What is transmission oil 80w90, the characteristics and properties of this oil product - these questions are of interest to many motorists. Any happy owner of a vehicle sooner or later faces certain technical requirements for his car. Among these requirements is the choice of gear oil. Let's consider what it is and what it is for, taking multigrade oil 80w90 as an example, and also determine the functions and properties of such oils in general. Any car has a transmission - a set of mechanisms designed to transmit torque from the engine to the wheels, change traction, speed and direction of movement, thereby ensuring the movement of vehicles and the ability to control them. This entire system is subject to wear, overheating, corrosion and other negative factors. To ensure the performance of all mechanisms, transmission oils are used. The correct operation of the entire vehicle depends on their quality and compliance with the specific type of gearbox that is part of the transmission.
In any car there is a transmission, to ensure the performance of all mechanisms, transmission oils are used.
Functions and Properties
Gear oil (international name Gear Oil, literally translated - oil for gears) to maintain the working condition of the mechanisms must perform certain functions:
- carry out heat removal from surfaces subject to friction;
- prevent wear of rubbing parts by forming a stable oil film between them;
- remove wear products from the joint zones where parts are rubbing;
- in gear clutches, to reduce losses due to friction;
- to protect parts from corrosive processes;
- by filling the gaps between the contacting surfaces, significantly reduce such indicators as vibration, noise and load on the gears.
Quite stringent requirements are set for such oils, since their operating mode is quite extreme: high pressure, high sliding speed and wide temperature coverage.
When evaluating, they must be endowed with a certain set of properties. The main ones are:
- anticorrosive properties;
- antifoam - resistance to oil foaming during the working process and the formation of an air-oil mixture, which inevitably leads to corrosive processes;
- antiwear and extreme pressure;
- non-aggressiveness towards non-ferrous metals and rubber seals of structures;
- thermal-oxidative stability - long-term invariance in the conditions of the working process and during storage;
- low toxicity;
- good viscosity-temperature properties provide the desired quality of lubrication of parts, taking into account a wide range of temperatures - from very low to very high.
A consumable such as 80w90 oil contains additives that promote thickening, that is, it refers to thickened liquids.
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Viscosity-temperature properties in SAE classification
The SAE (American Society of Engineers) international viscosity classification has the SAE J306 standard. It dictates requirements related to the viscosity characteristics of gear oils and is based on indicators of low temperature and high temperature properties, expressed in the degree of viscosity according to SAE. Gear oils are different from engine oils. Therefore, in order to avoid confusion when choosing oil, focusing on viscosity, they differ in marking for the same viscosity. Engine oils are conditionally marked from 0 to 60, and for transmission oils, designations from 70 to 250 are assigned. High-quality oil has good lubricity, which directly depends on how successfully the surfaces of parts will be protected from friction and various kinds of damage. The higher the viscosity, the better the lubricity. The high viscosity is due to the high strength of the lubricating film.
Oil with a lower viscosity level tolerates low temperatures much better, without taking time to warm up the car. But at the same time, lubricity decreases, and with them many useful properties of the oil. Also, a thinner oil has a much higher penetrating power, it finds microcracks faster and flows out of the box. Of course, in modern technology, highly effective sealing agents are used to prevent this even at the stage of its production. But over time, they can also leak. In order to balance these indicators, to find a kind of golden mean, special sets of additives are used. Depending on the use of additives, transmission fluids are thickened and unthickened.
Regarding viscosity, the oil is chosen taking into account the maximum and minimum possible ambient temperatures in which vehicles are operated. Thus, there is a division of oils into conditional series:
- With the letter “w” (decoding winter) - a winter row, for example, 80w oil.
- The summer series is simply indicated by a number, for example, 90.
- All-weather or combined. They are marked with double markings, such as 80w90 oil.
Many people know that all-weather shoes are produced with double markings, but not everyone knows what the decoding of such a designation is.
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Let's decipher the marking SAE 80w90
We look at the container, we see the double marking SAE 80w90. The oil is multigrade, which means it has two viscosity characteristics: 80w and 90. The winter indicator of 80w indicates that the liquid retains its fluidity at low temperatures down to -26 ° C. In relation to the summer index 90, the maximum operating ambient temperature is 35°C. Transmission oil 80w90, the characteristics of which we will consider below, has a temperature range from -26 ° C to 35 ° C. I would like to focus on the fact that you should not be deceived by the name all-season, this is not a very correct definition. So, for example, the lowest temperature among the combined oils (75w80 and 75w90) have limits from -40 to 35 ° C. And the most heat-resistant among them is 85w90 - with limits from -12 to 40 ° C.
For those who live within these temperature limits, it is really all-weather, but Russia is large, and for residents of the northern regions, where frosts exceed 40, it is still better to choose from winter oils. For example, 70w, designed for negative temperatures down to -55°C.
Among all lubricants for manual transmissions and other transmission components, 80W90 oil is perhaps the leader in popularity. This is if we take into account the central zone of Russia. Below we will analyze the characteristics and scope of gear oil with a viscosity of 80W90.
Deciphering gear oil 80W90
Let us briefly consider the main characteristics that gear oils with a viscosity of 80W90 have. The SAE J300 standard says the following.
- The pour point before the loss of lubricating and protective properties is at the level of -26 ° C. When freezing below this temperature, the dynamic viscosity of the oil will exceed the acceptable limit of 150,000 csp accepted by SAE engineers. This does not mean that the grease will turn into ice. But in consistency, it will become like thickened honey. And such a lubricant will not only not be able to protect the loaded friction pairs, but in itself will become an obstacle to the normal operation of the unit.
- The kinematic viscosity at 100 °C for this class of oil must not fall below 24 cSt.. It sounds strange in relation to the transmission units: the temperature is 100 ° C. If the gearbox or axle warms up to such a temperature, then most likely there are some problems in the transmission assembly, or the permissible load has been exceeded. However, the viscosity at 100 °C is taken into account here because the oil film is under enormous stress in the contact patches and can locally be heated to higher temperatures. And if the viscosity is insufficient, then the film will break down more easily and allow the metal to contact the metal directly, which will cause accelerated wear of the assembly parts. Indirectly, the “summer” part of the index determines the maximum allowable summer temperature, which for the oil in question is +35 °C.
In general, viscosity is the main indicator. It is he who determines the behavior of a particular gear oil in different temperature ranges.
Scope and domestic analogues
The scope of 80W90 gear oil is limited not only by temperature limits, but also by other properties, such as: the ability to form a strong film, resist foaming and oxidation, service life, aggression towards rubber and plastic parts. These and other properties of gear oil are described in more detail by the API standard.
Today in Russia, 80W90 gear oils with API classes GL-4 and GL-5 are more common than others. Sometimes you can also find GL-3 class lubricants. But today they are almost completely discontinued.
Oil 80W90 GL-4. It is used in most synchronized gearboxes and other transmission units of domestic and foreign cars. Interchangeable with GL-3 class oils, but contains a more advanced package of additives, in particular extreme pressure additives. It has good lubricating and protective properties. Able to work with hypoid gears, in which the contact load does not exceed 3000 MPa.
Gear oil 80W90 class GL-5 according to API has replaced the class GL-4, already obsolete for new cars. Reliably protects hypoid friction pairs with a large displacement of axes, in which contact loads exceed 3000 MPa.
However, this oil may not always be used in gearboxes designed for the GL-4 standard. It's all about the very low coefficient of friction, which is achieved through an advanced additive package. Synchronizers of simple manual transmissions work due to the coefficient of friction. That is, the synchronizer is pressed against the gear and equalizes the speed of rotation of the shafts immediately before the gears enter into gear. Thanks to this, the transmission will turn on easily.
When running on GL-5 oil, synchronized gearboxes that are not designed for this standard often experience tight gear changes and a characteristic crunch due to synchronizer slippage. Although the car owner can see some increase in car power and a decrease in fuel consumption due to a noticeably lower coefficient of friction. Also, synchronizers fail at an accelerated pace on boxes that are not designed to work with GL-5 oil.
Other transmission units that require simple lubrication of the force-transmitting mechanisms may be filled with GL-5 oil instead of GL-4.
The price of 80W90 oils starts at 140 rubles per 1 liter. This is how much the simplest domestic lubricants cost, for example, the OilRight brand. The average price tag fluctuates around 300-400 rubles. The cost of top products reaches 1000 rubles per liter.
According to the old classification, the domestic version of 80W90 oil is called, according to the new one - TM-4-18 (similar to 80W90 GL-4) or TM-5-18 (similar to 80W90 GL-5).
Transmission fluid is available in every vehicle. The operation of both the gearbox and the vehicle as a whole depends on the quality of this consumable. We invite you to find out what 80w-90 gear oil is, what characteristics it has and why it is used. You can also read the reviews of drivers who have poured such oil into their gearbox.
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Why is gear oil used?
Transmission oil (hereinafter - TM), especially its quality, plays a key role in the proper operation of the gearbox of any car. You should also be aware that when filling in a fluid that does not meet the characteristics of the gearbox, the operation of the box can be degraded.
TM is used in the vehicle box to lubricate the parts of the unit while the vehicle is running. On average, the temperature of the TM during the operation of the machine fluctuates around 150 degrees Celsius, but in the place where the gears function, it can exceed 250 degrees. Therefore, an important purpose of the transmission fluid is to remove a considerable amount of heat from the gears of the box, which prevents them from melting.
It should be noted that if a high temperature is maintained in the unit for a long time, foam may form in the TM. And from foaming, the consumable simply loses its properties and is unable to perform its original functions. In order to prevent foaming of the liquid in the unit, only high-quality consumables must be poured into the gearbox.
In any vehicle, it is used because of the additives it contains, which allow the substance to work to its fullest. As you understand, if its properties are lost, the TM cannot ensure the correct operation of the gearbox, since the components of the unit cannot operate in normal mode. If the fluid that has lost its function is left running long enough, the transmission components may melt or fall apart over time. And this, in turn, will provoke a complete breakdown of the gearbox, and the owner of the car will need to overhaul it or buy a new box.
One way or another, but the transmission fluid plays a very important role in the operation of the machine, so its condition and quality must be given due attention.
Specifications for 80W-90 oil
Marking TM 80w90 indicates the viscosity standard. Such consumables contain thickening additives in their basis. Depending on the manufacturer, the technical characteristics of liquids of different brands may differ from each other, but in fact their difference is not so significant for a motorist. Each manufacturer can add their own additives to the base, but according to the standard, the characteristics of the liquids are approximately the same. Consider them:
- viscosity class according to the international standard SAE 80W-90;
- the density index at a liquid temperature of 15 degrees averages 0.9 kg / m3;
- the kinematic viscosity coefficient at a liquid operating temperature of 40 degrees can vary from 137 to 144 cSt, depending on the manufacturer;
- the coefficient of kinematic viscosity at a fluid operating temperature of 40 degrees can be from 14 to 19 cSt, depending on the additives in the fluid base;
- the viscosity index can range from 98 to 142;
- the pour point of the consumable in the gearbox can vary from -16 to -30 degrees, depending on the manufacturer;
- the ignition temperature of the consumable in the unit can range from 179 to 230 degrees, it also all depends on the manufacturer of the substance.
Reviews
What do other car enthusiasts think about with the 80w90 viscosity grade? We invite you to read the reviews of other motorists about the main brands of gear oils collected on the World Wide Web. In particular, we are talking about the following consumables:
- "Zik";
- Lukoil;
- "Gazpromneft";
- "Castrol";
- Mobile.
| Positive | Negative |
| My choice is Zeke. I've never used anything else, and I don't intend to. Everything is quite satisfactory. The gearbox is working properly. Once I almost fell for a fake, I decided to chase a low price. But then I weighed everything, read what is written on the label and realized that the Chinese production of Zik is not the original. | People, never mess with Castrol. Despite good advertising and advice from sellers, the oil is disgusting. Once I filled it in and now I regret it. The second gear has ceased to turn on normally - you need to pull the gearshift lever several times, sometimes you have to accelerate in order to switch from first to third. And now what should I do? Change again? In short, the feedback is negative. |
| The last time he filled in Lukoil, so the box generally began to behave differently. My car is almost twenty years old and the gearshift lever popped up constantly while driving. After the replacement with Lukoil, everything was taken care of. Even the speeds have become easier to turn on, although maybe it just seems to me. In any case, Lukoil did not disappoint me. | Zic transmission oil is the worst you can find on the automotive market. Better, perhaps, even Chinese fakes. Previously, the box vibrated constantly at low speeds. I thought that with the replacement everything will pass. Where is it! As soon as I poured "Zic", the vibrations only intensified. Sometimes it seems to me that the checkpoint just crashes! Never contact! |
| I liked Shell 80w90 oil. The first gear constantly jumped out of the box, before switching to the second one. Still sometimes she began to rattle. It scared me and, on the advice of experienced drivers, I decided to fill in "Shell 80w90". The rattling stopped, almost 100 thousand have already passed after the replacement. But the speed still pops up periodically, but now much less frequently. Apparently, some kind of defect in the checkpoint itself. And so, in general, everything suits. | Once flooded "Mobile", but when he passed 90 thousand km on it, problems began with the inclusion of reverse gear. Decided to try Shell. This was my fatal mistake. After the replacement, no more than 10 thousand passed and the gearbox simply failed. The speed did not turn on, the car was towed to the service station. I had to do a gearbox overhaul. So go away with your Shell. |
| I first heard about Mobil oil from my uncle. I thought for a long time whether to fill it in or not, otherwise the replacement period was already close. I decided not to spare money, after all, they fill it once for a long time, and bought TM Mobile for a checkpoint Be that as it may, when replacing the transmission fluid, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of the automobile manufacturer. You also need to listen to the advice of motorists who own the same vehicles as yours. Sometimes someone else's bitter experience will help not to fall into the same rake. Video "Mistakes when choosing consumables"In this video, experts talk about the main mistakes that car owners make when buying transmission fluid. |
Many drivers often ask the question, what are the characteristics of 80W90 oil, when can it be filled? Of course, every motorist is simply obliged to know exactly which car oil is suitable for the gearbox of his car. Today, semi-synthetic gear oil 80w-90 has become very popular, which is of genuine interest.
Properties
Unlike numerous analogues, this semi-synthetics has a large number of positive characteristics. The main ones are:
- Prevents corrosion;
- Does not foam;
- Protects the surface of parts from scuffing;
- Does not destroy seal material;
- Resistant to thermal oxidation;
- It has minimal toxicity and excellent viscosity.
Due to the additives that make up the oil, it can begin to thicken.
What tasks does 80W90 gear oil perform:
- Removes heat from rotating parts;
- Eliminates the effects of wear;
- Reduces the force of friction;
- Protects the box from corrosion;
- Reduces vibration;
- Contributes to the quiet operation of the gearbox.
Creates a strong oil film on the surface of the part, preventing premature wear.
Viscosity
To study the properties of the transmission fluid, two samples were taken:
The viscosity of both oils was about the same. However, 80W90, which has the property of thickening, is able to become liquid when the temperature is negative. Unthickened fluids such as 85W90 do not have these properties.
Oil difference 80W90 GL-4 from GL-5
Many car owners believe that 80W90 GL-5 mineral gear oil is much better than GL-4, as its performance is much better. This opinion is not entirely correct. Each brand has a specific purpose.
With the same parameters, they differ in composition, more precisely, additives. 80W-90 GL-4 has 4% EP additives and 80W-90 GL-5 has 6.5%. It would seem that the more the better. However, such oil cannot be poured into the checkpoints of cars manufactured by AvtoVAZ. GL-5 will simply erase all synchronizers.
For our Zhiguli, GL-4 grease is suitable. It will not affect the operation of the synchronizers. The anti-seize additives included in the composition help to restore the functions of damaged surfaces.
They form a strong, very thin film. As a result, a reduction in part wear becomes noticeable. These supplements include:
- Phosphorus.
- Sulfur and its compounds.
You can safely fill in the boxes of foreign cars with 80W-90 GL5 oil.
Lukoil TM 4 80w90
Among transmission oils, Lukoil 80W90 TM 4 is considered one of the best. High-quality lubricant that can be used in the gearbox of any passenger car, as well as in oil-intensive trucks. Refined mineral oils became the basis of the lubrication. The composition also includes a unique package of additives that significantly improve its properties.
The liquid does not change its properties in the winter cold. Of course, it is not included in the premium class group, but for ordinary passenger cars it can be considered the most suitable.
Advantages:
- Excellent composition.
- Can work at any temperature.
- Facilitates engine start at sub-zero temperatures.
- Due to the presence of certain additives, it protects parts from high wear.
- Low cost.
All parameters of the composition are indicated on the container.
Having traveled far from one tens of thousands of kilometers on various vehicles, I can say with confidence that the use of a special fluid with lubricating properties for the transmission is just as important as the use of engine oils for the power units of vehicles.
But comparing these two fluids is not entirely correct to the extent that gear oil has a completely different viscosity class and characteristics in general. The list of one of the most popular transmission lubricants can be safely attributed to 80W-90 oil, which will be optimal for regions with moderate frosts in winter and significant heat in the summer season.
Transmission lubricating fluids, as well as motor oils, are classified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE, Society of Automotive Engineers). One or another class is assigned to lubricants depending on the viscosity characteristics and temperature conditions under which the oil is able to maintain its operating parameters. The 80W-90 marking is combined, so it is worth considering each marking often separately:
- The signature of the oil brand with the letter 80W (from the English winter - winter) indicates that the oil belongs to the winter range of lubricants and begins to solidify at temperatures from -25 to -30 ° C. For example, oil labeled 80W. The lower the number before the "W", the lower the pour point. Therefore, for harsh climates, it makes sense to select oils 75W, 70W and below.
- The subsequent number 90 indicates that the oil belongs to the summer range of lubricants. This gear oil will maintain its performance at temperatures of 35-40°C above freezing.
- Double or combined marking is used to designate all-weather lubricating fluids. The gear oil considered in this article is just the same all-season with combined marking.
As a result, it may seem that greases with a combined marking are the most optimal for use. But one should not be deceived and forget about the peculiarities of the climate in individual regions.
For hot southern regions, a truly combined 85W-90 lubricant with a positive temperature threshold of 40 ° C would be preferable. But, if vehicles need to be operated in cold winters, then the choice should be made on oils marked 70W, which can withstand sub-zero temperatures down to -55 ° C.
Oil characteristics
Technical and physico-chemical properties vary due to the fact that each oil manufacturer has its own formula for the additives used. From a practical point of view, this has little effect on behavior, since Standards and production requirements for all manufacturers are the same. Below are the characteristics of 80W-90 transmission oil (limits of some indicators are indicated depending on the manufacturer):
- density index when heated to 15 ° C - 0.9 kg / cc;
- viscosity when heated from 40 ° C - 137-144 cSt;
- viscosity index - varies from 98 to 142;
- pour point - 16-30°C below zero;
- ignition temperature — 179-230°C
Gear oils, like motor oils, are characterized by the presence of additives that make the oil a more viscous liquid. They are needed in order to ensure the normal operation of the transmission in various temperature conditions and to maintain normal operation in the event of a sharp temperature drop. In addition, additives protect against liquid evaporation, which adversely affects the operation of the transmission.
In addition to the above tasks, transmission lubricating fluid ensures silent and smooth operation of the gearbox. If the parts are not properly lubricated, it can make it difficult to shift the high-speed gear, which will lead to a decrease in the performance of the entire transmission system. Also, weak lubrication or its complete absence leads to the appearance of extraneous sounds and noises during the operation of the car and the gearbox itself.
Gear lubricants with a viscosity of 80W-90 stand out from the rest with their demand among motorists, they withstand the load effect well, and also retain their working properties at fairly low temperatures, for which many car owners fell in love with. More information about where, when and what kind of oil should be used is indicated in the vehicle manual, as well as on the canisters themselves and lubricant packages.
Group of gear oils GL4 and GL5
According to international API standards, gear oils are produced and produced with GL4 and GL5 indices. The number at the end of the index is directly proportional to the quality of the lubricant. Therefore, it is acceptable to assume that GL5 is better than GL4. In addition to the difference in oil generations, this index indicates compatibility with certain types of transmission systems. Oil with the GL4 index is applicable to cars with direct, hypoid, bevel gears of gearboxes and manual gearboxes. Optimum operation is achieved at moderate loads and medium speeds.
As for GL5 oils, they work on the same mechanical components and assemblies as GL4, but higher speeds and loads on the transmission system are already acceptable here. Unlike GL4, new generation oils are able to withstand short-term shock loads.
Also, these oils have different environmental standards. In the production of GL4 oil, the use of lead anti-wear additives is acceptable. Environmentalists consider the presence of lead harmful to the environment, so in GL5 oils it was replaced with sulfur-phosphorus additives.
This solution really helps to reduce harmful emissions into the atmosphere, but these additives interact worse with copper metals. The deterioration occurs at the level of mechanical work. Phosphorus additives create such a coating against wear that the copper coating on car parts simply begins to wear off.
Important! Gearboxes and transfer cases built during the API GL4 period have copper plating on the vast majority of models.
This indicates that the transition from the old to the new generation of transmission lubrication is possible only with special approvals from car manufacturers.
Prices
The cost of gear oils with a viscosity of 80W-90 starts from 137 rubles per liter container. As a comparison, we can cite the products of TNK TransHypoid, which will cost 539 rubles. for one litre. Gear oil 80W90 will cost even more - 855 rubles. per litre. And Ford 80W90 - 1300 rubles.
Conclusions from the article
- Gear oils 80W-90 are multigrade and are used at any time of the year.
- They have a high reliability.
- Wide operating temperature range.
- Acceptable transmission performance even at low temperatures.
- The use of additives that increase wear resistance and other operating parameters.
- Large selection of oils according to the climate, prices and other qualities.
