Is gear lubrication fluid different from ATF?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Steve Lee, Dec 5, 2003.

  1. Steve Lee

    Steve Lee Guest

    I noticed that on Mobil 1's site, gear lubrication is offered as one
    of their products apart from their ATF and I was wondering what the
    difference was? I thought that ATF was the "gear lube"? Thanks.
     
    Steve Lee, Dec 5, 2003
    #1
  2. Steve Lee

    Brian Smith Guest

    Probably for rear ends and/or heavy equipment.
     
    Brian Smith, Dec 5, 2003
    #2
  3. Steve Lee

    Brian Smith Guest

    Probably for rear ends and/or heavy equipment.
     
    Brian Smith, Dec 5, 2003
    #3
  4. Steve Lee

    SoCalMike Guest

    isnt there a seperate differential in the axle? or no?
     
    SoCalMike, Dec 5, 2003
    #4
  5. Steve Lee

    SoCalMike Guest

    isnt there a seperate differential in the axle? or no?
     
    SoCalMike, Dec 5, 2003
    #5
  6. Steve Lee

    Vuarra Guest

    ATF is for the transmission, and gear lube is for differentials in
    rear wheel drive cars. Usually gear lube comes in 80W90 or 75W145
    weights (yes, the same scale as motor oil)


    Vuarra

    Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
    (That which is said in Latin sounds profound.)
     
    Vuarra, Dec 5, 2003
    #6
  7. Steve Lee

    Vuarra Guest

    ATF is for the transmission, and gear lube is for differentials in
    rear wheel drive cars. Usually gear lube comes in 80W90 or 75W145
    weights (yes, the same scale as motor oil)


    Vuarra

    Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
    (That which is said in Latin sounds profound.)
     
    Vuarra, Dec 5, 2003
    #7
  8. Steve Lee

    Steve Lee Guest

    I see. So, then, with a car like the Pilot, the gear lube use
    shouldn't be concerned with, correct?
     
    Steve Lee, Dec 5, 2003
    #8
  9. Steve Lee

    Steve Lee Guest

    I see. So, then, with a car like the Pilot, the gear lube use
    shouldn't be concerned with, correct?
     
    Steve Lee, Dec 5, 2003
    #9
  10. Steve Lee

    Vuarra Guest

    While I highly doubt it, you may wish to check your owner's manual or
    other repair manual (Hayne's, Chilton's) just to verify.
    Vuarra

    Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
    (That which is said in Latin sounds profound.)
     
    Vuarra, Dec 5, 2003
    #10
  11. Steve Lee

    Vuarra Guest

    While I highly doubt it, you may wish to check your owner's manual or
    other repair manual (Hayne's, Chilton's) just to verify.
    Vuarra

    Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
    (That which is said in Latin sounds profound.)
     
    Vuarra, Dec 5, 2003
    #11
  12. Steve Lee

    null_pointer Guest

    Gear lube is usually quite viscous and is designed for Manual
    transmissions (usually) differentials (rear wheel drive) and transfer
    cases. It has a strong peculiar odor due to the additives. Most
    automatics use one of the several types of ATF. The differential in
    most front wheel drive vehicles is located in the transmission where
    it shares the ATF with the transmission.
    ATF is basically a light oil with a rather large quantity of
    specialized additives.
     
    null_pointer, Dec 5, 2003
    #12
  13. Steve Lee

    null_pointer Guest

    Gear lube is usually quite viscous and is designed for Manual
    transmissions (usually) differentials (rear wheel drive) and transfer
    cases. It has a strong peculiar odor due to the additives. Most
    automatics use one of the several types of ATF. The differential in
    most front wheel drive vehicles is located in the transmission where
    it shares the ATF with the transmission.
    ATF is basically a light oil with a rather large quantity of
    specialized additives.
     
    null_pointer, Dec 5, 2003
    #13
  14. Steve Lee

    Dave Dodson Guest

    --
    Hunt hard...Kill quick...Offer No Apologies!
    Steve,
    Regardless of the other replies, ATF = Automatic Transmission Fluid. Gear
    lube = gear lubricant. Differences, viscosity, application, and performance.
    ATF is light weight petroleum based product very closely related to (in
    composition and application) to hydraulic fluid. Gear lube is a heavy weight
    oil or a very light weight grease (take your pick) viscosity in the range of
    70weight to 120weight (in some cases even higher). Gear lube is used in
    differentials, manual transmissions, and transfer cases on many vehicles
    ranging from passenger cars to heavy equipment. Honda, however, uses engine
    oil as lube for their manual transmissions. At least in most cases as I
    recall. If your Pilot has a manual transfer case, to control 2WD or 4WD then
    you might have gear lube in it. As was recommended, check your owner's
    manual. Specifications for lubricants will be therein contained.

    Dave D
     
    Dave Dodson, Dec 5, 2003
    #14
  15. Steve Lee

    Dave Dodson Guest

    --
    Hunt hard...Kill quick...Offer No Apologies!
    Steve,
    Regardless of the other replies, ATF = Automatic Transmission Fluid. Gear
    lube = gear lubricant. Differences, viscosity, application, and performance.
    ATF is light weight petroleum based product very closely related to (in
    composition and application) to hydraulic fluid. Gear lube is a heavy weight
    oil or a very light weight grease (take your pick) viscosity in the range of
    70weight to 120weight (in some cases even higher). Gear lube is used in
    differentials, manual transmissions, and transfer cases on many vehicles
    ranging from passenger cars to heavy equipment. Honda, however, uses engine
    oil as lube for their manual transmissions. At least in most cases as I
    recall. If your Pilot has a manual transfer case, to control 2WD or 4WD then
    you might have gear lube in it. As was recommended, check your owner's
    manual. Specifications for lubricants will be therein contained.

    Dave D
     
    Dave Dodson, Dec 5, 2003
    #15
  16. Steve Lee

    Matthew Hunt Guest

    Note that SAE grades for gear oil are on a different scale than those
    for engine oil. An 85 weight gear oil has a viscosity similar to 30
    weight engine oil. An approximate conversion chart is available at:

    http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/visc.html
     
    Matthew Hunt, Dec 5, 2003
    #16
  17. Steve Lee

    Matthew Hunt Guest

    Note that SAE grades for gear oil are on a different scale than those
    for engine oil. An 85 weight gear oil has a viscosity similar to 30
    weight engine oil. An approximate conversion chart is available at:

    http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/visc.html
     
    Matthew Hunt, Dec 5, 2003
    #17
  18. Steve Lee

    Vuarra Guest


    I stand corrected.


    Vuarra

    Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
    (That which is said in Latin sounds profound.)
     
    Vuarra, Dec 5, 2003
    #18
  19. Steve Lee

    Vuarra Guest


    I stand corrected.


    Vuarra

    Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
    (That which is said in Latin sounds profound.)
     
    Vuarra, Dec 5, 2003
    #19
  20. Steve Lee

    Bror Jace Guest

    Nice answer Dave, are you a regular on this forum?

    http://theoildrop.server101.com/cgi/ultimatebb.cgi

    One can only hope that the specs for the fluids will be in the owners'
    manual. More and more they are coming out with "part numbers" instead
    of weights and it's a guessing game how heavy or light the fluid needs
    to be, let alone the additive package (friction modifiers, barrier
    anti-wear adds, etc ...)

    Honda CRV double-pump fluid is/was one of those. I called Dave
    Granquist at Red Line about this a couple years ago and even he didn't
    know if any of their fluids would meet the Honda spec. :rolleyes:

    --- Bror Jace
     
    Bror Jace, Dec 8, 2003
    #20
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