steering box oil

harleynut

harleynut

Senior Member
Old subject I know......just looked thru the search section and couldn't find a previous thread about steering box oil. I just rebuilt my 2 tooth and if I'm not mistaken I read some guys were using STP. I think it calls for 600W which really isn't 600W according to the label on the bottle from Snyders. It's comparable to 250W modern oil. Mikes Affordable has true 600W but is very pricy plus shipping. Hope I did the right thing. Book calls for 4 1/2oz I mixed 2oz STP with 2 1/2oz 600W which is really 250W. Am I being to pickey here?

















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harleynut said:
Am I being to pickey here?
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Yes! ;)

Let me help those reading this that don't know.

600W is a trademark name. It is NOT 600 Weight. Just like Big Mac is a name of a burger and not some big guy named Mac.

The company that made 600W was bought out many years ago by Mobil. Mobile still makes the oil today, and yes you can still buy it. (We use it at work for worm gear gear boxes).

The ISO Viscosity Grade is about 340 and the ISO gear oil grade is about 140. Viscosity charts
 
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id say your 50/50 of oil to stp is just fine. Worst thing you could do is have it dry in there so just watch for puddles or leaks and keep it filled.
 
Whatever liquid you use in the steering gear box, it will wind up on your garage floor no matter how well the gear box is sealed.

I find that synthetic grease works well, and it doesn't leak. To add grease, replace the fill plug with a grease fitting and pump the gear box full.

Once the gear box is full of grease, it will act as seal so you can add a little amount of synthetic oil.

The principle property of a steering gear lubricant beside lubricity is resistance to squeeze out between the gears.
 
I had a steering box leak too. Used 90 wt which leaked worse. Also used 600W which was better but still leaked. Per suggestions by others on the forum, I used Penrite steering box oil from Restoration Supply in Escondido, Ca. over a year ago and it stopped the leak completely.

Glen
 
lona said:
i had a steering box leak too. Used 90 wt which leaked worse. Also used 600w which was better but still leaked. Per suggestions by others on the forum, i used penrite steering box oil from restoration supply in escondido, ca. Over a year ago and it stopped the leak completely.

Glen
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x2 ;)
 
I like STP! In small amounts. I believe that many original Fords would be running today if it was around in the 1930s. But that's not what this thread is about! Probably every oil and grease combination has been tried in varying proportions. JD Cornhead grease is one that intrigued me. Lucas Hub oil is thick, especially when cold, but it leaks out slowly. It's great for shifting in the transmission, in warm climates! Some people run their cars on straight STP in everything but the engine. For something that says it's not a lubricant, it lubricates awfully well. Then there's 90 wgt gear oil or GL1. But we keep coming back to what Henry Ford speced in 1928, 600 oil. It works and has no major drawbacks!
Terry
 
1930 coupe said:
The pictures show a leak location that many people overlook. The scribe marker shows the maximum oil level before it leaks out of the slot. You can be careful and not overfill it, or you can fill the slot with sealer.
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Go point I never knew that. So what should be the proper oil level ? I had my steering box rebuild a few yeas ago and it leeks since rebuild. I was thinking about pulling it back out, but now you have me checking into it further thanks !
 
Like Lona & zzlegend, use Penrite steering box lube and there will be no leaks!;)

Bob-A:D
 
I mixed John Deere corn head grease and regular gear oil about 50/50 and it works very well. It stays fluid but it clings to the gears and doesn't leak.
 
Wish I would have known about the Penrite product before I added the oil. I did use the end plate with the long tube on it from Snyders (A-3568) that should help which keeps the oil level below the end of the tube. I hope
 
It didn't leak from the factory.
If it leaks, you didn't do something right.
If it's right, it won't leak even with carbon tet (Ccl4) in it.
 
yep, everyone has an opinion. After seeing the suggestion for John Deer Cornhead grease, buying and experimenting with it just to see how it works (liquid when in motion, soft grease when not in motion), and adding it to my gearbox, no leaks and I am well pleased. About $5 for the tube at any JD dealer.

JackD
 
Bob Bidonde said:
Once the gear box is full of grease, it will act as seal so you can add a little amount of synthetic oil.
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I found this out by accident. My box has grease in it from the previous owner. The steering seemed to have got a little stiff so I added some penrite transoil (which I use in the transmission) and it's fine and doesn't leak. I had to make a bit of a path with a bit of thick wire through the grease around the inside of the fill plug.
 
Manager said:
I found this out by accident. My box has grease in it from the previous owner. The steering seemed to have got a little stiff so I added some penrite transoil (which I use in the transmission) and it's fine and doesn't leak. I had to make a bit of a path with a bit of thick wire through the grease around the inside of the fill plug.
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Just keep topping it off periodically it will take more....
 
I have a leaking steering gear box. I filled it with STP and it leaked out over time, on the floor, it's real sticky, on the floor..

I'm getting ready to rebuild the box and wondered where to get the Penrite ?
 
G&N Farms said:
I have a leaking steering gear box. I filled it with STP and it leaked out over time, on the floor, it's real sticky, on the floor..

I'm getting ready to rebuild the box and wondered where to get the Penrite ?
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See post #5.

Bob
 
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