Distributor cam lube?

other_shoe

Member
May 4, 2007
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I'm replacing my points and condenser, and the new points did not come with lube. The guy at the parts chain said 3 in 1 oil would do the trick, but I have no confidence in this particular guy. What should I be using?

Thanks.
 
No. DO NOT use 3in1 oil on the cam. It is too thin and will wind up insulating your points from conducting. The parts store sells an actual distributor cam lubricant in a small tube. I think it is marketed by Standard Motor. Try your NAPA dealer for Echlin ML-1.
 
I told him I wanted a tube of it using Realmongo's description. He said he didn't know what it was or where it would be. Since he was recalcitrant, I poked around the store a bit but couldn't find it. Then, I went home to use my ample supply of chassis grease.

On a whim, I stopped at another Autozone, from whom I had originally purchased the points, and asked to look at the points they had in stock. Sure enough, their box had a small capsule of grease that looked like a time release pill. I bought that one and then went back to the original store to return the points sans grease.

At least it is back up and running now.
 
This is becoming the norm in parts stores today. That is why I research all of my parts myself. If it can't be identified by the computer, God forbid they should have to resort to a catalog.
 
most any grease will work nicely. in the past i have used wheel bearing grease in a thin layer. also a grease with a moly based lube will also work quite well. just remember you want a thin coat, very thin in fact.