Cam shaft lubricant

[SinaiTSi]

I'm in the process of rebuilding my head right now and I was just reading a magazine about a 4G63 build-up and one thing they mentioned wast that they put a generous amount of cam shaft lubricant on. I went to Advance and they didn't have any cam shaft lubricant, only white lithium grease. Is the lithium grease ok to use, or is there a special type of lubricant? Thanks.

 

[bloody_angel111]

you can use that im sure, just plain old engine oil will work, its what i used, hell, one time i didnt use anything, cams still turned, but still, it wasnt smart to do. so oil will work, even the manual suggests oil

 

[SinaiTSi]

You didn't notice and adverse effects at all? No weird noises or anything? If you just used oil, I'll probably throw a little bit of lithium grease on, just to be safe.

 

[bloody_angel111]

i did have a ticking noise the time i used oil, but nothing the time i didnt use any, but the ticking is lifters im sure, since its cold out, and take a while for the lifters to get lubed properly, and whatnot, just make sure you lube everything, the journals and the lobes, and around the bearing caps as well

 

[Quasimondo]

Get some assembly lube to put on the cam journals and the cam caps. Before starting up the engine, take a quart of oil and pour it over both cams.

 

[steve]

Just ask the guys for assembly lube.

Steve

 

[SinaiTSi]

What guys, like at Advance or something? Cause I'm working from my home, it just came from the shop, they put the springs retainers in and i'm doing rockers, cams, that stuff. Also, could I just use lithium grease, I have a lot of that and it will do the same thing right?

 

[SinaiTSi]

My basic question really is just that, is there one specific type of cam lubricant or is lubricant just lubricant, like the lithium grease. The lady at autozone I talked to said that her husband just used lithium grease whenever he was redoing a head, so that's why I think lithium would work. I'd really just want to know because I need to get this done now and I don't want anything done wrong.

 

[steve]

What guys, like at Advance or something?

Since that's where you said you went, that's who the guys were.

Steve

 

[SinaiTSi]

Ok, just trying to clear that up. But, the thing is, the only lubricant they head was white lithium grease. I think i'm just gonna use that, but the only thing is what all do you grease up, the journals and caps like quasimondo suggested, but also the lobes too?

 

[Defiant]

Try the Real Parts Store next door, the one that deals with V-8s instead of Hondas and Hyundais. It's a bit better to have real assembly lube than lithium, especially for the cams (although the DSM roller followers do save you a lot).

 

[drivemusicnow]

Try the Real Parts Store next door, the one that deals with V-8s instead of Hondas and Hyundais. It's a bit better to have real assembly lube than lithium, especially for the cams (although the DSM roller followers do save you a lot).

Hmm not sure which store you're talking about. My personal favorites are:

The Big Orange Race Car Parts Store (home depot)
Napa
... Yeah thats about it. for basic stuff i'll go to a autozone or advance auto, but I prefer the pepboys/car quest type of stores.

 

[SinaiTSi]

I just used a little lithium on the caps and "U" supports on the head itself that the journals rest in and I gave the cams themselves a nice heavy coat of oil before bolting them down. My car repair manual says you can use just a nice coat of oil over everything as a substitute for assembly lube, but I decided to use a little bit of lithium grease just to be on the safe side.

 

[project_tsi]

I just used a liberal amount of new oil and never, ever had a issue w/ ticking or anything to that matter.

 

[dsm-onster]

I just used a liberal amount of new oil and never, ever had a issue w/ ticking or anything to that matter.

I second that. I had my datsun head in pieces in the living room and coated everything in oil as i was putting her back to ghether then filled her up with oil with the valve cover off after I dropped it on the block. She ran slick as a top. Considering that motor oil is all that your valvetrain should see for the life of your engine, it'll probably suffice .