Reply To: Sticky Blue Grease in 1908 Transmission?

[Luke Dwyer]

Best way to remove the blue goop is to remove the transmission and turn it upside down to let it slowly drain out. With a little added heat. Then wash it with kerosene or similar.

But if the transmission isn’t easily removed,

I would try to scoop and suction out as much as you can. I assume the top of the transmission is removable so that gives you good access to the inside. Figure out a way to suction it out, but don’t obsess over getting it all. The first refill, however, use the thin 85W-90 gear oil, and drive the car 50 miles or more to get everything all uniformly mixed up. Then drain the oil. You might want to even to this a couple of times if you are concerned having the blue goop inside not knowing exactly what it is. Then when most of it is gone, you can do the steam cylinder/Lucas Stabilizer/Sta-Lube mix to whatever works best.

If the blue goop is within twenty years old, there shouldn’t be much problem with compatibility of different oils and greases. In the old days — like 50 years ago — you did not want to mix different greases and even oils because additive packages were proprietary and not necessarily compatible. Today, although different companies hold their proprietary blends, I think just about everything has reached an industry standard of being compatible.

Regarding your Pierce 48, did you obtain this car from (or was it at one time for sale by) David Greenlees in Brattleboro, VT? I drove it when it was for sale and it was a handsome, unique Pierce. It was all that I could afford at the time (Parable of The Merchant) but I thought it needed some attention, which I couldn’t afford. So I sadly let it pass. I have a few photos.