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I'm in the middle of installing the heads on my XJR and the workshop manual says to lubricate the journals and cam lobes with EP-90 oil. But I can't find ep-90 oil anywhere. A quick google seems 80w-90 gear oil is basically the same thing, is this OK to use instead?
EP-90 stands for extreme pressure 90, it has additives in the oil designed to protect against high pressure sliding contact, such as gears, and cam lobes. If you have some EP I would use it, but as the engine survives quite well on regular multigrade when it is running I would say that any lubricant would be fine, just make sure everything is soaked in oil. Alternately you can buy products like Lucas Assembly Oil which is designed for such a purpose.
EP-90 stands for extreme pressure 90, it has additives in the oil designed to protect against high pressure sliding contact, such as gears, and cam lobes. If you have some EP I would use it, but as the engine survives quite well on regular multigrade when it is running I would say that any lubricant would be fine, just make sure everything is soaked in oil. Alternately you can buy products like Lucas Assembly Oil which is designed for such a purpose.
Well I'd like to use the EP90 then if I can find it. Anyone have any idea there you can get some????
Your shop manual was written a long time ago, and in the UK, and EP-90 as such probably isn't available now, at least in the US. EP rating has been replaced with "GL" rating, GL-4 and GL-5 gear oils, which you should be able to find at any local auto parts store.
Your shop manual was written a long time ago, and in the UK, and EP-90 as such probably isn't available now, at least in the US. EP rating has been replaced with "GL" rating, GL-4 and GL-5 gear oils, which you should be able to find at any local auto parts store.
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Originally Posted by King Charles
Yes EP90 was/is just the single viscosity version of 90 gear oil.
I ended up paying a visit to the machine shop that rebuilt the heads and asking what they recommend using and where I might be able to find it. They hooked me up with a few small packages of Jesel Valvetrain oil. It's an EP oil, but its thicker (almost a grease) and higher weight than EP-90 and designed specifically for valvetrain assemble.
Interesting. The key ingredient is zinc, often called for when breaking in aftermarket camshafts. You can buy oil additives for engine break in which are basically zinc based.
So this is what I ended up using. They were samples giving to the machinist at the shop that rebuilt the heads by one of their vendors and he was kind enough to pass them on to me. It was essentially the same stuff as the tube of EP oil he was already using which he said he gets from McMaster Carr, it was EP-120 oil or something like that. I don't know ow viscous ep-90 oil is but this stuff is more like a grease than and oil. Anyway it was explained to me that its the extreme pressure properties that you want more than the weight so as long as its at least a 90 going heaver should not matter. Besides the stuff I used is specifically for valvetrain assemble anyway.
So this is what I ended up using. ...it was EP-120 oil or something like that. Besides the stuff I used is specifically for valvetrain assemble anyway.
I think that staff is better than the plain EP-90 oil. What I used was EP-90 but I also mixed it with Liqui Moly MoS2 engine oil additive, just to have some extra protection against cam scuffing.
EP-90 gear oil???
