What gear oil to use in a limited slip differential?
When it comes to maintaining the performance and longevity of your vehicle's limited slip differential, choosing the right gear oil is crucial. The gear oil you select can have a significant impact on the differential's operation, so it's important to understand the key factors to consider when making your choice.
What is a Limited Slip Differential?
A limited slip differential is a type of differential that is designed to distribute power more evenly between the two wheels on an axle. Unlike a standard open differential, which allows one wheel to spin faster than the other, a limited slip differential helps to maintain traction and prevent wheel spin, especially in situations where one wheel has less grip than the other.
Gear Oil Considerations for Limited Slip Differentials
When selecting a gear oil for your limited slip differential, there are several important factors to consider:
- Viscosity: The viscosity of the gear oil is crucial, as it affects the oil's ability to lubricate the differential components and maintain the proper clearances. For most limited slip differentials, a gear oil with a viscosity of 75W-90 or 80W-90 is recommended.
- Additive Package: Limited slip differentials require a gear oil with a specific additive package that includes friction modifiers and anti-wear agents. These additives help to prevent clutch slippage and ensure smooth, consistent operation of the differential.
- Compatibility: It's important to use a gear oil that is compatible with the materials and components used in your specific limited slip differential. Consult your vehicle's owner's manual or the differential manufacturer's recommendations to ensure you select the appropriate gear oil.
By choosing the right gear oil for your limited slip differential, you can help to ensure optimal performance, extended component life, and reliable operation of your vehicle's drivetrain.
What happens if you never change differential fluid?
Most differentials need a fluid change at about 50,000 miles. If left too long or if the fluid starts to run low, the differential will become noisy and can eventually fail. If that happens, the gears can seize, locking up the rear wheels and potentially causing a lot of damage or even an accident.
Is GL5 gear oil for limited slip?
API GL-5 oils can be used in limited slip differentials only if they correspond to the requirements of specification MIL-L-2105D or ZF TE-ML-05. In this case the designation of class will be another, for example API GL-5+ or API GL-5 LS.''
What gear oil is best for limited slip differential?
Stick to non-synthetic 80w90 gear oil specific for LSD's. No addictives necessary as they're already in the LSD specific oil. Like others have said LUCAS is a good choice. (I personally use it as well) Call and ask around as it's usually not carried in larger quantities at most chain stores. We need 4 bottles.
Does limited slip differential need additive?
Instead of formulating multiple gear lubes of the same viscosity, but different frictional properties, to address occasional chatter in limited-slip differentials, gear-lube friction-modifier additives can be used to alter the fluid's original frictional properties and eliminate chatter.
Should I use gl4 or gl5 for diff?
GL-5 has roughly twice the amount of EP additives compared to GL-4, which is why it is often used in high-pressure circumstances such as in a front axle and rear axle differential. Sulphur/Phosphorus additives however have an unfavourable property: they can react aggressively towards bronze and copper.
How often do you change limited slip differential fluid?
For a normal, daily driven, vehicles we advise that you change the differential oil every 50,000 miles. For vehicles that are hard worked, such as trucks that do a lot of heavy towing, we advise that you change the differential oil every 15,000 miles.
Does Lucas 75w90 have limited slip additive?
Our formulation contains an embedded friction modifier for use in standard or limited slip differentials. Recommended by Lucas Oil for any application requiring SAE 75W-90 gear oil, whether in light duty trucks, SUVs, or commercial vehicles.
Does limited-slip differential require additive?
Instead of formulating multiple gear lubes of the same viscosity, but different frictional properties, to address occasional chatter in limited-slip differentials, gear-lube friction-modifier additives can be used to alter the fluid's original frictional properties and eliminate chatter.
Which Valvoline gear oil is recommended for limited-slip differentials?
Valvoline FlexFill SAE 75W-140 Full Synthetic Gear Oil is recommended for use in axle applications requiring factory-fill or drain-and-fill levels for limited slip performance.
Which lubricants are used in a limited slip differential?
DEXRON® LS GEAR OIL 75W-90.
