Lube throttle linkages with ATF?
 

Hi,

Tomorrow when I change my oil I want to lube up the throttle linkages I see. RIght now they are real dirty and filled with some grease. I want to clean them out with a paper towel, and then lube them up.
I have read on here to use ATF. Why? It is reallyt light, and isnt going to stay in the linkages.
Ill use it, but Id like to know why it is suggested.
Or, is wheel bearing grease a better bet, its tough stuff...
Thanks

JMH

How about white grease? Three 126s, all bought used from different owners, all have white grease in the linkages.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD ... any takers at $1100? no charge for white grease :)

Use Q-tips and WD-40 to clean out the sockets and, like sixto says - use white grease.

By the way, I think Q-tips also work for cleaning out ones ears and ATF should probably be put in the tranny :)

What's the difference between white grease and wheel bearing grease? I've got some salt water resistant wheel bearing grease (meant for boat trailer wheel bearing sets) that I would think would work...especially in the salty air of being right on the water so much (my car spends a lot of time at the port of Redwood City :)).

I probably need to do my throttle linkage, and if I remember right, the white grease is also what you're supposed to use on the door hinges, right?

I like to use the white lithium grease. It seems to make the car happy.

Ken300D

MB says ATF & its supposed to be done at every oil change!

Not many do that in the U.S.

I like White Lithium Grease,,, what Chrysler used to call type A lub... like for door hinges...
But maybe waterproof grease.. like is used in water pumps would be good also...
Much depends on how often and with what equipment one washes the engine compartment....

I use white grease (Lubriplate, to be exact) but ATF is also acceptable. I would not use anything else though. This can eliminate some cruise control surging if your linkage sockets are dry. :)

Other dumb question :) but where do you get the white grease from?

Albino dinosaurs. Quite rare. :D

I think it is packaged as " Assembly Grease".... used when putting engines together because it will stick to the rings and pistons long enough for the oil to get to them ...
However, for assembly I have switched to MolybdenumDiSulfide (?) Assembly grease... it is pretty much black...

Any self respecting auto parts store should carry it...

JHZR2

I think that what you use depends upon where you are driving the car. Through the years I have used everything from axle grease to 20 wt oil to ATF with good results. I think the best was some water-resistant grease that I had for the winches on my sailboat. If all of your driving is on relatively dust-free roads, grease works just fine. If, however, you occasionally have to drive on gravel roads (the cabin where we spend the summer is on a gravel road), then I would definitely use either ATF or light oil, and would clean them more often. Grease would tend to pick up dirt too quickly.

Wes