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Transmission / Gear Box Oil
Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:56 am
by Glen
I have recently purchased a M38A1 170 (1953) Ambulance and would like to know the european equivalant of the gear box oil and the quantity required. If anyone can help it would be much appreciated.
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:34 am
by GPA
Hi,
A couple of gear oil types wich should be available in most European countries are Chevron RPM SAE 90 or BP Gear oil 90 or Castrol ST90 in their Classic Oil range. (Oil salesmen will probably try to sell you some modern multigrade.) Fill it slowly to the bottom of the filling hole. If you buy about 5-6 liters you can top it up later with the same type of oil if you have a leak.
Good luck with your new Jeep.
Zoli
M38A1
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:49 am
by GPA
In addition to the post above: SAE 90 equivalent ISO 220.
On some lube charts they recommend SAE 90 EP for the differentials. I would like to know what Wes's opinion about this.
Zoli
oil
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 5:30 am
by hillbilly21
I just put in 85-90 Rotella in MINE yesterday
2 1/2 qts in each axle
tranny 1 qt
transfer case 3 pts
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:13 am
by wesk
EP is Extra pressure and is a requirement of Hypoid type axles ring and pinions. The jeep has the hypoid type axle gears. The EP is not needed for the tranny/transfer.
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 12:41 pm
by GPA
Yes Wes, but the plates on the Jeeps and the Army issued manuals state SAE 90. Only some civilian Jeep material mentioned EP oil for the diffs and they use very similar transmissions and differentials. The ratios are different. I thought you may know the reason.
Posted: Wed Dec 03, 2008 10:30 pm
by wesk
They say a little more than that. They say Gear Oil, Universal which from a discussion long ago was to the US Army all EP rated.
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:16 am
by GPA
Hi,
So they recommended the Universal Gear Oil for both the transmission/transfercase and the differentials, but really only the diffs needed the gear oil wich contained EP additive. They did this because they did not want to carry or stock one more type of oil?
If we change the gear oils we have to put SAE 90 in transm. and SAE 90EP in the diffs?
Zoli
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:52 am
by wesk
Yes. The EP will not hurt the tranny/transfer but the extra cost is not needed.
Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:13 am
by GPA
Thanks Wes.
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 10:09 am
by pockers
Hi
can any one tell me if european Hypoid Gear oil EP 80W90 would be suitable for m38a1 gear box &/or diffs?
(as i have a quantity of this already)
others available to me are 75w/80 & 75w/90
any ideas what would best suit?
many thanks
Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 9:10 pm
by wesk
I see no harm using the semi-synthetic multi-viscocity EP oils so long as you use the correct grade for your climate. The only issue I take with the multi-viscocity oils is they are thinner when cool and when a vehicle is stored for long periods the thinner oil will drip off the parts more quickly leaving bare steel to corrode.
Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2009 1:49 pm
by pockers
Many thanks for swift reply
roll on the summer
fantastic web site!
