
Racing Gear Oil
What is the difference between gear oil and transmission fluid?
The main difference between gear oil and transmission fluid is: racing gear oil is used to lubricate a manual gearbox; transmission fluid is used to lubricate an automatic transmission. Other subtle differences include viscosity (gear oil has a high viscosity, transmission fluid is lower), and heat resistance (the boiling point of gear oil is higher than that of transmission fluid).
Can you use regular motor oil instead of gear oil for lubrication?
No. The gearbox in your racing engine requires a high viscosity oil that's specially formulated to lubricate your gears so they work together under pressure. Regular motor oil does not have a high enough viscosity to perform this duty.
How can you tell if your gear oil needs to be changed?
Use your senses to tell if your gear oil needs to be changed: If there's a foul smell coming from your gearbox, the gear oil is either contaminated or dirty. If you hear whining or howling noises, your gears are not getting proper lubrication. If you feel strange vibrations in your race car, it could be a result of bad gear oil.