The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Assembly Lube For 216 Rod Bearings

Hello,

I've always used Lubriplate 105 assembly lube for overhauls, which have always been fully pressurized engines, but I'm wondering if it's okay to use it on 216 rod bearings.

Being they're not pressurized, and rely on the dippers and nozzles for oiling, someone told me he thinks the Lubriplate would be too thick for the dippers and nozzles to flush the assembly lube out with oil.

Someone had told him they've used Vaseline for non-pressurized rod bearings.

Just curious what some of you who have "been there and done that" think on the topic. Is the Lubriplate okay or is there a better product for this application?

Just my opinion, but I don't think Lubriplate is too thick to flush out on a splash/spray oiler. It will get pretty thin as the bearings warm up, and the rods are moving pretty fast so the dippers on the rods kind of generate their own pressure. I think that would drive oil into the rods even if there wasn't a spray and relied only on oil in the troughs. Full disclosure, I have not used it on a 216 with splash/spray rod oiling.

I'm sure Jerry (Hotrod Lincoln) will be along with an opinion, having built a large number of engines.

At any speed above idle the oil squirter nozzles will give as much, or maybe more flow than a full pressure engine. The combination of rotational speed of the crankshaft and the stream of oil provided by the oil pump as the rod dipper hits the stream will drive lots of oil into the dipper. The only time the troughs in the pan come into play is at idle when there's not enough pump volume to make a stream. Aiming those nozzles is critically important, however. A bent nozzle will miss the dipper at cruise speed and roast a rod in short order. If you don't have the factory aiming fixture (I do) there's a shade tree way to make the adjustment with a carpenter's square and a garden hose.

I use the red colored assembly lube sold by Sealed Power, Melling, and a few other parts suppliers, which sort of resembles 30 weight oil mixed with a thick lube like STP or Lucas oil additive.
Jerry

If the engine is going to be started in a day or so after assembly, use a liquid assembly lube. If it's going to set for weeks, use a grease type assembly lube. The liquid will be in the oil pan if you wait too long to start.

Red line makes a good grease type assembly lube, https://www.redlineoil.com/assembly-lube.

Just some problems that I have come across with regards to using Lubriplate. I've seen 3 freshly overhauled engines crap out and all 3 were assembled with Lubriplate. When they were tore back down all 3 had Lubriplate plugged up in the oil pump suction screen. All 3 gradually lost oil pressure, but they weren't caught until the damage to the crank was done. Don't know if there was too much Lubriplate used or if the Lubriplate was to old. This happened years ago, I haven't used it for anything since. The red assembly lube is my go to.

Whoever did that with the Lubriplate must have used WAY too much. I would think that a gear type pump would develop enough suction to pull the lubriplate thru the screen, unless there was a leak somewhere in the suction piping to the pump. Had another thought that STP Oil Treatment might make a decent assembly lube. It definitely stays where you put it and will eventually mix with the oil.
I used lubriplate on my pressure oiled 216, but didn't overdo it. Just a light coating on the bearing surfaces and a dab on each cam lobe.

I once used straight STP as assembly lube- - - - -until several engines I built developed oil-related problems shortly after startup. Haven't used it for engine assembly in about 40 years.
Jerry

Many different types of Lubriplate, if it's not labled " engine asm. lube don't use it.

The last time I used STP was in a straight tooth transmission over 50 years ago. It worked fine until temps got down in the 30's and I nearly bent the shift lever. LOL!

Thanks for all of the input, guys.

It'll be a little while until it gets installed and fired up - hopefully in the next month or so, so I'll be using a product that won't drip off.

I've seen the white lubriplate type grease so thick it comes out of the tube like tooth paste, most is oily and loose, the thick stuff should not be used.

Lucas oil additive seems to be used a lot instead of STP, Lucas is sticky and stringy.