Transmission Oil

[35ragtop]

Rob, I too use the Penrite 85-140 gear oil.
They are a well respected Aussie company that have for years produce oil specifically for veteran, vintage and classic vehicles. I spoke to their tech guy about this and they claim it is safe for our Ford V8 boxes. I pulled my 38 gearbox apart after 2000 miles, looking for a noise which I have never tracked down. The oil was clean and the bronze bits were unmarked after 2 years using the gear oil.
Good enough for me.
Dave

 

[Aarongriffey]

After Jseery’s post that reminds me of the time I drained everything on my Ford Aerostar.
I put gear oil in the five speed transmission.
The next day I had a hell of a time shifting it.
I looked up the specs and it said to use ATF! I changed it to ATF and it was just fine for the rest of the years I had it.
Aerostar five speeds had T5 trannies in them. I always liked the gear ratio spacing in that vehicle.

 

[Talkwrench]

Rob, I too use the Penrite 85-140 gear oil.
They are a well respected Aussie company that have for years produce oil specifically for veteran, vintage and classic vehicles. I spoke to their tech guy about this and they claim it is safe for our Ford V8 boxes. I pulled my 38 gearbox apart after 2000 miles, looking for a noise which I have never tracked down. The oil was clean and the bronze bits were unmarked after 2 years using the gear oil.
Good enough for me.
Dave

Well thats good to know Dave. I dare say in a few years the box will be apart again for some reason.. That will be a good test. I prefer the way it shifts too, will be better in winter.

 

[hermitrob]

I am in the process of purchasing a 1933 pickup. I have an instruction book for 4 cylinder cars and trucks. It says to use SAE250 in the summer for transmission and rear axel. All I can find advertised is synthetic. Any thoughts on this? I would rather ask a stupid question than do something stupid

 

[JSeery]

The call outs for lube was evolving during this time period. If you look at the Ford specs in the late 30 and into the 40s they are recommending want is now GL4. You could also use GL1.

 

[HD Rider]

Nothing wrong with synthetic.

 

[Ross F-1]

At lot of the GL-5 producers claim they are now synro compatible. I tend to not trust them and GL-4 is easy to come by. It is mild EP, which is what Ford specified and I don't care much for the smell of GL-5. I use Mercon myself (T5).

Here is a piece I copied off a different forum, explains things pretty clearly. Note that it applies only to Valvoline's High Performance lubes, they have others that may not qualify.

In that same thread, it was stated that the active sulphates in other GL-5's only corrode/discolor brass when oil temps are in the 250°+ range, not something I'd expect in an old Ford.

 

[petehoovie]

Here is a piece I copied off a different forum, explains things pretty clearly. Note that it applies only to Valvoline's High Performance lubes, they have others that may not qualify.

In that same thread, it was stated that the active sulphates in other GL-5's only corrode/discolor brass when oil temps are in the 250°+ range, not something I'd expect in an old Ford.

 

[RalphG]

Anybody using #30 motor oil in their standard transmissions? Thats what I have in the four speed T17 in my IH Loadstar. The manual calls for straight mineral oil #50 so this is a little lighter than they recommend. Seems to work great.

 

[Jacques1960]

Not at all; Lucas is GL 4/5 and very reasonable

 

[JSeery]

Anybody using #30 motor oil in their standard transmissions? Thats what I have in the four speed T17 in my IH Loadstar. The manual calls for straight mineral oil #50 so this is a little lighter than they recommend. Seems to work great.

Here is the comparison between the different viscosity ratings. But keep in mind that the additives are very different between them.

 

[RalphG]

Here is the comparison between the different viscosity ratings. But keep in mind that the additives are very different between them.

So according to the chart my #30 motor oil is close in viscosity to an #85 gear oil.

 

[JSeery]

Yep, but again different additives.