front diff. lube

[zeke57]

Finished up installing the front pinion seal and was wondering about gear oil weight. The manual states to use 80 wt. or what is everyone using?

[dpcd67]

I use plain GL5 80W90; there is no brass in differentials so GL5 works, for me. Sometimes I use GL4 but it is a lot more expensive; NAPA has it.
Now, for the transmission, use only GL4 or make sure your gear lube is safe for yellow metals. It will say so if it is.

[zeke57]

Thanks for the tip on the gear oil dpcd67. What exactly does GL4 and GL5 refer to?

[wesk]

Whenever you need to determine what a lubricant spec means just google it. In this case just google "Gear Oil Specifications" and you get this: https://www.google.com/search?source=hp ... CkwxdAA7og

Then from that list extract this link:
https://www.oilspecifications.org/api_gos.php

And Voila! You get this:

API API Gear Oil Specifications
Spec Status Description
GL-1 Active The designation API GL-1 denotes lubricants intended for manual transmissions operating under such mild conditions that straight petroleum or refined petroleum oil may be used satisfactorily. Oxidation and rust inhibitors, defoamers, and pour depressants may be added to improve the characteristics of these lubricants. Friction modifiers and extreme pressure additives shall not be used.

GL-2 Inactive The designation API GL-2 denotes lubricants intended for automotive worm-gear axles operating under such conditions of load, temperature, and sliding velocities that lubricants satisfactory for API GL-1 service will not suffice.

GL-3 Inactive The designation API GL-3 denotes lubricants intended for manual transmissions operating under moderate to severe conditions and spiral-bevel axles operating under mild to moderate conditions of speed and load. These service conditions require a lubricant having load-carrying capacities exceeding those satisfying API GL-1 service but below the requirements of lubricants satisfying API GL-4 service.

GL-4 Active The designation API 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 (see note)gears operating under moderate speeds and loads. These oils may be used in selected manual transmission and transaxle applications where MT-1 lubricants are unsuitable. The manufacturer's specific lubricant quality recommendations should be followed.

GL-5 Active The designation API GL-5 denotes lubricants intended for gears, particularly hypoid (see note) gears, in axles operating under various combinations of high-speed/shock load and low-speed/high-torque conditions.

GL-6 Inactive The designation API GL-6 denotes lubricants intended for gears designed with a very high pinion offset. Such designs typically require protection from gear scoring in excess of that provided by API GL-5 gear oils.

MT-1 Active The designation API MT-1 denotes lubricants intended for non-synchronized manual transmissions used in buses and heavy-duty trucks. Lubricants meeting the requirements of API MT-1 service provide protection against the combination of thermal degradation, component wear, and oil-seal deterioration, which is not provided by lubricants in current use meeting only the requirements of API GL-1, 4, or 5.

You can download API's Publication 1560 on gear oils for more detailed information.

https://www.api.org/~/media/Files/Certi ... l-2013.pdf