Is gear lubrication fluid different from ATF?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Steve Lee
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Steve Lee

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 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Probably for rear ends and/or heavy equipment.
 
Steve Lee said:
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.
Click to expand...

Probably for rear ends and/or heavy equipment.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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.)
 
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.
Click to expand...

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.)
 
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)
Click to expand...

I see. So, then, with a car like the Pilot, the gear lube use
shouldn't be concerned with, correct?
 
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)
Click to expand...

I see. So, then, with a car like the Pilot, the gear lube use
shouldn't be concerned with, correct?
 
I see. So, then, with a car like the Pilot, the gear lube use
shouldn't be concerned with, correct?
Click to expand...

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.)
 
I see. So, then, with a car like the Pilot, the gear lube use
shouldn't be concerned with, correct?
Click to expand...

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.)
 
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
--
Hunt hard...Kill quick...Offer No Apologies!
Steve Lee said:
I see. So, then, with a car like the Pilot, the gear lube use
shouldn't be concerned with, correct?
Click to expand...

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
 
--
Hunt hard...Kill quick...Offer No Apologies!
Steve Lee said:
I see. So, then, with a car like the Pilot, the gear lube use
shouldn't be concerned with, correct?
Click to expand...

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 said:
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).
Click to expand...

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
 
Dave Dodson said:
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).
Click to expand...

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
 
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
Click to expand...


I stand corrected.


Vuarra

Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
(That which is said in Latin sounds profound.)
 
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
Click to expand...


I stand corrected.


Vuarra

Quid quid latine dictum sit altum videtur.
(That which is said in Latin sounds profound.)
 
Dave Dodson said:
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
Click to expand...

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
 
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