ABSTRACT
Gear oils are the unseen workhorses of the automotive lubricants. Lacking the advertising clout and consumer attention that engine oils command, they are the lubricants for the remainder of the automotive power train. The power train transfers the power from the engine to the drive wheels. This equipment consists of one or more gearbox assemblies that allow a smooth transfer of rotational energy through various speeds and torque ranges. In automotive vehicles these gearboxes consist of the transmission and
differential or a combination transaxle. Today’s driver, whether passenger car or class 8 truck, is rarely concerned with these fluids or their effect in the equipment. For most vehicle owners and operators, both the power train hardware and lubricant go unnoticed through the vehicles life cycle. This is a result of a concerted effort by the industry over a 50-yr period to constantly monitor and improve the equipment and lubricants protecting them in this application.
