MTFCA Forum

Where should the oil level be in a car Ruckstell, the book says add 1qt for car and one inch below the plug on a truck so when checking a car, how for below the plug should the oil level be?

I fill mine till it starts to run back out.

I run about 1" down....if you fill tell it runs out, axle seals seem to leak more.

Les

Ruckstell instructions. Mine is filled to just tiny dripping at the oil fill /level check plug.

The oil level is the same as the standard rear end.

Wasn’t the oil fill hole lowered in late cars, recognizing that the earlier hole allowed too much lubricant? Also, in an aging car, you’ll get motor oil down the torque tube, diluting the axle lubricant. Larry, plug yer ears, but a lot of people install a small pipe plug at the very bottom, so it can be changed easily. Good neoprene inner and outer seals and a drain plug are a great idea,IMHO if you are rebuilding an axle.

From the Encyclopedia;
1915-1919
New “standard” design adopted about March 1915. Tubular axle housings inserted into center section. Early 1915 brake backing plates did not have reinforcing ribs (added in October 1915). Oil filler hole just below centerline.

1919-1921
Similar to 1918 but now machined for a gasket between the two halves. Oil filler now 1-3/4” below the centerline. Driveshaft modified in 1920 to use new forged bearing sleeve. Outer oil seal cups larger in diameter due to machining change in the axle tubes. 4-1 gears became available in July 1919. At first these were a 48-tooth ring and a 12-tooth pinion but by January 1920 the 10-tooth pinion which could be used with the standard ring gear replaced the first type.

More then likely you have the 1919-1927 type center section. The lube level on those would be to the bottom of the filler hole.

So what exactly is the equivalent of “Gargoyle Mobiloil C” ?

Thanks to all. Somewhere I had read to keep it lower than the fill plug but guess that must have meant for the earlier housing.

My understanding is Ford lowered the oil hole in 1918, but it's still not low enough! I've seen some Ruckstell housings with a boss for a drain plug, but that's it. I saw a Canadian housing once that had a drain plug in it.

One important thing about filling the Ruckstell after service. While it is apart, pour some oil into the inner part of the Ruckstell. There are only some small holes to receive oil so you need to get some inside while it is still being assembled. Then after you fill the oil, let it sit a while, preferably overnight so the oil can get in and the air get out of the small openings. Before you drive the car check the oil level again to be sure it has enough.
Norm