With the many options available today, finding the best engine assembly lube shouldn’t be a problem. Besides, now, than any other time in history, many online journals talk about virtually anything there is to find, making it easy to access whatever information you want.
For instance, I’m sure you are here because you want to get your hands on the best assembly lube for engine building and I can assure you that you are a few minutes away from doing that. However, before you get to the exact engine assembly lube you’ve been looking for, here is something you need to know.
Why Use Best Assembly Lube for Engine Building?
Put simply, engine grease is a must for any machine that has an engine. However, some people do not find it necessary to buy an engine lube thus decide to go for normal grease. That is why, it is important to answer this question, ‘is it necessary to use an engine assembly lube?
Well, compared with grease, engine assembly lube is less viscous, making it the ideal lubricant for the engine’s metallic parts. The assembly lube is especially important in lubricating the parts during startup.
Therefore, if you have a new machine or are trying to bring a machine that has stalled back to life, you’d better use the best assembly lube for engines. But, you may still ask, which is the best engine assembly lube for long term storage? So don’t worry keep reading.
Top 5 Best Engine Assembly Lube For Long Term Storage
Let’s look at some of the best engine assembly lube that experienced mechanics recommend for use if you want to achieve long term results.
1. Permatex 81950 Ultra Slick Engine Assembly Lube, 4 oz
Packaged in a durable metallic bottle, the 118-millimeter engine assembly is all you need to jumpstart a stalled engine. According to the manufacturer of this product, it is important to ensure your stalled machine has a proper lubrication in the engine’s important parts before you start it.
Thanks to its unique ultra-slickness, this engine assembly lube has one of the strongest adhesiveness you can ever imagine. With this great adhesiveness, you can easily prevent your machine’s engine parts from scuffing as well as galling when awakening it.
In order to meet desired results, you need to apply a liberal amount of this engine assembly lube to essential parts such as lifter, camshaft, bearings and other timing components before you start.
Key Features
- Thin viscosity.
- 118 millimeters.
- Made by Permatex.
- Weighs 8 ounces.
Pros
- Lubricates evenly.
- Offers long term engine part lubrication.
- Enough for bringing machine back to life.
- Ultra slick.
Cons
- Hard to drain all the contents from the bottle.
- Too sticky.
2. Lucas Oil LUC10153 Assembly Lube – 8 oz, Multi-Colored
With a weight of 0.45 pounds, this best engine assembly lube for long-term storage is packaged in a stunning and multi-colored metallic bottle. Away from packaging, this engine assembly lube is extremely easy to drain.
According to the maker, the lube is specifically designed to help technicians and mechanics to pre-lube filters, cams, bearings, and valve train before you start your machine.
Something important you must know about this lube is that it is semi-synthetic. As such, the lube is a mixture of MOLY, ZINC, and other high-end additives that offer additional protection to the essential parts inside your machine’s engine.
With all its ingredients, Lucas Oil LUC10153 Assembly Lube has a unique ability of eliminating dry starts thus preventing seizing scuffing and galling.
Key Features
- Semi-synthetic lube.
- Contains a mixture of zinc, moly and essential additives.
- Weighs 7.2 ounces.
- Made by Lucas Oil.
Pros
- Less viscous.
- Perfect lubrication.
- Strong additives.
- Easy to drain.
Cons
- One bottle may not be enough even on small machines.
3. Sta-Lube SL3331 Extreme Pressure Engine Assembly Lube, 10 Wt Oz
Unlike the two previous products, Sta-Lube SL3331 is a tube. Yes, you know how easy it is to drain the contents contained in a tube. You simply need to press and that is it. This lube for engine assembly weighs 0.69 pounds and the volume of the liquid itself is 10 ounces.
Although different from most products that I am going to talk about on this review, Sta-Lube SL3331 has a unique ability of ensuring that your machine engine parts do not incur friction.
Besides, the lube has been tested and has proved beyond reasonable doubt that when applied properly, it does offer protection against wear, galling, and other unnecessary complications that might erupt during startup.
For remarkable results, you need to ensure you use this engine assembly lube before or during assembly, that way, you will ensure all parts have been applied.
Key Features
- Made in China.
- Weighs 0.32 kilograms.
- Weighs 0.69 pounds.
- Tube packaging.
Pros
- Highly reliable.
- Perfect lubrication.
- Comes with special additives.
- Easy to drain.
- Easy application.
Cons
- You cannot buy and keep.
4. Red Line 80319 Liquid Assembly Lube, 12 Ounce, 1 Pack
Red Line Assembly Lube for engine weighs 0.21kgs with a liquid volume of 0.35 liters. According to the maker, this compound is a convenient version of a chemistry that is hardly found in the market today.
The product is solid thus, it is applied as a paste in a majority of machines. Thanks to its state, it is used as a means of stopping metals or parts from meeting to create unnecessary contact as well as wear.
Unlike a majority of engine lubes, this product works by ensuring that there are no plug filters after the initial machine startup. When you compare it with conventional greases, you will find out that Red Line 808319 has the ability to provide exceptional film strength.
In other words, this lube oil for engine is a corrosion and rust inhibitor that gives the engine’s internal parts a lengthy life than you can imagine.
Key Features
- Made in China.
- Vehicle specific.
- Weighs 0.55 pounds.
Pros
- Excellent corrosion and rust inhibitor.
- Ideal for lubricating the engine’s parts.
- Comes with additives.
- Doesn’t plug filters inside the engine.
Cons
- Supper runny.
- Engine specific.
5. COMP Cams 152 Cam and Lifter Installation Lube, 4 oz Bottle
The manufacturer agrees that the initial start is the most critical part of any machine especially the camshaft. As such, the manufacturer has designed the best engine assembly lube that can help during restart.
For desired results, Comp Cams, the manufacturer, suggests that you apply a liberal amount of the assembly lube to all the essential parts of the engine. The aim is to ensure no part remains dry when you are assembling the engine.
Of importance, you need to apply a generous amount of the lube into the lifters’ bottom as well as the distributor gear before you install the cam.
After doing that, the product will ensure that parts you have applied the lube do not wear out fast.
Key Features
- Made by Comp Cams.
- Weighs 4.8 ounces.
- Universal fit.
Pros
- Provides instant protection against wear.
- Easy to apply.
- Lubricates all engine parts.
- Sticky enough.
Cons
- You may need an extra bottle for a single cam.
Things to Consider Before Buying the Best Engine Assembly Lube
Before you make your final decision on what engine assembly lube you will go for, I urge you to look at the following pointers. I bet they will help you make the right choice:
Composition
Speaking of composition, engine assembly lubes come in two main compositions namely petroleum-based and Molybdenum sulfide-based lubricants. As you may be aware, Moly-based engine assembly lubes have been around for decades even centuries. In fact, some say the lubes have been in the market since 1800s.
As for petroleum-based, they came much later but the lubes have gained unprecedented popularity. However, here is what you need to know about the two that will help you make the right choice:
- Moly-based – they are famed for blending with most engine oils. Besides, they come with additives that help enhance engine performance after assembly. Whether the temperature or pressure is high or low, this lube does not change its structure. However, it is not a good choice for a camshaft because of its tiny silicone beads.
- Petroleum-based – the first thing about this is their price. Yes, they are relatively cheaper compared to Moly-based lubes and you can’t tell me that you don’t want to save! The other thing is that they are readily-soluble in engine oil. Most significantly, petroleum-based lubes have no limits. You can apply them generously on any part of your engine.
Mode of Application
The mode of application of an engine assembly lube depends on two things; the viscosity of the lube itself and the container in which the lube comes in. About the former, most lubes have the same viscosity, which is normally medium.
On the part of a container, packaging is usually diverse. You can get a lube in a metallic bottle, plastic bottle, or even a tube. Even with the tubes, there are those that are easy to open to apply, while others that are hard to apply.
In most cases, going for tubes with pointed lids that make it easy for you to apply would be a prudent choice.
Additives
This is key. Additives play an important role in your car engine. Some additives offer additional guard on the essential parts of the engine. Although you might not know out rightly, which additive is in the lube, some manufacturers point out on the label.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About The Best Assembly Lube for Engine Building
Q: Is the engine lube necessary?
A: Of course it is. Whereas the regular engine oil will take a few seconds to travel to all the needed parts, a well-chosen lube will travel much faster thus help during pre-assembly and startup thereafter.
Q: Where do I apply the assembly lube?
A: While the lube is labeled engine lube, it doesn’t mean you apply every part of the engine. Instead, you need to apply on the important parts that need surface protection against friction, corrosion and wear. Some of these parts include camshaft drive gears, valve stem tips, rocker arm, pushrod tips, distributor drive gears, blower drive gears, lifters, and of course the cams.
Q: How do I lube a cylinder?
A: The first step is to clean the piston. Then you apply the lube on the piston’s exposed parts. Lower, raise, and rotate the piston without the cover to lube all its parts.
Q: How do I lube a camshaft?
A: Lubing a cam depends entirely on its location. For a cam that is attached to the cylinder head, you will lube it through or using the head feed. Alternatively, you can lube it via passages that are in the main gallery.
Final Thoughts
Remember, when you are assembling a new or old engine, you are actually laying one metal over another or fixing two metals together. As you may beware, that machine will not move because there will be massive friction. Within no time, the metallic parts will wear out.
To prevent any further damage on the parts, you need the best engine assembly lube, which will take care of immediate friction and subsequent wear, corrosion, rust, and tears. Besides, we have also seen that you cannot equate grease with lube. Thanks to its viscosity, mode of application and function, the best assembly lube for engine building will go a long way in helping your engine during assembly and startup.
