transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
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Topic author - Posts: 304
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- First Name: Dennis
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transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
Wjen reassembling a transmission after a rebuild, is it just personal preference to use oil vs assembly grease or bearing saver on the bushings and mating surfaces? Maybe potential long sit time for he parts warrants a smear of grease?
'24 RPU
Petoskey, Mi
Petoskey, Mi
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- First Name: Alan
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Re: transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
I have only ever used Engine or Auto Trans oil when assembling a transmission. Just my preference really as I then fill the engine with oil via the transmission inspection cover to give it another dose just before start up.
I would hate to have a Triple Gear Bush (or other) seize because grease wasn’t up to the lubrication qualities and / or
blocked oil entering the critical areas. I have no evidence to support either theory
Alan in Western Australia
I would hate to have a Triple Gear Bush (or other) seize because grease wasn’t up to the lubrication qualities and / or
blocked oil entering the critical areas. I have no evidence to support either theory
Alan in Western Australia
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Topic author - Posts: 304
- Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2019 10:13 pm
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Re: transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
Alan...
I kinda wondered the same about the grease potentially clothing the oil groves in the bushings. I have engine build lube, but think I'll stick with the oil in my oil can.
thanks!
I kinda wondered the same about the grease potentially clothing the oil groves in the bushings. I have engine build lube, but think I'll stick with the oil in my oil can.

'24 RPU
Petoskey, Mi
Petoskey, Mi
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Re: transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
Use the same oil you intend to run in your engine !
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Re: transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
If the rebuild might sit a while I mixed STP with engine oil
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Re: transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
I've seen 60W oil used.
The inevitable often happens.
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1923 Touring
1915 Runabout
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Re: transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
Cars that have been sitting for years are started with just the oil (ok maybe after an oil change) that is in them. Of course they are a little looser from wear.
While a lite grease may be ok, stay away from the white stuff. It tends to cake up from sitting a while and is hard to wash out. I use heavy oil or same as what will be going into engine.

I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup

1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
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Re: transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
In my teen years I worked at a auto transmission rebuilding shop and we'd use grease on seals and transmission oil on bushings/clutch plates. We'd build up an inventory of transmissions so some would sit for a few months before use, never an issue.
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Re: transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
Too add; I have seen photos of engines that were rusted up hunks of scrap iron that had been sitting for years out in the weather, when pulled down still had signs of oil in the crank and rods.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas!
1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup

1925 Cut down pickup
1948 Ford F2 pickup
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Topic author - Posts: 304
- Joined: Sun Mar 03, 2019 10:13 pm
- First Name: Dennis
- Last Name: Hoshield
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- Location: Petoskey, MI
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Re: transmission rebuild: assymbly grease vs oil
As this will 'hopefully' just be a week or two before it's assymbled and installed on the car, I'll just go with regular or transmission fluid so everything has a smear of oil.
Thanks, all!
Thanks, all!
'24 RPU
Petoskey, Mi
Petoskey, Mi