Lubrication Chart

Lubrication Chart for the Volvo 140/164 series

Based upon the original Volvo manual (as far as I could understand it -- mine was in French), the Haynes manuals (Volvo 140, #129, and SU Carburettors, #299), discussions on the VCOA mailing list, and personal experience.

Lubrication points on the Volvo 140/164 series

Location	Lubricant
Engine	15W40 or 10W30 (under normal conditions) Personal remark: Especially with older engines, 10W30 will be too thin, leading to low oil pressure and high oil consumption and loss.
carburettor	ATF type A
Transmission M40	10W30, 20W40 or SAE80 gear oil
Transmission M41	10W30 or 20W40
Transmission BW35	ATF type F
Throttle/choke linkage	oil
Differential	90 wt gear oil (hypoid oil)
Steering Box	80wt gear oil
distributor	grease (on cam), oil (in oil reservoir on side and on felt pad under arm)
U-joints & sliding joint propshaft	grease
catchplate hood	parafin wax
hinges hood	oil
hinges quarterlights	oil
hinges trunk lid	oil
hinges doors	grease (if available, use syringe-type attachment on grease gun to get grease into hinges)
keyholes	lock oil
locks strikerplates	molybdeniumdisulfidegrease (MoS grease)
locks catchplates	parafin wax
lock trunk lid	oil
seat rails	parafin wax and oil
window mechanisms	oil and grease
locks mechanisms	silicon grease
Antenna	WD40 (With antenna extended. Wipe well, this is as much about cleaning as lubrication. Do not flood)

The much better available 80W90 hypoid (gear) oil usually works pretty well where either 80W or 90W gear oil is specified. If your stearing box is leaking, the proper solution would be to have the seals replaced. Lacking that, a mixture of grease and 80W90 usually helps slow down the leaks and may even tighten up the steering a bit. This is, however, not recommended and use of this trick is entirely at your own risk and responsibility.