Can I use Super Tech gear lub sae 80w-90 GL5 from walmart for the gear and differential oil? It has nothing on it with the word Hypoid.

 

anyone?

 

API rating GL-5 would tend to indicate it is suitable for hypoid gear service.

 

wanted to make sure...thanks

 

Ridiculous! If it doesn't say the word "hypoid", I wouldn't even give it one seconds consideration. Your diff only takes a few ounces of oil...so it's not like you are going to break the bank not buying SpiffyLube oil at Wally World.

GL4 or GL5 and the word "hypoid" is what you want to look for. If you can't figure out anything else, just go to a Honda dealer and get some Shaft Drive oil, and you will be sure it is the correct oil! Again, it's only a few ounces....

 

I was in a pinch and this is all I could get. Was told GL5 is a hypoid.

 

Good marketing practice would suggest that it would be best to put the word on the bottle!

While GL5 is hypoid, many non-GL5 oils are hypoid as well!

 

"Hypoid" just means a set of spiral bevel gears where the axis of the two gears does not intersect. It isn't a definition or standard for the properties of an oil.

GL-5 is the API rating for oils with the properties to protect differentials and hypoid systems.

I look at it as a little like saying "wheel bearing grease for disk brakes" on the side of a can. It doesn't really tell you anything about the quality or qualities of the grease, and a can that doesn't say it is for disk brakes may or may not be better. The rating NLGI GC does tell you about the properties of the grease, and that it meets the highest standard for wheel bearings.

 

The difference in a "hypoid" oil is the extreme pressure additive package....most likely just tons of ZDDP. Back in the day, EP (extreme pressure rated) is what you looked for in a hypoid oil.

Note that the owner's manual simply specifies an SAE 80 HYPOID GEAR OIL. Honda's own shaft drive oil is 80W85, GL4/GL5.

 

Is there any standardized definition of what performance qualities "hypoid" gear oil has to meet?