I have a few semi-used tubes of old PW Lube.
It still seems fine - is this stuff still ok to use?
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Although no shelf life in listed on lubricants such as grease and oil. I wouldn't advise using any that have been sitting around too long since the chemicals in all lubricants break down over town. Of course how quickly they break down depends on the conditions under which they've been stored such as temperature, etc.. Bottom line is new is better than old.
It is a good lubricant as long as it is still semi fluid and has not lost too much oil. It was intended to be a very oily grease to provide oil to rotating shaft bearings. Today synthetic oils probably accomplish the same thing with less mess. I think the Red n Tacky grease will do a better job on gears. It stays in place better than other greases. The old Lionel grease is not a food grade grease like some of the white lithium greases are, so do not eat it and keep it away from small children.
When you say "vintage" oil- do you mean made from dinosaurs?
I would use new, modern lubes. There are better ones today than the old ones.
I'm with Jim, lubricant isn't the place to save a couple of bucks.
I would not use old tubes of Postwar Lionel lubricant (and I have a number of them). I think the stuff that is available today is far superior.
I like Labelle 106 grease for places where Lionel lubricant would have been used.
A lot of people like Lucas Oil's Red N Tacky grease.
If you've ever cleaned the old, hardened Lionel lubricant out of the gears of a postwar engine, you will see the wisdom of choosing a modern grease instead. I know the old stuff probably had to sit there for over 50 years to get that way, but still....!!! 
I've always used Labelle, but have recently started using the Lucas Oil R&T - seems to be good stuff.
Jim
New lubricant costs very little, especially compared to the value of even the least-valuable train item. The old stuff might be OK, but using it seems penny-wise and pound-foolish IMO.
It is tempting to use the grease from that old familiar orange and blue tube, but go with Red 'n Tacky. one tube will supply you and most of your train buddies for life.
Richard
Frankly, I'm stunned that the OP has a tube of PW grease in a tube that isn't as hard as a rock. I have an original LIONEL maintenance kit that came in a lidded box and the tube of grease in it has been rock hard for decades.
When I asked about grease for PW LIONEL locos a year or so ago, lots of recommendations for RnT and that's what I went with--I'm satisfied with my choice.
Frankly, I'm stunned that the OP has a tube of PW grease in a tube that isn't as hard as a rock. I have an original LIONEL maintenance kit that came in a lidded box and the tube of grease in it has been rock hard for decades
I think that most of the tubes of postwar Lionel grease that I have are fine. I have some postwar American Flyer grease that is fine too. I think I'd be pressed to find one that wasn't. As I posted above, I would not use either.
Roving Sign posted:I have a few semi-used tubes of old PW Lube.
It still seems fine - is this stuff still ok to use?
Depends. Are you going to use it on a train?
I have some preserved lubricant sealed on baby food jars from the 1960s. It's preserved, but I wouldn't use it, and I doubt it has any value.
I have some preserved lubricant sealed on baby food jars from the 1960s. It's preserved, but I wouldn't use it, and I doubt it has any value.
Unused tubes of Lionel lubricant #925 have some value. I'd say around $10 per tube. (That is the large tube, Lionel made a few different sizes)
They were made three ways:
silver colored metal threaded cap
blue plastic slip on cap
black plastic slip on cap
They were sold loose from counter top displays, and in the 1960's they were sold on blister packs (carded). Those counter top displays and blister packs are considered fairly desirable by those who are into that sort of thing. From what I see, prices are still strong on them.
I remember buying those tubes of lubricant when I was a kid. Somehow they always burst open on me. 
I've used the old stuff on my postwar trains, the tubes I own never seem to harden. So no problems to report. If the lubricant is still soft and the tubes aren't in collector condition, then why not use them?
My grandpa still has one of these tubes in a kitchen cabinet. He still uses it around the house to lubricate things on occasion. I just shake my head.
Lenny the Lion posted:I've used the old stuff on my postwar trains, the tubes I own never seem to harden. So no problems to report. If the lubricant is still soft and the tubes aren't in collector condition, then why not use them?
That's been my approach so far - I haven't used it on anything except stuff it was made for...seems as good as the day it was made!
I appreciate all the replies here - I just didn't want to start using it on newer trains - and have gears dissolve - or something!
I'm familiar with the call for Red/Tacky - so will stock up on that eventually!
Gentlemen,
Get some Red and Tacky and circle 7 file the old Lube.
PCRR/Dave
If the lube has animal fats and or soaps in it, it is likely corrosive and not good to use. Also, old lubricants may adversely react with existing lubricants, so be safe and get some new lithium grease. The cost of a tube of new grease is only a few dollars, so why take any risk using the old stuff???
I have question about using Red n Tacky grease. I have used it on occasion for motor drive gears like in the gang car. What amount should I use to keep it running smoothly. It seemed to that just putting a dab in the gearing didn't lub the heavy gears very well.
Now I am getting ready to cleanup our club 397 coal loader that gets a lot of use from visitors. I have not found any helpful guidance on line and I don't want to under lub or over the grs. I would like to do it without wondering if it's done correctly.
So question is: what are the member recommendations?
I hope I am in the right place to ask this question.
Thanks again people. 🤗
Bob C.
When I grease with red n tacky, if it is a closed gear box, like the 397, I clean all the old grease off, then fill the gap between the teeth full with grease. Same with the worm. After all the gears are lubed this way I reassemble and let normal operation expel any extra grease. On open gears, like on a parallel plate steam locomotive motor, I use just enough grease that all the teeth have a “wet” look.
Imperial Grease with silicone and Mobil 1 oil. Why scrimp when the best isn't much more? John in Lansing, ILL
Lenny the Lion posted:I've used the old stuff on my postwar trains, the tubes I own never seem to harden. So no problems to report. If the lubricant is still soft and the tubes aren't in collector condition, then why not use them?
I can think of a lot of reasons, besides deterioration (all lubricants break down over time, it is one of the reasons they tell you to change your car oil after X months, even if you have low mileage), oxidation happens, etc. The biggest reason is that lubricants have come a long way since the 1950's or 60's, whether synthetic or oil based, products like Red N tacky, Labelle 106, synthetic oil like mobil 1, are going to work better and last longer. I more than understand the idea of 'wasting' something, but given the relative low cost of lubricants (think how little oil or grease you use each time), it just isn't worth it on any level, even on a nostalgia basis it doesn't pass muster IMO.
