There’s a common and often costly misconception that once hypoid gear oil is installed at the factory, it’s good for the life of the transmission, transfer case and differentials.
Kevin Dinwiddie of Amsoil said that’s not the case.
“Gear oil not only lubricates and cools components, it also carries away wear debris that can cause bearing failure and gear failure.”
Oil in a gas or diesel engine has a filter to keep it clean between oil changes and a pump to pressurize the lubricant at key friction points.
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But the drivetrain relies on gears dipping into the liquid, picking up oil and splashing it around. Metal particles from normal wear and tear are heavier and drop to the bottom of the housing where they remain until removed. As the sludge accumulates, abrasive contaminants can be thrown into the bearings by spinning gears.
Boundary lubrication describes two intermeshing gear surfaces that meet with such force that the lubricant is rubbed away, allowing metal-to- metal contact.
Foaming occurs when the dipping gear sets churn up the liquid lubricant, mixing it with millions of air bubbles and diminishing the lubricating quality of the oil.
Former farm equipment service manager Henry Guenter said producers need to keep in mind that gear oil maintains some of the most expensive and difficult to replace parts in farm and truck equipment.
Guenter feels that while some products in the marketplace, such as synthetic oils, offer long life, farmers should consider changing the fluid before long service intervals become an issue.
He said while the oil might maintain its characteristics, the bronze and steel alloys that make up the parts are designed to wear.
Those particles will still be churned up and contribute to accelerated machinery wear.
“Better to change the oil more often,” he said.
