Gear Oil

C

Cwarner

Junior Member
Hi Barners,

I've been wanting to try some SAE 250w oil in my A rear-end/transmission/steering box for a while now but sourcing it around here seems to be challenging. I went to my local NAPA assuming they would not have it on the shelf but maybe could order me some. When I asked about it he went in the back and brought out a gallon of 250w hydraulic fluid and said "this is the same viscosity". Not knowing much on if hydraulic fluid would be an acceptable substitute I declined and decided to ask here to see if anyone else had run hydraulic fluid in their A in place of regular gear oil?
 
I would not recommend using hydraulic oil in any gearbox, especially a manual transmission or rear axle. Hydraulic oil does not contain the needed anti-shear additives required to cushion gears as they shear against each other. Stay with a GL-4 gear lube product of at least 85-140 or greater if you can find it. The so called 600 wt. oil from the various Model A parts suppliers is what is mostly used.
 
C.,
I have some experience with 250 wt gear oil.....,limited because with Long Island winter weather temps, shifting doesn't much happen between December and April. I extended my driving season, first by switching to 140wt and now finally to 85-140.

Just sharing as your mileage may vary. Best, jb
 
mc,

Thanks for that information and that is exactly why I hesitated when I was presented that option.

Y-B: Thank you for that resource I will check them out!

jb: Thanks for that insight. I drive my A until the weather up here takes a nosedive which can be anywhere from mid Nov- Mid Dec, then it sleeps in the garage til Mid April. Sounds like the 250 could cause some issues at the fringes of my driving season, I will take that into consideration!

Thanks all
 
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