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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Red rubber grease

Red rubber grease I see is vegetable and classed as NLGI 2.5 (being slightly firmer than 2) and I realise there will be other differences but other than the expense could it be used instead of general grease (NLGI 2) on the front suspension and handbrake cable?

I've no idea about red rubber grease (other than being better for rubber) would it break down too quickly if used in this way?

Thing is I've got a tin of red rubber grease that I'll not use up in my life time but I need to go and buy a tin of general purpose grease.
Nigel Atkins

I have 4kg of Castrol red rubber grease, probably enough to keep the entire BBS community stocked for more than my lifetime!
However I use high temp bearing grease for bearings and other chassis greasing applications, what you're suggesting is potentially false economy.
David Smith

Thanks for your reply David, I rather thought it might not be a runner. I've only got 500g in comparison to your bulk tin but I can't see how an average owner would ever use that much.

I'm happy to use any better quality product where required, any recommendations welcome of which (make & model) grease to use on front suspension and handbrake cable regular servicing.
Nigel Atkins

I would use it up on non-loadbearing applications, where water repelling is more important. So, for example, smearing it over leaf springs might make the ride more compliant and avoid any squeeking. Door strikers/locks perhaps? And it probably works quite well at keeping water out of bullet connectors, keeping the rubber shroud from drying out and going hard. It will still last a long time though!
GuyW

I used to use Castrol LM which has had its name changed. Looks like this now:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-400g-Cartridge-Castrol-High-Temperature-Grease-Roller-Wheel-Bearings/311007152662
I don't find the cartridges easy to use, so maybe this would be better?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/COMMA-Multipurpose-Lithium-Grease-500g-UNIVERSAL-BEARING-GREASE/173159558818
David Smith

The draw back to using veggie oil is everything it touches will smell like cholesterol free French fries.


Prop
1 Paper

Thanks for your reply and links David. The Comma Multipurpose 500g tub is what I've just run out of. I can wait for 3 months now and see if Castrol come back with 500g tubs.
Nigel Atkins

Arrh, but Prop, the advantage is that you can wipe your fingers on the sandwiches you eat whilst doing the work without the taste of petrol.
Nigel Atkins

David makes a good point. Whatever is written in the ancient texts has to be translated into modern English. Followers of BMC whose belief system mandates they take the Driver’s Handbook (for instance) as literal truth – rather than a work of imagination based firmly in the social mores of the time – they are likely to face some difficult choices:

Hi-Press, Grease H or Expee Compound? Retinax or Spirax? Energrease or Energol? Ambroline LHT or Ambroleum?

Finding NOS cans of these might be possible on eBay (though Ambroleum might be a bit of struggle). But could you be sure you were not mistakenly buying Castrollo, Adcoid Liquid, Filtrate Petroyle or Sternol Magikoyl?

Did BM/BL ever recommend Red Robbo grease? Seems unlikely somehow ... :-)
Tom Coulthard

"Red Robbo grease" - love it!
David Smith

Tom,
you must be reading from the old book mine has as David put, Castrol LM, perhaps he was quoting from the good book!

I was hoping things might have moved on, developed, but I've found mechanical and engineering stuff with cars tends to be from the last century and even the century before that.

I was hoping to at least find fully synthetics with synthetic additives, 1970's technology, to match when my car was made, even if its technology was from decades earlier.

You can still get Filtrate and Mobilgrease MP but not Castrol LM unless sticking stock perhaps.

I might get the lithium grease coloured red for the fun of it. :)
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 16/02/2018 and 17/02/2018

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