What lube to fill in the steering gear housing

[79funky620]

I'm having trouble finding the information on this. There is a plastic plug in the housing that links to the steering column which I'm guessing allows a refill. The joint below is leaking which I want to eventually replace but for now I just want to top it off with some oil. Mine is a 79 620.

1. What Oil do I use?
2. Should I replace the whole part or just fix the leak if possible?

Thanks for any advice!

[79funky620]

So I looked it up in the manual and it just says oil? Not sure what that means. anyhow its the steering gear where the gear housing is.

[justin 620]

Pretty sure any oil would work, as long is it wasn't too thick. All it needs to do is lube the gears and such, and there really isn't much wear or heat involved in the steering box, so a light oil should work. And about the leak, I'd just fix it for now until you can find a new part, gasket maker usually does the trick!

[datzenmike]

Use the same oil as in the transmission... GL-4 80W90 is fine. Don't use GL-5 rear end oil.

 

The steering box and column are one piece so it's not easy to simply replace it. If it is leaking at the bottom by the pitman arm the lower seal is bad and can be replaced with the box in the vehicle.

[ggzilla]

My 1972 owners's manual says to use GL-4 75, 80, 90 or 140 weight.

I use 80W-90 or 85W-140 multiweight

 

 

* Chevron Multiservice Gear Lub. 75,80,90,140

* Esso Gear Oil GP 80,90,140

* Mobil Mobilube EP or GX 80-90,90,140

* Shell Spirax 75EP,80EP,90EP,140EP

* Sunoco Multipurpose Gear Lub. GL-4 80,90,140

* Texaco Universal Gear Lub. EP 80,90,140