Heavy duty transmission and axle lubricants – mineral or synthetic for extended drain?

Abstract

Economic pressures are driving fleets to substantially increase their maintenance intervals. To meet this challenge, both the original equipment manufacturers (OEM) and the lubricant suppliers have developed new and better products to give users the benefits of extended service intervals while at the same time maintaining equipment life and reducing operating costs. This paper will examine the options available in formulating extended drain transmission and axle lubricants by comparing four products designed to meet the OEM extended service interval requirements. Bench test and field test data will be reviewed which show that by optimizing the base oil as well as the additive system, both synthetic as well as properly formulated mineral oil products can give excellent extended drain performance. With mounting economic pressures in the trucking industry, these new products will give maintenance personnel additional product choices as they move their fleets to extended drain transmission and axle lubricants in an effort to safely extend equipment life and reduce total maintenance costs.

Citation

Hansels, T.J. and Mullins, W.W. (2002), "Heavy duty transmission and axle lubricants – mineral or synthetic for extended drain?", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 54 No. 6, pp. 275-284. https://doi.org/10.1108/00368790210445641