Greasing points on modern cars

Considerable attention is being paid to the reduction of chassis greasing points. But while Rover is frequently named as a notable pioneer in this field, the Triumph Herald is all too often ignored, although it, too, can be very quickly serviced; but in reduction of greasing nipples Fiat and N.S.U. on their smallest models do rather better. Only the D.A.F. from Holland and the front-drive Renault R4 from France appear to have eliminated greasing points entirely, but in this country Vauxhall and Rootes have made very considerable progress in reducing the periods between or the amount of servicing necessary, while in America Oldsmobile, Ford, Mercury, Lincoln, Plymouth, Dodge and Chrysler have adopted pre-lubricated chassis bearings that postpone replenishment until 30,000 miles have been run, which, in conjunction with oil changes recommended after 6,000 miles and cooling systems intended to hold their water for some two years, has taken most of the tedium out of the servicing routine.

So much interest attaches to this aspect of car ownership, especially when service stations are frequently overcrowded and inefficient, and when home-mechanics probably prefer to spend their hours in the garage tuning, if not “souping,” their engines to grovelling about under their cars with the grease-gun, that I append a table showing how a representative collection of cars requires to be greased, from which the disinterested manufacturers who do nothing to relieve servicing tasks stand out like sheep—black sheep, as black as the unfortunate owners or mechanics who have to grease these cars! Incidentally, that the propeller shaft is an anachronism is emphasised by the fact that of only three grease nipples on the Hillman Super Minx and four on the Singer Gazelle, one of the former and two on the latter are on the propeller shaft, while Rover have successfully rid themselves of every nipple save one, again—on the propeller shaft.—W. B.