Lubricants for

Has Lionel issues a recommendation on lubricants?

If Lionel suggested anything it would probably be there own product like using their own smoke fluid.

I have found the Exelle line of oils and lubricants to be good.

 

 

I use Red & Tacky and XL. lubricants.

 

 

http://megasteam.com/lubricants.html

Can't speak for Vision Line locos, but have been using Bosch Purple Grease for over 30 years now. A single application lasts between 10 and 15 years.

 

jackson

I use 5W-20 motor oil for everything.  It is cheap.  It doesn't bother plastic, and it never dries out.  I have 50+ years of experience with motor oil.  The vapor pressure of motor oil at 100C is 10^-2 torr.  A torr is a millimeter of mercury.  Atmospheric pressure at sea level is 760 mm of mercury.  At room temperature, the vapor pressure of motor oil is about 10^-5 torr which is very low.  Motor oil doesn't evaporate in your cars engine, and the oil temperatue in a car is about 100C.  I cannot find vapor pressure information on other lubricants, so I cannot recommend them.  Lubricants I avoid are WD-40, 3 in 1 oil, sewing machine oil, white lithium grease (which turns to concrete), Lionel Lube, any light grease, LaBelle products (since there is no published information on vapor pressure), etc.  I never have to clean dried oil out of my locos or rolling stock.

I'm still using Red and Tacky and swear by it.  Since I switched to Red and Tacky several years ago I have found my post-war engines run quieter and smoother. 

I do the same.

I have switched to Red and Tacky for the gears on my pw locos and 5-20 motor oil for axles. I recently got a couple of 1946 turbines-671 and 2020 that were serviced when I bought them but sounded like coffee grinders.  Cleaned them up and used the above and they are much quieter running now. Am going to do the same for my other pw locos.

What is Red and Tacky? Where do I find it? Does it come in tubs or tubes?

Red and Tacky #2 is a multi-purpose grease made by Lucas Oil Products Inc. which you  can find at most auto motive stores.  It comes in a 14 ounce tube which will last you for an eternity.  Its great stuff.