FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Hi,
Need the oil re-fill capacity for the Grey motor's oil bath air cleaner?
Can I use Mobilube HD 80W-90 Trans/Diff oil?
Or would Penrite HPR 50 Engine Oil - 40W-70, be better?
Cheers

Not sure of volume, but they were originally filled with SAE 50 engine oil. This is a single grade, non-winter oil (i.e. not SAE 50W, nor 5W50).

SAE50 can be hard to find. It is a heavy oil, much heavier than engine oil. As a comparison, it is close to SAE90 gear oil. Mobilube HD 80W-90 is a fair bit thinner than SAE90 gear oil.

Supercheap sell a SAE90 gear oil, though it has LSD additives... may not be a good thing for air cleaning.

Autobarn sell Penrite Transoil 90 SAE90 gearoil in 1L bottles. It is additive free, and probably as close as you will get to the original.

Having said that, I reckon there are a hell of a lot of oilbath cleaners out there running normal engine oil  ;D

Cheers,
Harv (deputy apprentice tribologist)

Many thanks for that information Harv.
So I will use the Penrite Transoil 90 SAE90 gear oil in the oil bath cleaner and in the gearbox.
What is best for the rear axle, Penrite Mild EP? :-\

The diffs were originally filled with SAE90 oil too, though with an EP additive. EP additives reduce wear for high stress (Extreme Pressure) machinery. The Transoil 90 will not be suitable for the diff, as it has no EP additives.

Penrite Mild EP is an SAE110 oil... a little thicker than the SAE90 used in early Holden diffs, but could do the job. Could equally use an 80W-90 EP gear oil (SuperCheap and Autobarn have a few to choose from). The Mobilube HD 80W-90 would do the job if you had a bottle already, though it is really meant for heavy use (e.g. commercial) applications.

Cheers,
Harv

Many thanks again Harv.
 :)

The oil bath air cleaner's capacity is about 525-530mls

Can anyone let me know if you have to re-oil the metal gauze filter elements (in both the carby mounted oil bath air cleaner top cover and the engine rocker cover mounted oil fill cap air filters) after cleaning them with kero?
I assume so.
If so, how much is enough?
Cheers

Manual says re oil with SAE 90, doesn't say how much. I've always just poured some in until the oil starts to run out.

Ken

Makes sense to me. Think I'll wait overnight for all the kero to dry out completely first. Then re-oil both with the SAE 90.
(Might have to use an eye dropper for the oil fill cap).
Thanks, as ever, for your help Ken.

Bit late 2 add 2 this but all oil bath aircleaners are stamed inside to what oil level is.
HOLDEN WORKSHOP MANUAL states  SAE 50 Engine or SAE90 straight mineral oil.
Just remember  that these cars were mainly  driven on dirt roads.
These days on bitumen , u could run sump oil if u had to. NO BIGGIE.

yep ,the level is clearly pressed into the oil reservoir in the cleaner ,with indicating arrows as well for those who can't find their glasses ..Vern

Fully aware of that oil level marking in the oilbath aircleaners- I just wanted to know how many millilitres of oil I needed to buy (too lazy to measure it for myself ;D)

hey rabbito,I put my glasses on and got out a oil bath air cleaner and filled it with water to the fill mark ,it measured 650 to 660 mls..I spilt a bit..so trust that helps ,mate ...go the Eels ,when footy happens again..cheers vern..