AMSOIL Severe Gear Synthetic Gear Lubes possess excellent cold flow properties, as evidenced in Brookfield Viscosity Test results. Extensive testing, the results of which are available in the AMSOIL, A study of Automotive Gear Lubes White Paper (G2457), and real world experience have proven the Severe Gear line’s ability to deliver exceptional performance and protection at extremely low temperatures.

While engines, transmissions and cooling systems use heat created by combustion to warm up, gear oils rely on friction to warm up, which is only generated once the gears begin to move. This initial movement in cold weather is the point at which gears are most susceptible to damage.

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As for manual transmission gearing, how they are set up and the service factor dictates the use of many different oils. OEMs sometimes recommend automatic transmission fluid such as MERCON or ATF+4, specialty lubes such as synchromesh fluids and API GL-4, 75w-90 viscosity gear lube. The difference in GL-4 and GL-5 is that GL-4 gear lubes have half the extreme pressure additives of GL-5. Because the gear types in manual transmissions do not necessitate the use of GL-5 gear lube, GL-4 is the correct recommendation called for by most OEM’s when gear lube is required.

One such oil is the gear oil. This mixture serves as a lubricant for the manual transmission, transfer case and differentials-many of the systems that are under constant stress. Because of this, gear oil has a very high viscosity compared to other forms of oil.

When Foam does form it does make the gears wear because of the air in the lube. That is something you want to avoid in your gear box. The more wear and tear the gears receives the less use it will allow. With more traditional lubes when mixed with water can form this foam like substance. With Amsoil Marine gear lube tests have shown that it provides %50 more protection against water and helping your gears lasting longer.

The gear lube must have the ability to dissipate this entrapped air, insuring sufficient lubricating film exists to protect the gears from contact wear. Much like engine oil the chemical compounds, or additives, added to drivetrain stocks either enhance existing properties or impart new ones.

The many small and intricate components that make up gear sets found in the drivetrain can be quite noisy and may be subjected to shock loading. The viscosity and extreme pressure formulation of gear lubes quiets gears and dissipates shock loading.

Engine oils and gear lubes both have anti-wear additives, they both must lubricate, cool and protect components, but gear lubes are placed under extreme amounts of pressure, creating a propensity for boundary lubrication. For example, differentials in cars and trucks have a ring and pinion hypoid gear set. A hypoid gear set can experience boundary lubrication, pressures and sliding action that can wipe most of the lubricant off the gears. To combat this extreme environment , extreme pressure additives are incorporated into the oil . AMSOIL uses an extra treat of extreme pressure additives in its gear lubes in order to reduce wear and extend the gear and bearing life.

Gear lube is very different from motor oil. Most people assume that SAE 90 gear lube is thicker than 40 or 50 motor oil, however they are the same viscosity. According to AMSOIL Technical Drivetrain Products Manager Kevin Dinwiddie, the difference is in the additives.

Differential internal components consist of six gears (one pinion, one ring, two side and two spider gears), six bearings (two pinion, two carrier and two axle) and sometimes include a clutch setup for limited slip performance. All of these parts require high quality, clean gear lube in order to perform at an optimal level.