servicing - oils required?

[digger64]

hi all,

morrie is nearly due for her 3000 mile service (which will be the first time that i have attempted it!!), and i'm wondering if any of you could point me in the right direction for oils....

i've got a haynes manual, but none of the listed oils exist anymore and the nice helpful chaps at halfords and the like just give me blank looks when i ask about substitutes.

should i use the same oil in the gearbox as i do in the engine? what about the rear axel and steering gear? and is general grease ok to use on all the grease nipples? what should i have in the oil can???

now for a really dumb question... do they still make lockheed super heavy brake fluid?

also there's a point in the haynes which says ' repack the hubs with grease' - does this actually need doing?

if there are any other hints and tips then these would be greatly received

cheers!

[bmcecosse]

20W50 oil in the engine - the ASDA stuff is fine! Could also use in gearbox - but 10W40 is better - less drag. Rear axle uses EP90 oil - and grease is best in the steering rack. Just use normal brake fluid - it is a good idea to bleed new stuff through once a year. Grease for the kingpins and the handbrake cables - and the Track rod ends if they have nipples. And no - don't worry about repacking bearings !!

[billlobban]

As long as it is not an MM use any 20w/50 oil in the engine and gearbox (although I believe some use 10w/50 in the 'box)
Back Axle - Hypoid EP90 Gear oil, Steering Rack - same (although some use grease instead) Grease - multipurpose grease such as Castrol LM
Brake fluid any modern fluid will do I think its called DOT4
oil can - oil
Dont spend a fortune on engine oil I use Comma cheap stuff but Asda, Tesco etc does fine I'm reliably told

If you have any problems put your questions on here Roy (BMCEcosse) or many of our technical wizards will keep you right

[chickenjohn]

Yes, I use Comma, Asda etc 20w50 oil. Fine as long as you change every 3000 miles. Make sure it is 20W 50 though.

for steering rack, unbolt the nipple and use an oil can to inject 20 squirts of EP90. It does not say "use grease" in all the manuals so I prefer not to (must be a reason for that?) but others seem to be fine with grease.

As for hubs, just make sure there is grease in there. If it is going dry then add more grease.

[bmcecosse]

All the racks on later cars (Minis etc etc) - of exactly the same rack construction - use grease in the racks! Must be a reason for that......

[chickenjohn]

well, my Minors steer perfectly on EP90 oil! Like is says in the manual.

[bmcecosse]

Indeed - but it's difficult to get it in there without making a mess - and the grease helps to dampen out rattles in the rack!

[chickenjohn]

easy, just unbolt the nipple and squirt in 20 strokes from an oil can. jack up the front (I do it when servicing the trunnions etc) and turn the steering wheel every few squirts.

To be honest, on the Minor, I dont see it being that critical either EP90 or grease.

[bmcecosse]

Me neither - each to their own!

[mike.perry]

What it does not tell you in the manual is to oil the back ends of the inner handbrake cable. This helps to stop the cable from rusting and fraying where it is exposed to all the road dirt.

[alex_holden]

what should i have in the oil can???

I use 3 in 1 oil for things like the door hinges, choke mechanism and dynamo bush.

now for a really dumb question... do they still make lockheed super heavy brake fluid?

Use DOT 4 unless the previous owner filled the system with silicone brake fluid.

if there are any other hints and tips then these would be greatly received

If you're unsure about the service history of the car, I would completely replace all the oils, brake fluid, damper fluid, and flush the cooling system rather than just topping them up. Don't forget to grease the clutch linkage. You might also want to check that the grease in the wiper motor hasn't dried up. You can still buy the proper SU carb dashpot oil in a little bottle but a lot of people use engine oil instead.

[bmcecosse]

But 3 in 1 is better!

[chickenjohn]

Yes, my cars seem to "pick up" a little better with 3 in 1 in the dashpot versus heavier oils.

[digger64]

excellent! good to have some advice from some experts in the minor field!! thanks very much. once it stops chucking it down i can crack on! cheers again!

[bmcecosse]

That's it - faster response from the piston, which allows more air into the engine. However - it 'may' need the idling mixture set slightly richer to make sure the engine doesn't 'gasp' when you open the throttle suddenly.

[dalebrignall]

dont forget to grease the ujs on the driveshaft and adjust the brakes see how clean the airfliter is battery leval as well

[MarkyB]

As for repacking the hubs I'd suggest removing the caps with a flat bladed screw driver tapped around the edge and look a the grease that's in there.
If it's brown and hard with cracks in the surface it's well past it's sell by date and needs replacing.

[alex_holden]

As for repacking the hubs I'd suggest removing the caps with a flat bladed screw driver tapped around the edge and look a the grease that's in there.
If it's brown and hard with cracks in the surface it's well past it's sell by date and needs replacing.

Trouble is replacing the grease in the bearings is not a quick or particularly easy job to do properly - pressing apart the bearings, washing all the parts in solvent, and reassembling it all with fresh grease. Simply replacing the bit of grease that you can get to when you take the dust cap off seems pretty pointless to me because 90% of the old grease is trapped in the bearings and the space between the bearings, and it's impossible to clean it all out without dismantling the hub.

[mike.perry]

Last time I changed the front bearings on my MM I was recommended by the supplier to fit sealed bearings which they claimed would last longer as the dirt would not be able to get into the bearing, and there was the added bonus of no more greasy hands particularly as the bearings are in the brake drum and have to come out every time the brakes are serviced.
It seemed like a good idea so I have one hub with grease and one with sealed bearings and I shall see which one lasts the longer

[bmcecosse]

How long have you got.........? Either set should last a good 30 or 40 years !