because of their history. It is fantastic stuff and so slippery it is not recommended in fresh engines due to hindering break in.

I use it (XM5) in everything. A cob web drifted off the cap one day from under the hood to the door of my pick m up truck. It remained on the door for close to a year before I finally took thinners to it and removed it. Great for gear boxes etc. It has such high surface tension seals will stop leaking. My truck starts in the morning even if not plugged in all winter down to -40C.  Because of the residual lube left clinging after shut off it spins over great. It stays on assembled parts even if the project goes on for months.

You mix your own assembly lube and 60 % of the mix is a product that is not recommended for use in new engines because it hinders break in?

[kd]

Most N/A trucks are 45 to 150 gallon tanks. Some have more than 1 tank. Koko will probably chime in with his set-up. Just for info in your calc, I am paying around $40 Can four 4 liter jugs. I don't buy pails or bulk. If he's using 1/4 liter per 500 liters of fuel he has 16 treatments per $40 Can and saves $80 Can per 500 L. (X3 = $240 per 1/4 liter at a cost of $2.50 Can because he treats every 4th tank).

500 liters to US gallons = 132.08603 gal
500 liters to Imperial gallons = 109.98462 gal
500 liters to US dry gallons = 113.51 gallons

[kd]

I use a 60 /40 mix of XM5 oil stabilizer to engine oil. XM5 (previously called Moray's oil and invented in Saskatchewan) is the original formula for the Lucas oil stabilizer. The inventor passed the formula on to his sons and one went on to produce Lucas formula. I stick with the original because of their history. It is fantastic stuff and so slippery it is not recommended in fresh engines due to hindering break in.

I use it (XM5) in everything. A cob web drifted off the cap one day from under the hood to the door of my pick m up truck. It remained on the door for close to a year before I finally took thinners to it and removed it. Great for gear boxes etc. It has such high surface tension seals will stop leaking. My truck starts in the morning even if not plugged in all winter down to -40C.  Because of the residual lube left clinging after shut off it spins over great. It stays on assembled parts even if the project goes on for months.

You mix your own assembly lube and 60 % of the mix is a product that is not recommended for use in new engines because it hinders break in?

Sorry, I could have been more clear I guess. I use 15/40 Rotella for the pistons and rings mixed with 100:1 2 stroke oil. The lifter bores, bearings, rocker shafts, cams, chains, and the like get the XM5 mix. It is not slobbered around because it's not necessary. I don't start a fresh engine until there is oil pressure and it has cranked enough to fill the galleries.  The first oil change is after heat cycles, then 50 miles, then 500 and 3,000 (ish). My break-in style is (and always has been) the Mototune technique. Oil is cheap insurance. After 5,000 I will start adding 20% XM5 in the engine. My 120 is at 5,500 miles now and getting it's first XM5 treatment this service.

[mike jesse]

Valvoline VR 1 40 WT.

Spin it over until pressure is detected and then fire it.

[Trouble]

I like gear lube 75/140wt.

[prodrag1320]

lucas

[Don D]

There is room at the top for many.
I certainly don't copy what I was taught 40+ years ago, STP and Delo 1/2 and 1/2

[motorhogman]

lucas assembly lube has the staying power, it took two days to clean up a spilled bottle of the stuff in the tool box.

LMAO !  Same here with Permatex..Had to use gasoline to get it all cleaned up. It's some sticky chit !

[kd]

There is room at the top for many.
I certainly don't copy what I was taught 40+ years ago, STP and Delo 1/2 and 1/2

Many people (including myself years ago) use an STP concoction because it had one of the highest consentration of ZDDP. With the recent pressure from the EPA to remove / reduce ZDDP the STP formula will be forced to change (if it hasn't already). I moved over to XM5 because I witnessed some amazing feats it performed as a lube. It has the same sort of consistency as the STP syrup and sticks to the surface forever. There are many good lubes out there for assembly. I believe the criteria is that it must not run off after application and be firm enough to prevent (or reduce) metal to metal contact on the first start up rotations. Some times the assembly process can take days or weeks so that can be one of the toughest tests.

How you start the engine on the initial start up can be the most important factor.  The shop I used to work in had a pressure ball we used before cranking. That made up for a lot in the type of assembly lube used. Crate engines, short blocks and rebuilds, may be months old from assembly so injecting oil insured the start-up would be wet.

[koko3052]

I could save about $80 (Cdn.) per fill up 

what % is that of a full fuel storage on the truck ?

When I fueled up that truck it was a typical 500L fill with probably less than 50 L remaining in the tanks upon fill up. That's why I would run two non-treatment fill ups, to try to get some sort of impartial test. I would mix a 4L jug of XM5  in a pail with diesel fuel until full, then fill empty 1L oil jugs to carry in the truck tool box. The stuff at room temps is like honey is why I shop mixed it, at -30 you're not going to get it out of the jug unless it's already cut with fuel.

[cbumdumb]

Lubriplate or Vaseline