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Which Gear Lube To Use?
By
BRETT WINBERG
Now that cooler temperatures are hitting most of us in the western hemisphere, it’s time to do some pre-season maintenance on your trucks and personal vehicles.
Changing your differential lubes should be on your list of “Things to Do” while doing routine maintenance on your vehicle and equipment. It seems we always forget to change this oil, until it is too late or we have a catastrophic failure.
Remember… not all gear oils are interchangeable. It's best to re-read your manufactures specifications before deciding on which lubricant is right for your particular application.
NOTE: API GL-5 GEAR OILS ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE WITH API GL-4 GEAR OILS.
GL-4. "Denotes lubricants intended for axles with spiral bevel gears operating under moderate to severe conditions of speed and load or axles with hypoid gears operating under moderate speeds and loads."
GL-5 "Denotes lubricants intended for gears, particularly hypoid gears, in axles operating under various conditions of high speed shock loads and low-speed, high-torque conditions."
What About EP Additives?
The extreme pressure (EP) additives in most gear oils contain sulfur-phosphorus compounds that can be corrosive to certain "yellow metal" components, if present at levels higher than recommended by the equipment manufacturer. "Yellow metals", such as copper and brass, are found in transmission synchronizers.
There are also "Synthetic Gear Oils" on the market. These are a great alternative for added protection.
- Synthetic Gear Oils are formulated with a unique blend of premium synthetic and conventional base oils and is a superior extreme pressure lubricant.
- Superior anti-wear, anti-scuffing and corrosion protection
- Provides superior performance at low temperatures
- Helps improve fuel efficiency
- Resists breakdown at high temperatures
- Recommended for (conventional and limited slip) manual transmissions where an API GL-5 or MT-1 fluid is specified
SAE 80W-90 GL-5 (formerly known as Multi-Purpose Gear Lubricant), is the primary recommendation, for complete drain-and-refill jobs of existing or rebuilt limited slip differentials in passenger cars, SUV's and light-duty trucks.
Note: Synchromesh Fluid by Pennzoil® is a unique transmission and transaxle product - no other gear oils should be substituted in applications calling for this fluid.
Once again… it’s recommended to always follow your owner's manual for the correct lubrication recommendation.
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