Limited Slip Gear Oil VS Regular Gear Oil

CanukYJ · 04-10-2004, 09:35 AM

I am installing a locker this weekend and when I went to buy my 80 90 gear oil all they had was the premium at 10$ a liter. Yeah right! So I noticed for 5$ a liter they have gear oil with limited slip lube added into it (read=same thing as the 10$ a liter stuff but made to work under high loads and with LSD carriers). This LSD rated gear oil should work fine in an axle with a locker right? I've been told it can't hurt anything but I wanna double check.

**MSHarnett** · 04-10-2004, 09:54 AM

I personly woudn't put oil meant for an LSD in with an autolocker. I think the only real diffrence is there is a friction enhancer to help with the clutches or what ever is in LSDs, but with an autolocker it's useless. I prefer to use Mobile 1 gear oil. Its like 7 bucks a quart, so you'll need like 2-3 of those. Or you could just get regular cheap stuff from Walmart. Will it hurt anything, I doubt it.

CanukYJ · 04-10-2004, 10:25 AM

Personally as long as it doesn't hurt anything I don't care, this lsd stuff is heavy duty grade and costs half what the 'regular' stuff does. I'm pretty sure LSD oil is meant to help LSD clutches grip but ALSO make them last longer (heard if you don't add it the clutches burn out in no time flat, kinda like syncro's). So the way I figure it, if this makes the metal clutches last longer, it can't hurt making my locker last longer. Now if only I could get the caliper off the rotor and the damned axle retaining bolts out of the hub! Those buggers are in there good, I'm scared I'm going to strip them.

**MSHarnett** · 04-10-2004, 10:37 AM

Yeah I just might be a little nervous on how it will affect the locker performace. I doubt it'll do anything, but its just doesn't sound good, especially since this will be in your front axle where its gonna have to slip alot. You never know, you might find your self going into a turn and it engages all of the sudden and causes you to wreck. Well the worse case senario anyway. If anything will help it last longer, a synthetic gear oil will

I had a hell of a time getting my hubs off, it looked as though the bolt welded itself in there, but with a pipe and 12 point socket, she came off. Good Luck with the install

You should take pictures so I know what to do when I install the powertrax.

CanukYJ · 04-10-2004, 12:03 PM

Yep I'll snag pics of the install, count on that one. I just wish I could figure out if the gear oil with lsd will be fine. I've seen ppl post the "does my YJ have traclok?" and most respond "blahblahblah, even if it doesn't it's best to put the additive for LSD because it can't hurt to do so". I'm not worried about my locker engaging while driving, I own a YJ with a front axle disconnection system so it freewheels, I could run a spool if I wanted.

**igofshn** · 04-10-2004, 02:16 PM

It won't hurt the locker at all. I have Detroits fron and rear and I add friction modifier every time I change the lube. It works great. Actually quiets it down.

Cynic · 04-10-2004, 02:33 PM

the oil wont engage a torque senstive locker....

Igofshn : Does it quiet the locker down?...i have a detroit in the rear and I notice when its really cold out and the oil is cold its really quiet, I'm assuming cause its thicker....but I knew adding thicker oil wouldnt be a good idea....so a friction modifier will quiet that thing down a little?...maybe even the lash between shifts? Thanks

**Jerry Bransford** · 04-10-2004, 04:47 PM

99% of the GL-5 gear lubes found on store shelves have the friction modifier added to them. This is to safeguard against not having the additive in a limited-slip differential equipped axle. The friction modifier additive is 100% compatible with non-LSD equipped axles and is actually a useful additive in that it can help the gears to run a bit cooler. Many shops that install ring & pinion gearsets use that additive to help the gears break in a little easier.

No worries, the friction modifier additive is fully compatible with all differential types... open, LSD equipped, or locker equipped.

CanukYJ · 04-10-2004, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jerry Bransford

99% of the GL-5 gear lubes found on store shelves have the friction modifier added to them. This is to safeguard against not having the additive in a limited-slip differential equipped axle. The friction modifier additive is 100% compatible with non-LSD equipped axles and is actually a useful additive in that it can help the gears to run a bit cooler. Many shops that install ring & pinion gearsets use that additive to help the gears break in a little easier.

No worries, the friction modifier additive is fully compatible with all differential types... open, LSD equipped, or locker equipped.

That's what I thought but I was too paranoid about it and what not so I already exchanged it for synthetic blend high load carrying (rated 4x4 and farm equip) weight oil for it (basically just blended gear oil) because I didn't wanna blow my locker up just in case lol. I'm sure it will work fine with 'normal' stuff hehe. Thanks for all the info guys! btw- busting the torque off those axle retainers sucked! Had to put a box end wrench on them with 12points and hit it with a rubber mallet. I put never seize on them and I will begin the install tomorrow (figured those will be the problem bolts since they were rusted, so I popped em open, neverseized, and retorqued for tomorrow).