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For a smooth gear transmission system, specific gear oil is most important. Gear oil provides the thermal stability of the vehicle. It is available in various qualities and types. All oils can’t match with the same vehicle and do not perform properly in extreme pressure or in extreme weather conditions.
For that reason, choosing the best one for your vehicle gets very difficult. That’s why I choose some of the best gear oil that matches the maximum vehicle requirements. These oils will work well on all low and high temperature or extreme loads to provide maximum performance and long service time. So, let’s get the gear oil review.
Editor’s Pick- Best Gear Oil
7 Best Gear Oil With Field Test
1. Quicksilver 90 High-Performance Gear Lube
Quicksilver is one of the quality products in this current market. Quicksilver 90 High-Performance Gear Lube is their latest quality product. This product comes in a 1-quart style solid plastic bottle and contains 32 fluid ounces of liquid and smells like its previous versions.
It is designed to run with no issues for mainly outboard and sterndrive applications like Honda, merc, and Evinrude engine and perform from above 75hp to 150hp and 250 jet drive. So, if you want a better flow and life span, this gear lube is for you.
Features
Protection
This gear lube is formulated perfectly to protect against excessive wear and corrosion. This lucid is SAE 90 thick and doesn’t stick easily. For that, in extreme load, this gear oil reduces metal to metal contact and provides great protection.
Performance
As for the extreme pressure gear oil in high load slow gear, it reduces friction and heat, which helps to spin smoothly so that you get the best performance.
Versatility
Quicksilver’s 858064Q01 gear lube comes with an 80w-90 viscosity rating; it is best for a low-speed high load system. They designed this lube mainly for outboard and sterndrive applications.
Pros
- Fit all types of marine engines
- Easily flowable below 80w
- Affordable price
- Long service 100+ hour lifespan
- Great thermal protection
Cons
- Did not have a cap remain paper seal only
2. Lucas Oil LUC10046 SAE 80W-90 Heavy Duty Gear Oil
Lucas LUC10046 is a great heat control gear oil from Lucas. This heavy-duty gear oil, specially made for heavy vehicles and racing vehicles. This oil gives your heavy-duty vehicle better performance and consistent anti-corrosion. Also, this oil’s transmission and differentials are better than any other oil in the market.
Features
Protection
This Lucas extreme pressure oil in slow gear flows really well and doesn’t attach with metal to metal, and keeps the metal rust-free. Also, for continuous slow gear smooth flow of this oil, it doesn’t create much heat in the gearbox and also doesn’t heat your vehicle part.
Performance
For better flow, this engine does not stick anyway and reduces friction, and helps to run constantly at its own speed. It ensures its performance. It even performs really well in cold temperatures.
Versatility
As Lucas Oil LUC10046 is heavy-duty gear oil, it comes in SAE 80W-90 viscosity rating. Usable in very low temperatures with a heavy load. Recommend to use this oil in heavy vehicles or in racing cars.
Pros
- Great heat control
- Provide rust protection
- It comes at an affordable price
- Great for shock loading applications
- Usable in limited-slip differentials
- Cold temperature protection
Cons
- Not for small vehicles
3. Valvoline SynPower SAE 75W-140 Full Synthetic Gear Oil
Valvoline is a top brand that serves American motorists longer than any other motor oil brand. They know which is best for the vehicle; that’s why they made this SynPower Full Synthetic Gear Oil which is great for limited-slip hypoid differentials and high-speed systems.
Features
Protection
Valvoline SynPower gear lubricant is capable of working in extreme conditions. It is designed to protect fluid from extremely low and high temperatures. This synthetic gear oil ensures thermal stability and keeps cleanliness to protect the gear teeth from rust and corrosion.
Performance
This oil does not stick or freeze in high temperature or low temperature and doesn’t interrupt the startup that ensures vehicles’ better performance. As it ensures less rust, corrosion, and chattering, it enhances the vehicle’s long service life.
Versatility
This Valvoline SynPower is an SAE 75W-140 Full Synthetic Gear Oil. Here 75w remains flowable up to – 40°C. And 140 refers to the transmission of this oil at 100°C. But it can be usable in extremely lower temperatures. It can be used for API GL-5 or API GL-4 applications.
Pros
- Great thermal stability
- Protection from rust and corrosion
- Works in extremely low temperature
- Full Synthetic differential gear oil
- Limited slip differentials
Cons
- Not suitable for Honda application.
4. Red Line 58204 Heavy ShockProof Gear Oil
Red Line 58204 is a full synthetic heavy Shockproof gear oil. This oil is designed for excellent lubrication under extreme conditions, which provides excellent protection to racing vehicles and road cars; that isis why this oil is very popular among the top companies.
Features
Protection
This oil is known for its low thickness. Low thickness means better slipperiness’. For better slipperiness, the gearbox runs continuously, reduces metal to metal contact, and protects rust and corrosion. For low internal fluid, friction uses little power to provide great protection.
Performance
For better flow, the temperature does not grow fast, control the heat very well and reduce 40% more friction, and does not heat the vehicle, which enhances the performance of the vehicle and improves better mileage and longer drain intervals.
Versatility
From this list of products, this Synthetic differential gear oil is the best 75w 90 gear oil. It can be usable at lower temperatures and perform the same as normal. This oil will work well with GL-1, GL-3, and GL-4 rated applications.
Pros
- Film thickness greater than an SAE 75W250
- 250% extra load capacity than other oils
- Budget-friendly purchase
- In the cold, it reduces fluid friction
- It fits with any cars
Cons
- Not recommended for synchro applications
5. Star Brite Premium 80W-90W Synthetic Lower Unit Gear Lube.
Star Brite Premium 80W-90W is a semi-synthetic product from Star Brite. This oil is mainly known for its long-term performance. Others it can work excellently in extreme conditions and much more. It is recommended to use in outboard and sterndrives’ applications like Yamaha, force, mariner, Nissan, Mercury, Suzuki, and more.
Features
Protection
As this oil can work in extreme conditions, it can be usable in any condition. Also, this oil comes with super thermal stability and reduces hence to provide better cleanliness protection.
Performance
As it fluid smoothly in extreme temperatures. So, the engine does not stop running or stack any place that enhances the engine’s lifetime and provides better performance. It also performs really well over 100 hp engines.
Versatility
This oil viscosity rating is 80w 90w which can outperform most of the oil in the market. It is recommended for API GL-5, SAW J-2360, API MT-1, and MACK GO-J.
Pros
- Most affordable semi-synthetic oil on this list
- Can take extreme pressure
- Provide long term performance
- Compatible with most of the applications
- Protects against rust and corrosion
Cons
- It’s a semi-synthetic oil
- Misleading description
6. Ultralub Ultra1Plus SAE 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Oil
Ultra1Plus SAE 75W-90 is a great transmission and transaxles oil from Ultralub. This gear oil is known for its improved oxidative stability and high-temperature thermal. This API GL-4 rated gear oil is designed for use in all seasons.
Features
Protection
This gear oil is fully synthetic blend oil. That’s why it will protect your applications from high-speed scoring and low-speed wear. Also, its anti-scuffing additives and continuous lubricity flow protect from foaming, rust, varnish, and oxidation.
Performance
As it can work excellently in extreme conditions, it works fluently in all seasons and keeps the cleanliness of the gearbox or the engine, and ensures great long-life performance.
Versatility
This API GL-4 rated viscosity gear oil comes with SAE 75W-90 ratings that ensure thermal stability. This gear lube is compatible with most high-speed systems.
Pros
- It’s a fully synthetic gear oil
- Provide great protection from rust and oxidation
- Keep the cleanliness and enhance performance
- Compatible with most of the applications
- Great thermal stability
Cons
- Misleading description
7. Spectro Oil Spectro L.HYP Hypoid Gear Oil
Spectro L.HYP Hypoid is a formulated high-density gear oil from Spectro. It is highly API GL-5 rated gear oil. This gear oil is especially for shift drive motorcycles, including BMW and Moto Guzzi. Also, it can be used in other low-speed heavy systems.
Features
Protection
As in this hypoid gear oil, the highest V.I. Petroleum base stocks and density available, also have special E.P. additives are included that’s why it helps to reduce gear wear and protect your engine.
Performance
The blending of the Spectro oil is great. It reduces friction, less wear drag and provides a smooth startup, and ensures smooth gear shifting that enhances the performance.
Versatility
It is an 80W90 rated viscosity gear oil. As 80w90 gear oil, it works in high-pressure additives and on non-synchronized manual transmission and ensures limited-slip differential.
Pros
- Highest V.I. Petroleum base stocks
- Specially designed for wet clutch
- Better fuel economy
- Limited-slip action
- Budget-friendly purchase
Cons
- It doesn’t maximize output power
Best Gear Oil Buying Guide
Before providing you with some suggestions, you should know that almost every vehicle has some specific requirements when it comes to gear oil. So before purchasing, get to know all your requirements, such as vehicle’s specification, weather conditions, and performance demand, and then select your vehicle.
Gear Oil And Viscosity
Gear oils come in multiple numbers. From those, the extreme pressure and the synthetic gear oil are the best for any vehicle. That’s why in this list, I included extreme pressure with 80W90 viscosity rating and synthetic gear oil with 75W90 viscosity rating products.
Here extreme pressure is used to tackle high load conditions, which reduce wear and scuffing.
80W-90 is an extreme presume oil, which works great in high load conditions. It is best for a low-speed high load system. That means in heavy-duty vehicles; they will perform best.
Synthetic gear oil works super on conditions like high and low temperatures to ensure the oil fluently runs in the gearbox.
75W-90 is a synthetic blend oil. It is best for a high-speed system with a lower load. It is usable under extreme pressure conditions, and for synthetic high temperatures does not affect the protection.
Grading Of Gear Oils
There are 5 types of grades of gear oil GL-1, GL-2, GL-3, GL-4, GL-5. From these GL-4 rated gear oil used mostly in this modern time. It operates under a moderate level for extreme condition protection.
Also, nowadays, people use GL-5 gear oil in their extremely loaded systems. Where GL-5 has a very high rating for extreme pressure protection, check which one your system supports. Choose that one which grade gear oil your vehicle requires.
Thermal Stability
To remain gear oil stable under the heat of the gearbox, the thermal stability of gear oil is the most important thing. Faster gears heat up fast; if you have faster gears, you can go for synthetic oil, and slower gears heat less under high loads; for that, you can use extreme pressure oil.
Now it’s up to you in which vehicle you use and that vehicle’s requirement.
FAQS – Best Gear Oil
Q. Is Thicker Gear Oil Better?
Ans: Yes, thicker gear oil is better. The more you take high viscosity oil you will get thick films. Thicker oil provides great thermal stability. It also helps to reduce corrosion and provide better wear resistance. Thicker oil is slower gears heat less in under high loads and pressure.
Q. Which Oil Is Thicker 75W90 or 75W140?
Ans: 75W140 oil is thicker than 75W90 oil. The difference is seen at operating temperature. At lower oil temperatures or room temperatures, they both have the same thickness or density. But in higher oil temperatures, 75W140 oil shows more thickness than 75W90 oil.
Q. Does It Matter What Gear Oil I Use?
Ans: Yes, it matters what gear oil I use. In an automotive gear application, you can’t use any oil because all lubricants are not the same; they are made with different formulas for each application.
As you can’t use extreme pressure oil or synthetic oil in all applications. If you use synthetic gear oil where the synthetic gear oil is not needed or use extreme pressure oil where the synthetic oil is needed, it will damage some materials, and gear failure happens.
Q. What Is 90 Weight Gear Oil Used For?
Ans: 75W-90 is a synthetic blend oil usable under extreme pressure conditions. It is best for a high-speed system with a lower load. For synthetic, high temperature does not affect the protection.
Also, 80W-90 is an extreme presume oil that is usable in high load conditions. It is best for a low-speed high load system. It is used in heavy-duty vehicles.
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Final Verdict
There are multiple quality gear oils in the market. From those, some are excellent, and some are poor. These are complex to choose, and even if you choose any excellent gear oil, you can’t use it in an automotive gear application because, as we know, all lubricants are not the same. They are made for specific applications with different formulas to provide a great performance.
Here I gave you the 7 best gear oils; from them, some are synthetic and extreme pressure oil for specific vehicle requirements, weather conditions, and performance demand. From those products, match correct viscosity and API rating and choose the best gear lube for your vehicle. I hope you get the point. Thank you.
