[If anyone has additions, comments, complaints, questions, etc. please mail
them to me directly. I will make approiate changes, and then post this on
the British cars archive server.] RG
[to access Rich Weltys archive server- send mail to
archive@lewis.crd.ge.com
with the word help as the subject line.]
Here's a chart of some acceptable, available fluids for your British car:
{as always, check the specs for your car!}
Brake and Clutch
DOT4 (DOT4 should be flushed and replaced at 2-3 yr intervals)
-Castrol LMA -Low Moisture Absorbant, easy on seals
-Girling
DOT5 (Silicone) Doesn't absorb water, or remove paint.
Can be a bit harder to get the air out, and may
be more prone to boiling in heavy braking usage.
Fantastic for long term storage -Good for 5+++ years.
(Do not mix DOT4 and DOT5. Do not use DOT3 -it WILL rot your seals.)
Hydralyic Lever Arm shocks -This must be an hydralyic oil designed for
this application, with anti-frothing additives.
-OEM Girling or Lockheed Shock oil, if you can find it.
-Motor Cycle Fork oil.
-Castrol Fork Oil. Available in 20 & 30 wt. (30 works good)
Carburetor Piston Dampers
-Solex Carb Damper oil, availble from some mail-order places.
-For light damping:
-Marvel Mystery Oil (very good for this application)
-Automatic Trans Fluid
-3 in 1 oil
-For heavier damping:
-20 or 30 wt Engine Oil
-20-50 wt Engine Oil
Transmission (Check your specs! Some cars specify Hypoid gear oil, some engine
oil, and others!)
90 or 85-140 Hypoid Gear oil -For required high shear strength usage.
30 wt, non- detergant, or engine oil (MGB Spec)
Automatic Trans Fluid -This can be good for short term usage, to
clean things out & free sticky syncros. May be prone to
more leakage. Speced for some newer gearboxes.
Rear Differential -usually a high shear strength "Hypoid Gear Oil"
90 wt, or 85-140wt.
Steering Gear- Usually a 90wt Hypoid Gear Oil is good.
Wheel Bearings -use a high quality, high tempature bearing grease. ie:
-Castrol wheel bearing grease.
Grease fittings- (the stuff you use your grease gun for)
-Lithium Grease
Cooling System
50-50 mix of water and Anti-Freeze is best for *most* applications.
This offers the best Anti-Corrision, Anti-Freeze, and Cooling
capibilities.
If you have an Aluminium head or block, you may need an
anti-freeeze speced for use with Al.
Battery
Top up cells with distilled water.
________
/___ _ \ Roger Garnett (garnett@tcgould.TN.CORNELL.EDU)
/| || \ \ Agricultural Economics | The All New:
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| | \ | | | Cornell University | Wayward Sports Cars
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