sae80 gear oil

mguitas · May 28, 2012

Changing my oil in front axel, they want sae80 gl-4, but could i use 80w90 gear oil? Thanks.

Diamondpilot · May 30, 2012

80W90 is just fine.

Chris

mguitas · May 30, 2012

Thanks for the info, i put in 80w90 GL-5. It calls for GL-4. I hope that don't matter to much.

Foxtrot08 · May 30, 2012

There is actually a patent on the additive for gear oil - so no matter the brand, they're all pretty much made to the same specs. Finding straight weight gear oils in little amounts is pretty hard. I know I looked for my ATV's and just ended up using 80w90. As said above, any of them will work, 80w90 is probably the best price too.

Soundguy · May 30, 2012

i'd also imagine the 80w90 is fine. book may be older spec and why it says gl4, back when they were writing up for tht axle..e tc. then n the data just got perpetuated instead of updated.

mguitas · May 30, 2012

Soundguy said:
i'd also imagine the 80w90 is fine. book may be older spec and why it says gl4, back when they were writing up for tht axle..e tc. then n the data just got perpetuated instead of updated.

Thanks soundguy,the 1423 is 12 years old.

Z71 · May 30, 2012

API Category GL-4 designates the type of service characteristic of spiral-bevel and hypoid gears in automotive axles operated under moderate speeds and loads. These oils may be used in selected manual transmission and transaxle applications.

API Category GL-5 designates the type of service characteristic of gears, particularly hypoids in automotive axles under high-speed and/or low-speed, high-torque conditions. Lubricants qualified under U.S. Military specification MIL-L-2105D (formerly MIL-L-2015C), MIL-PRF-2105E and SAE J2360 satisfy the requirements of the API GL-5 service designation.

As long as the GL-5 gear lube oil also says GL4 on the label its ok to use in GL-4 applications. In the past some equipment required GL-4 because GL-5 EP additves was not freindly to yellow metals used in the GL-4 spec'd gear case. The viscosity in not as important, single weight viscosities are a think of the past as most modern equipment spec's multi-visosity, e.g. 75W-90.