Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

It has been suggested on this forum to use Mobil DTE-24 or DTE-25. Where can one buy such in qts or 1 gal. containers. All sources I've contacted say only a 5 gal. pail.

I bought mine in single gallons from MSC in Harrisburg.

http://www1.mscdirect.com/cgi/nnsrhm

Dear Russ:

I can sympathize your frustration because Packard usually specified a thing called "white oil". What's that? It's just plain old SAE 20w general purpose oil from a bottle.

DTE24 is ISO 32 hydraulic, and DTE25 is ISO 46 hydraulic. These oils are used in forklifts, bulldozers, back hoes etc.. The ISO 32, 46, 68, etc. Hydraulic oils are specialized for high pressure pumps which are not important to a lowly shock absorber.

Now SAE 20w is equivalent to SUS 125 to SUS 286 depending on where you are looking. ISO 32 is SUS 150 and ISO 46 is SUS 215.

So what is a man to do? Answer: Hydraulic jack oil from NAPA is around SUS 165, so is WalMart, ACE Hardware, Tractor Supply, whatever.

Now the best way to fill those shocks it to make up a fitting with clear plastic tubing, but a squirt oil can will work as well.

PS: What are all these crazy numbers about? They are all different systems of expressing viscosity. For example: SAE 90w gear oil is roughly equivalent to SAE 70w motor oil. There is also the centi-stokes system which is very popular.

Also available in qts. from

http://www.napaonline.com/Catalog/Result.aspx?Ntt%3djack%2boil%26Ntk%3dKeyword%26Nty%3d1%26Dn%3d0%26D%3djack%2boil%26Dk%3d1%26Dp%3d3%26N%3d0

Listed as jack oil, but it is really a light hydraulic oil such as DTE light. I've used it in shocks without any problems.

If you want DTE-24 that's also available in gallons from NAPA.