Old timer told me to stop lubing guide rails every month

Guy with 30 years in the trade at my local union hall said I was overmaintaining and actually wearing down the guides faster. Been 6 months since I cut back to quarterly and my cars are running smoother with less buildup in the pits. Anyone else get similar advice from a veteran mechanic?

2 comments

2 Comments

parker_thomas22d ago

Nah, I gotta push back on that one. Monthly is way too often, you're basically polishing the rails away with that much friction and lubricant. I've seen guys slather on grease every week and end up with these sticky, gritty messes that act like sandpaper over time. Once a quarter or even twice a year with a dry film lube is plenty, the old timer's right that less really is more here.

barbara_baker5722d ago

Have you tried wiping the rails down with a dry cloth before you apply anything new? I've found that cutting back on frequency and just keeping the rails clean does more than any lube routine.