Assembly Lube Use in Engine Rebuild Question

[LarryMaine]

Am getting ready to rebuild my 172 in Ford 850 gas engine. I want to use Lubriplate 105. My question is, is there any place I should not use assembly lube? I have read that some lubes should not be used on cam lobes, but I was planning on using the Lubriplate on just about everything that moves, from new oil pump gears, lifters, cam, push rods, cam and rod bearings and piston rings/cylinder sleeve interiors. If you have any experience in this, I would be appreciative of what you could share. Thanks to all, Larry.

 

[RESLLS]

For the pistons fill a can with oil just big enough to submerge piston above the wrist pin. Dunk the piston, while you are installing that one put the next one in the can. I use 1 pint of stp oil treatment to 1 quart of oil. I use cam lube or straight Stp on cam lobes. Last 2 motors I put together I used STP for everything, no lubriplate. The last was a 450 hp 400 Ford. It is driven almost daily (now resides in Texas). Has made the trip from Michigan to Texas probably 2 dozen times in the last 5 years, still runs great and no oil burning.

 

[Lynerd]

Larry I don't think I would use the Lubriplate on the rings or bearings. I use Clevite assembly lube on the rod and main bearings and motor oil on the rings. Lynn

 

[old]

EVERY engine I ever rebuilt I use STP oil treatment on all the parts plus on my fingers before I touched any thing. After finding finger prints on rod bearing I learned you do not touch a part till your fingers are covered

 

[Texasmark1]

Lubriplate brand # 105, semi-liquid grease, primarily designed for engine rebuilding....it stays where you put it and flushes out with hot oil pressure when the running engine warms up. White tube sea foam turquoise cap available at most auto parts stores.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

X2 STP.
Been over 40 years ago since I last rebuilt an engine.
STP worked for me.
George

 

[Goose]

I've always used a mix of half STP and half engine oil. I don't see how anything in an engine could disagree with that.

 

[Steve@Advance]

If the engine is going into storage after it is rebuilt, then the various assembly greases are best to use.

Some engines have the oil pump mounted above the oil level. They will prime easier if the gears are coated with assembly grease. This applies more so for a stored engine. Otherwise be sure it is primed with oil before starting.



If it is immediately going into service, oil on the bearings is sufficient.

If a new cam and lifters are going in, the cam will probably come with special grease. Use it as the manufacturer suggests and follow the break in procedure.

 

[jd man wis]

Sounds like we all have very good ideas on what to use an how to use what works. Iv use all of them at times with good luck. The main thing is to at least use something on the parts on a rebuild. Lot of car or truck motors I would build a drive tool to run the oil pump some to also supply oil to the parts inside an check oil pressure.

 

[Hdonly]

I soak hydraulic lifters in ATF, lube all the bearings with white lithium grease, use cam assembly lube on cam, dip the pistons in motor oil and coat the cylinders before installing pistons, fill the oil pump full of oil, oil on all the rocker arms as I install them and lastly, pour motor oil over the rockers, valves and pushrods just before closing the engine up with the valve covers. I have rebuilt many engines with this method and have never had a failure.

 

[Mike Groom]

I overhauled Lycoming and Continental aircraft engines at a major facility and we used a lubriplate and STP mixture on everything with great sucess.

 

[Dopp Creek]

Hey Mike-

I just had a flashback to Lycoming SI 1059. I worked for Engine Components out of San Antonio for years. ECI was a repair station for cylinders, crankcases, cams, cranks, etc. Where did you work? Tim

 

[Destroked 450]

I used Lubriplate 105 for years on bearing and a moly graphite past on the cam and lifters

When I was rebuilding my 5.9 Cummins half dozen years ago I tried some CRC Sta-Lube that is much like Lubriplate 105 but has moly graphite as well, really impress with how it clings to the cam and doesn't drip off if the engine sets for a while before being installed.

I now use Sta-Lube for everything during engine assembly except the pistons and rings, they get whatever oil I'll be running in that engine

 

[560Dennis]

Something to consider
https://goodson.com/products/eag-8-engine-assembly-gel?utm_campaign=Newsletter-4%2F19%2F21%20%28ThZgL7%29&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Klaviyo&_ke=eyJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIk1VV2ZheSIsICJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJmYXJtYWxsc2NAaWNsb3VkLmNvbSJ9
Mister race oil assembly lube

 

[560Dennis]

Mister Race Oil Assembly Gel sorry dont know why .goto Goodson .com

 

[LarryMaine]

Wow!!! Thanks everyone for all the info. I wanted to use the Lubriplate because it will effectively dissolve in the motor oil and not clog my oil filter, etc. I think I will adopt some of your knowledge and use the stp on lifter and cam lobes, and stp plus motor oil on pistons and rings. Will stick with Lubriplate on some other things like the new pump gears. Adding a quart of oil to the valve assembly is also a good idea I did not think of. Sounds like no one has had a really bad experience, of course we never hear about the bad experiences. Really, I mean it, thank you to all who helped me out on this one. Parts should all be in by end of this week and if machine shop gets me head decked and valve seats ground this week, I may have it all done by next weekend. Best to all, Larry.

 

[Texasmark1]

I remember with the plugs and distributor out, a drill on a long shaft with a flat blade welded on the end, you stick it down the dist hole and run the drill....since the dist usually mounts on the top of the oil pump shaft you can run up a few PSI throughout the whole engine before starting.