Oil & Fuel When To Change To 80w90 Gear Oil From UDT In The Front Axle

[Bird]

This topic was discussed on TBN about 7 years ago. And with about the same conclusions. At the time, the manual for my 1999 B2710 had the same recommendation. I had changed it to the gear oil because that's what I was accustomed to for differentials and manual transmissions. It seems that some think the "heavier" oil provides a tougher better lubrication, but then others believed the "thinner" oil would get into tiny clearances that the "thicker" oil would not. Anyway, since the manual recommended either/or and the tractor came originallly with UDT in it, I later changed back to UDT in the front axle. And of course I still don't really know whether one is actually any better than the other. But I suspect you'll be alright with either as long as you have the proper amount in there and don't get water in it.

 

[DieselPower]

Both are designed to be gear lubricants, the UTF is just formulated to do many other things.

Upside of gear oil is it's thicker viscosity which will provide a better oil film on gears and can help to reduce shock loading of gears.

Upside of the UTF is it's thinner viscosity which will help to reduce operating temperatures. Thinner oils create less internal friction and tend to disipate heat better than thicker ones do.

So which is better, in all honesty either. I use UTF and have never had a problem.