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I've got a slight dilemma regarding which gear lube oil
to run in my differential.
I consulted an industry expert who owns a heavy duty
fleet maintenance shop and works on trucks all day. He
said that GL-5 80W90 gear lube oil would be fine in my
Rockwell 5.29 gear ratio differential.
That's what I put in.
Digging through my Blue Box, I accidently ran across
some papers that stated Rockwell advised using 85W140 oil.
Since my Bird is so old, I wonder if lubrication
technology has made that recommendation obsolete, or if
I should switch to that weight.
The lubricants made in 1981 are a far cry from what's
available today.
The book also stated that, if you drive less than
60,000 miles per year, the gear lube should be replaced twice
a year, Spring and Fall.
That's what I'll do. Any experience on gear lube weights?

George Witt
81 FC 35
Lincoln, Nebraska (60 miles down the road from the
College World Series--Huskers play Friday night)

Yep same here,

Twice a year seems a bit much, I think this was the first change
for our 88. This could start the viscosity debate again.


Bill FC Michigan no leaky read end here


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mrdonut12"
<mrdonut12@y...> wrote:
> I've got a slight dilemma regarding which gear lube oil
> to run in my differential.
> I consulted an industry expert who owns a heavy duty
> fleet maintenance shop and works on trucks all day. He
> said that GL-5 80W90 gear lube oil would be fine in my
> Rockwell 5.29 gear ratio differential.
> That's what I put in.
> Digging through my Blue Box, I accidently ran across
> some papers that stated Rockwell advised using 85W140 oil.
> Since my Bird is so old, I wonder if lubrication
> technology has made that recommendation obsolete, or if
> I should switch to that weight.
> The lubricants made in 1981 are a far cry from what's
> available today.
> The book also stated that, if you drive less than
> 60,000 miles per year, the gear lube should be replaced twice
> a year, Spring and Fall.
> That's what I'll do. Any experience on gear lube weights?
>
> George Witt
> 81 FC 35
> Lincoln, Nebraska (60 miles down the road from the
> College World Series--Huskers play Friday night)

Bill: I've alway's used the 85-140wt. I've used it in the last 3
coach's. I change it once a year and use amsoil synthetic. Never had
a problem...Bob 93pt Illinois
>
> Twice a year seems a bit much, I think this was the first change
> for our 88. This could start the viscosity debate again.
>
>
> Bill FC Michigan no leaky read end here
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mrdonut12"
> <mrdonut12@y...> wrote:
> > I've got a slight dilemma regarding which gear lube oil
> > to run in my differential.
> > I consulted an industry expert who owns a heavy duty
> > fleet maintenance shop and works on trucks all day. He
> > said that GL-5 80W90 gear lube oil would be fine in my
> > Rockwell 5.29 gear ratio differential.
> > That's what I put in.
> > Digging through my Blue Box, I accidently ran across
> > some papers that stated Rockwell advised using 85W140 oil.
> > Since my Bird is so old, I wonder if lubrication
> > technology has made that recommendation obsolete, or if
> > I should switch to that weight.
> > The lubricants made in 1981 are a far cry from what's
> > available today.
> > The book also stated that, if you drive less than
> > 60,000 miles per year, the gear lube should be replaced twice
> > a year, Spring and Fall.
> > That's what I'll do. Any experience on gear lube weights?
> >
> > George Witt
> > 81 FC 35
> > Lincoln, Nebraska (60 miles down the road from the
> > College World Series--Huskers play Friday night)

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mrdonut12" <mrdonut12@y...>
wrotey night)

Here is more than you will ever want to know about differential lubes.
I ended up putting in 75W90 in the old 86 I had and have it in the new
04. This string of emails is best read from the bottom up.

From: McGlone, Bruce [Bruce.McGlone@...]
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2005 8:34 AM
To: Cole, Ronald; 'jescoggins@...'
Subject: RE: Axle / Differential Lubricant for R125NX8 342 Axle

Jim;
Thank you for your response. Pennzoil's EW 80W/140 is one of the many
approved SAE 80W/140 gear oils referenced on our upcoming oil approval
list. If needed, this lubricant is also listed on the database of SAE
J2360-approved gear oils as Approval PRI GL0025.
This list is located at web address
http://www.pri.sae.org/PRI/IMprograms/Lu...report.pdf
<http://www.pri.sae.org/PRI/IMprograms/Lu...report.pdf> .
Per your original question, there should be no performance problems or
compatibility problems with ArvinMeritor seals if a carrier were to be
refilled with this oil.

I hope that this answers your questions. If you need additional
information, please contact me at the numbers noted below.


Regards,
Bruce F. McGlone, Senior Chemist, ArvinMeritor Materials Engineering
Office: RD-152
Phone: USA (248) 435-9929
Fax: USA (248) 435-6602
e-mail: Bruce.McGlone@...
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
<<...OLE_Obj...>>


> -----Original Message-----
> From: James Scoggins [mailto:jescoggins@...
> ]
> Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 7:23 PM
> To: 'Cole, Ronald'
> Subject: RE: Axle / Differential Lubricant for R125NX8 342 Axle
>
>
> Thank you for your time and for the response.
>
> Here is all the info on the bucket of gear lube:
>
> Pennzoil FCI
> Gearplus R Super EW
> Synthetic Gear Oil
> SAE 80W140
> API GL-5/MT-1
> Dana SHAES 234
> SHAES 256
> Arvin Meritor O-76
> Mack GO-5
>
> From what I read this stuff should have been OK?
>
> Regards,
> Jim Scoggins
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Cole, Ronald [mailto:Ronald.Cole@...
> ]
> Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 4:05 PM
> To: 'jescoggins@...'
> Cc: McGlone, Bruce; Vickers, Douglas
> Subject: RE: Axle / Differential Lubricant for R125NX8 342 Axle
>
> Jim Scoggins / Stafford, VA
>
> Ref: Our two (2) telephone conversations today
>
> Here is some input from our Senior Chemist, Bruce McGlone. Believe
> that you probably were using the 80W/140 syn lube and I probably wrote
> down the wrong viscosity grade.
>
> If you wish to have Mr. McGlone advise you on specifics please feel
> free to contact him.
>
> You can get more information on our lubricant recommendations by going
> to the ArvinMeritor web site at
> http://www.arvinmeritor.com/tech_library...=19&sub=45
> <http://www.arvinmeritor.com/tech_library...=19&sub=45>
> <http://www.arvinmeritor.com/tech_library...=19&sub=45
> <http://www.arvinmeritor.com/tech_library...=19&sub=45>
> > . Go to Section 8: Rear Drive Axles, page 150, for current oil lube
> specifications.
>
> The differential carrier pinion oil seal is a unitized type of seal,
> our part number A 1205N2588. This seal is perfectly compatible with
> either petroleum base of synthetic lubricants.
>
> I do not know the oil bath (wheelend) seal that Blue Bird installed or
> uses for servicing the hub/drum assemblies in the R125NX8 342 axles as
> Blue Bird supplied / installed the hub/drum assemblies themselves.
> You might want to confirm to your satisfaction that these seals are
> adequate for synthetic lubricants. Based on my dealings with Blue
> Bird on the current drive axle used in the Wanderlodge (ArvinMeritor
> RC23161 Series
> Axle) the wheelend oil bath oil seal assembly is ArvinMeritor A
1205V2492.
> This seal is perfectly compatible with either petroleum base or
synthetic
> lubricants and could be used with the hubs/drum assemblies assembled to
> the R125NX8 342 axle.
>
> Incidentally, ArvinMeritor currently supplies to Blue Bird completely
> built up axles with lubricant already filled. When synthetic
> lubricant is required we fill with SAE 75W/90 synthetic lubricant.
>
> Please advise if you have further questions.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ron Cole
> Manager, Applications and Customer Support
> Specialty Products Engineering
> 444 Hebron Road
> Heath, OH 43056-1440
> Tel: 740-348-3470
> Fax: 740-348-3608
> E-mail: Ronald.Cole@...
>
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: McGlone, Bruce
> > Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 3:00 PM
> > To: Cole, Ronald; Vickers, Douglas
> > Subject: RE: Axle / Differential Lubricant for R125NX8 342 Axle
> >
> > Ron;
> >
> > Good question.
> >
> > The 80W/140 visc. grade was not approved by most OEMs (including us)
> > for
> a long time (>10 yrs.) because of reasons involving shear stability.
> Since the current oil-approval spec includes a shear-stability
> requirement (thanks to GM and us), the 80W/140 visc. grade
> specification has been brought out of mothballs and is now a current
> ARM document; the MM#1 document needs to be revised accordingly.
> >
> > FYI: The TP9539 extended-oil-drain approval document has recently
> > been
> extensively re-written (me) and the soon-to-be-issued document lists a
> lot of new approvals, as well as the 80W/140 gear oil spec. for SAE
> J2360-approved (!!!) gear oils.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Bruce F. McGlone, Senior Chemist, ArvinMeritor Materials Engineering
> > Office: RD-152
> > Phone: USA (248) 435-9929 [Comnet 525-9929]
> > Fax: USA (248) 435-6602 [Comnet 525-6602]
> > e-mail: Bruce.McGlone@...
> > = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Cole, Ronald
> > Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 2:44 PM
> > To: McGlone, Bruce; Vickers, Douglas
> > Subject: RE: Axle / Differential Lubricant for R125NX8
> 342
> > Axle
> >
> > Bruce -
> >
> > I probably just wrote down the wrong grade - I know he said '140'
> > so
> it was probably 80W/140 that he used.
> >
> > I just checked MM1, Section 8, page 150 and it says syn lube
> available in 75W/140 or 75W/90 but does not mention 80W/140 as being
> approved.
> >
> > Can you comment as to whether we can tell him 80W/140 is OK?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Ron
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: McGlone, Bruce
> > Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 2:28 PM
> > To: Cole, Ronald; Vickers, Douglas
> > Subject: RE: Axle / Differential Lubricant for
> > R125NX8 342 Axle
> >
> > Gentlemen;
> >
> > If the motor home's axle/seals are "used to" synlube then,
> by all means, keep it there.
> >
> > I should mention though, that there are no synlubes with
> this viscosity grade. Synthetic gear oils are marketed in (primarily)
> 75W/90 and 80W/140 viscosity grades, with a few 75W/140 oils ($$$$).
> There are a few extended-drain petroleum-based gear oils that have
> been tested and approved by us, including at least one (Chevron ESI)
> that's an 85W/140, but these aren't synthetics. If needed, I can get
> further information on the properties of the customer's gear oil if
> he/she provides a brandname and viscosity grade (Example: "Chevron
> UPM Universal 80W/90").
> >
> > If the customer is happy with their oil, let's advise them
> to leave the same variety in there.
> >
> >
> > Regards,
> > Bruce F. McGlone
> > Tel: 248-435-9929
> > =============
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Cole, Ronald
> > Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 1:56 PM
> > To: McGlone, Bruce; Vickers, Douglas
> > Subject: Axle / Differential Lubricant for
> R125NX8 342 Axle
> >
> > Bruce / Doug -
> >
> > I got a call today from an owner of a 1986 Blue Bird
> Wanderlodge motor home with subject axle. He had a recent
> 'differential failure' after 122,000 miles and he is getting it
> repaired. He had been > using 85W/140 synthetic lubricant and wants
> our advice on whether it is OK to continue to use this lube when the
> unit is repaired.
> >
> > The R125NX8 carrier is basically an inverted (Rear
> Engine Drive) R155 carrier.
> >
> > Any comments you can provide?
> >
> > I'll address issues with pinion and wheelend oil
> seals.
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Ron
> >