08-08-2022, 11:59 AM
There appears to have been much discussion over the years about the suitability (or otherwise) of oils in Austin Sevens. What seems to have passed owners by is the fact that motor oils have improved incomparably in the last 90 or so years since our cars were first built and their lubricating properties have increased beyond all recognition. They are all rather more slippery, can withstand greater bearing pressures and are more stable than hitherto.
Given that our cars do comparatively few miles each year (Mine is considered well used at about 5K miles per annum) I would suspect that choice of lubricant is rather a matter of personal opinion. For instance, my car runs on a good quality 10W/40 semi-synthetic motor oil for the engine and gearbox and a good quality straight SAE140 for the steering box and rear axle. The car has now done 113K miles in its life. The engine has its original crank and bearings and is still running on a rebore to 20 thou that was probably done in the fifties or early sixties. So far as I am aware, neither the gearbox nor the back axle have been overhauled during its life and make no worrying noises. The gearbox whines like a banshee in second, but don't they all(?) and the rear axle hums, but, Heigh Ho, the car is nearly ninety years old and is as reliable as Old Nick.
It is, however, regularly serviced, The engine oil level is checked every time it goes out, and the chassis points are greased and the gearbox, steering box and rear axle levels checked every 1250 miles. It is my opinion, therefore, that, provided the oils used are suitable for the application using the spirit of the recommendations in the handbook and the levels are maintained, all will be well and choice of lubricants will be purely a matter of preference.
Given that our cars do comparatively few miles each year (Mine is considered well used at about 5K miles per annum) I would suspect that choice of lubricant is rather a matter of personal opinion. For instance, my car runs on a good quality 10W/40 semi-synthetic motor oil for the engine and gearbox and a good quality straight SAE140 for the steering box and rear axle. The car has now done 113K miles in its life. The engine has its original crank and bearings and is still running on a rebore to 20 thou that was probably done in the fifties or early sixties. So far as I am aware, neither the gearbox nor the back axle have been overhauled during its life and make no worrying noises. The gearbox whines like a banshee in second, but don't they all(?) and the rear axle hums, but, Heigh Ho, the car is nearly ninety years old and is as reliable as Old Nick.
It is, however, regularly serviced, The engine oil level is checked every time it goes out, and the chassis points are greased and the gearbox, steering box and rear axle levels checked every 1250 miles. It is my opinion, therefore, that, provided the oils used are suitable for the application using the spirit of the recommendations in the handbook and the levels are maintained, all will be well and choice of lubricants will be purely a matter of preference.