Grease Monkies Only (or the What lube are you using thread)

[Mercguy]

I know EVERY forum out there relating to moving machinery has an oil / lube thread.

No I'm not going to duplicate them or start another bob the oil guy web page or any such conjecture.

I simply want to get down to brass tacks. I want to know what you use in your vehicle. Not what you'd like to use, or why you think something else should be used for whatever reasoning - no, none of that. Just what you have in your vehicle right now. You can subjectify your response afterwards (read on).

Please don't reply to this thread without answering the following questions below in your reply first. After that, feel free to extrapolate on WHY you chose a specific brand, if the reason is specific, and anything other than simply changing brands / price.

Questionnaire:

Vehicle year of construction (MY):

KM reading on odometer:

Original drivetrain -

engine Y / N
transmission Y /N
transfer case Y / N
differentials Y / N (if N, specify which axle replaced F / R / Both )

Engine specification -
a. 3.5 carb
b 3.5 efi
c. 3.9 efi
d. other (specify)

Transmission type -
a. manual (pls specify - e.g. LT77 / LT90 / R380 etc)
b automatic (specify - e.g. TF727 / ZF 4HP22 / other)


1. Please specify exactly what lubrication products (brand/specification) you use for the following:

a. engine
b. gearbox/transmission
c. transfer case
d. universal joints / grease nipples / balljoints (incl load adjuster where appropriate)
e. differentials
f. cv joints
g. swivel housing
h. wheel bearings
j. body lubrication points (e.g. hinges / locks etc)

optional info:
k. damper oil weight/brand (if you rebuild your own)
l. filter brands / part numbers (e.g. mahle OC261 oil filter)

2. When / where / how do you service your vehicle?

a. I do it myself -
i. service intervals at my discretion
ii. follow factory intervals religiously
iii. I'm a little relaxed and only service when I feel it's required / after I check something and find it's not optimal
iv. other (specify detail)

b. I have a professional service the vehicle for me -
i. they specify everything after inspecting the vehicle
ii. they only service what I specifically ask them to do
iii. they do only the minimum required to maintain the vehicle in a roadworthy state, because I do everything mechanical except when something is out of my area of expertise / beyond my skillset.
iv. other (specify detail)

c. I have a mate, and we help each other out when big mechanical jobs need doing -
i. I rely on them constantly - my vehicle always has something failing
ii. The arrangement is reciprocating, we both have about the same level of maintenance, or we share tools equally.
iii. I have a hoist and everyone is always 'dropping in' to borrow it (and I'm getting sick of their lack of compensation, my beer fridge is always empty)
iv. other (specify)

Now this is not a thread for argument over what is better or worse. Please keep those opinions out.
The idea is simply to sample the RRC owner population, and determine what is used and how maintenance is performed.

There is no right or wrong answer. Just honest answers and no BS please.

If you do everything yourself, then great.
If you get someone else to do everything and you haven't the foggiest, then that's fine too.

All this thread is trying to gauge is simply what products / specifications are being used and how those products are being applied - whether it be DIY or 'professionally' (I use that word very loosely).

[Mercguy]

I'll kick off the responses.
Here's my RRC -

Vehicle year of construction (MY): Oct 1991

KM reading on odometer: 314072

Original drivetrain -

engine Y
transmission Y (but rebuilt professionally @ 290,000km)
transfer case Y
differentials Y

Engine specification - D
a. 3.5 carb
b 3.5 efi
c. 3.9 efi
d. other (specify)

Transmission type - B - 4HP22

a. manual (pls specify - e.g. LT77 / R380 etc)
b automatic (specify - e.g. TF727 / ZF 4HP22 / other)


1. Please specify exactly what lubrication products (brand/specification) you use for the following:

a. engine - Penrite HPR 15 synthetic
b. gearbox/transmission Penrite DX-III (existing)
c. transfer case Penrite DX-III (existing)
d. universal joints / grease nipples / balljoints (incl load adjuster where appropriate) Castrol LMM / EPL 2 (as per service manual specification for lubrication points where appropriate)
e. differentials Redline Lightweight Shockproof gear oil
f. cv joints - home made mixture ?one-shot? 50/50 blend of Redline superlight shockproof and CV-2 Grease
g. swivel housing see above
h. wheel bearings Castrol HTB
j. body lubrication points (e.g. hinges / locks etc) Castrol PH

optional info:
k. damper oil weight/brand (if you rebuild your own) - have not yet rebuilt / changed oil (dampers are koni)
l. filter brands / part numbers (e.g. mahle OC261 oil filter)

Mahle OC261 oil
Mahle KL158 fuel
FIAMM FL6883 air filter
have not done trans filter service yet.

2. When / where / how do you service your vehicle?

a. I do it myself -
iv. other (specify detail)
I have owned this vehicle less than 6 months. I have performed all routine service interval inspection / lubrication in accordance with the service schedule - except for transmission and transfer case, which are not listed as required. However those fluids have been inspected and found to be fine.

b. I have a professional service the vehicle for me -
iv. other (specify detail)
The vehicle was professionally serviced by Graeme Cooper for the last 11 years by P.O. It is exceptionally well maintained. Since owning the vehicle the routine maintenance has been documented by myself and the complex jobs outside my abilities will be left to them to perform, where my servicing equipment is not adequate. (e.g. requiring a hoist)

c. I have a mate, and we help each other out when big mechanical jobs need doing -
iv. other (specify)
N/A. Would be nice if someone nearby had a hoist for beer arrangement though. it's a long way to St Peters from my house.


So far, all indications are the religious service schedule of every 5000km under the P.O. has proven to be quite adequate. Insofar as maintenance items are concerned only minimal mechanical work outside lubrication servicing has been required. The use of Redline oils was not considered for any other reason other than it is what I have in stock for servicing the Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Given the servicing interval for differential / swivel hubs, The use of Redline oil products may prove to either extend the servicing interval or simply ineffective in this case. Only time will tell.