oil for honing a cylinder?

[SteveSS]

We have a big block that I want to slap together. It has all the parts in boxes. We thought we'd hone the cylinders and I suppose we should use some light oil but what kind/weight oil?

 

[OneWheelPeel]

There are a lot of opinions, I just used what was around, WD40. Wasn’t a fresh motor tho, it was a slightly scarred cylinder that cracked a piston that I was doing a in truck farm type repair on. Rings wore in and sealed fine FWIW.

 

[SteveSS]

Pretty much the same deal as me. These engines came as a part of a larger purchase including the '66 Vette coupe. I got GM 454, a worn 327 from a Chevelle and a fresh 327 block. The heads for the 454 are closed chamber so it might make over 300hp if I'm lucky. I was going to ask an engine builder for advice on the cam. if you know of someone who wants them let me know.

He currently doing a 4 bolt 350 for me. Aluminum heads. He says 475hp and 475 tq. We're going to put it in my daughter's crappy BumbleBee Camaro. She likes racing but with a stock motor she usually lost. I don't know what to do with the 454 and 327.

 

[SteveSS]

I'm almost done with the '71 Charger 500, 383 AT Hemi Orange. Now my son wants it. I know I've been saying that fot A while but we are a having all sorts of transmission problems.

 

[Demonic]

If you have money to burn there's this. Or Summit has a 5 gal for almost $300.-

https://www.amazon.com/Research-FHP-FLEX-HONE-Specially-Formulated/dp/B007INQHEU?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&gQT=1&th=1

 

[toolmanmike]

We have a big block that I want to slap together. It has all the parts in boxes. We thought we'd hone the cylinders and I suppose we should use some light oil but what kind/weight oil?

I always used atf. Use some kind of thin oil.

 

[roadrunnerh]

I used WD-40 when I honed the 383 in my Scamp. I purchased a gallon can.

 

[toolmanmike]

I wonder what the auto honing machines use? Oil based coolant or water based? May be I'll look for a video or two. It looks like oil.

 

[RemCharger]

What type of hone? What type of grit? Do you have experience honing cylinders properly?

 

[Nxcoupe]

I use atf or 5w motor oil. Atf works the best imho.

 

[Cranky]

I wonder what the auto honing machines use? Oil based coolant or water based? May be I'll look for a video or two. It looks like oil.

The one we had at work used oil....but a water based coolant has oil in it. Machining parts with a lathe or milling machine used water based coolant that felt oily and nothing rusted even if the finished part wasn't whiped off.

 

[Photon440]

It depends on what type of stones and grit you're using. There are a dozen different honing fluids on Sunnen's site alone.
Sunnen | Honing Fluids

 

[zyzzyx]

Use a sulfur based oil like pipe thread cutting oil. You can usually get it at Menards or a plumbing supply house.
You need to flood the bore so the stones don't pick up metal ad put deep scratches in the bore. The Idea is to
keep the stones clean and stroke the hone so the stones wear evenly and give you a straight bore. Use a 220
grit stone for finishing!

 

[69L48Z27]

Dingle ball and some WD for the win! ‘Slapping’ it together, let’s keep it simple.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have always used Sunnen MAN-845 honing oil, because that is what we have at work for doing all of our blocks.

 

[RemCharger]

I'm assuming the OP is using a BRM brush hone or similar. BRM only recommends a 5 or 10-30 engine oil

 

[Krooser]

Use a sulfur based oil like pipe thread cutting oil. You can usually get it at Menards or a plumbing supply house.
You need to flood the bore so the stones don't pick up metal ad put deep scratches in the bore. The Idea is to
keep the stones clean and stroke the hone so the stones wear evenly and give you a straight bore. Use a 220
grit stone for finishing!View attachment 1813463

Most automotive oils are sulphur based.

 

[zyzzyx]

No they don't! Not by design anyway. They may have trace amounts but only due to Zinc and phosphorus that
is added to oils used in our old clunkers. If there were any substantial amounts of sulfur in lube oils, it would
fry the Cat Convertors.