Yellow-metal friendly GL-4 gear lubes are often specified for the manual transmissions and transfer cases of legacy autos. On the theory that lubricants with boron additives are less corrosive to yellow metals, I decided to submit the following transmission fluid and GL-5 gear oil for virgin oil analysis (VOA):
Wear Check performed the content analysis that noted high levels of potassium, boron and sulfur. Chevron Delo's lubricant engineers gave me the results of two ASTM tests:
Code:
TRANS GEAR
ASTM FLUID LUBE
D-130 2A 2A
D-4712 -- 0.66
TRANS GEAR
CONTAMINANT FLUID LUBE
Silicon 1.0 0.6
Potassium 3347 3074
Sodium 26 21
Fuel (%)
Glycol -- --
Water (%)
Soot (%) -- --
Sulfation -- --
Nitration -- --
OIL TRANS GEAR
CONDITION FLUID LUBE
Boron 2408 2208
Barium 0.2 0.0
Calcium 53 62
Magnesium 0.0 0.0
Molybdenum 0.0 0.0
Sodium 26 21
Phosphorus 534 508
Sulfur 4305 12550
Zinc 6.1 0.5
Visc@40C 146.0 142.9
Visc@100C 14.61 14.28
VI 98 97
Oxidation -- --
TAN 0.733 0.412
TBN -- --
TRANS GEAR
WEAR FLUID LUBE
PQ -- --
Iron 0.8 0.8
Nickel 0.0 0.0
Chromium 0.0 0.0
Titanium 0.0 0.0
Copper 0.9 0.0
Aluminum 0.1 0.0
Tin 0.0 0.0
Lead 1.8 0.5
OBSERVATIONS
1. Calcium, phosphorus and zinc levels are low relative to the potassium, boron and sulfur levels.
2. Both Chevron Delo ESI fluids have a "copper strip tarnish test" result of Claret Red (2A). This is more corrosive than the Redline MT-90 (1A) and the Amsoil MTG (1B). In fact, this is more corrosive than 11 of the 14 GL5 gear oils in the Amsoil survey (http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/Gear Lube White Paper.pdf, page 17).
3. Despite having only one-third the sulfur content, the Delo Trans Fluid ESI tarnished a copper strip to the same degree as the Delo Gear Lubricant ESI (80W-90).
4. The Delo Gear Lubricant ESI has a "4-ball wear test" scar diameter of 0.66mm. This is worst than all 14 GL5 oils in the Amsoil survey (http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/Gear Lube White Paper.pdf, page 15).
- Chevron Delo Trans Fluid ESI (SAE 40)
- Chevron Delo Gear Lubricants ESI (SAE 80W-90, API GL-5)
Wear Check performed the content analysis that noted high levels of potassium, boron and sulfur. Chevron Delo's lubricant engineers gave me the results of two ASTM tests:
- Copper Strip Tarnish Test (D-130)
- 4-Ball Wear Test (D-4712)
Code:
TRANS GEAR
ASTM FLUID LUBE
D-130 2A 2A
D-4712 -- 0.66
TRANS GEAR
CONTAMINANT FLUID LUBE
Silicon 1.0 0.6
Potassium 3347 3074
Sodium 26 21
Fuel (%)
Glycol -- --
Water (%)
Soot (%) -- --
Sulfation -- --
Nitration -- --
OIL TRANS GEAR
CONDITION FLUID LUBE
Boron 2408 2208
Barium 0.2 0.0
Calcium 53 62
Magnesium 0.0 0.0
Molybdenum 0.0 0.0
Sodium 26 21
Phosphorus 534 508
Sulfur 4305 12550
Zinc 6.1 0.5
Visc@40C 146.0 142.9
Visc@100C 14.61 14.28
VI 98 97
Oxidation -- --
TAN 0.733 0.412
TBN -- --
TRANS GEAR
WEAR FLUID LUBE
PQ -- --
Iron 0.8 0.8
Nickel 0.0 0.0
Chromium 0.0 0.0
Titanium 0.0 0.0
Copper 0.9 0.0
Aluminum 0.1 0.0
Tin 0.0 0.0
Lead 1.8 0.5
OBSERVATIONS
1. Calcium, phosphorus and zinc levels are low relative to the potassium, boron and sulfur levels.
2. Both Chevron Delo ESI fluids have a "copper strip tarnish test" result of Claret Red (2A). This is more corrosive than the Redline MT-90 (1A) and the Amsoil MTG (1B). In fact, this is more corrosive than 11 of the 14 GL5 gear oils in the Amsoil survey (http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/Gear Lube White Paper.pdf, page 17).
3. Despite having only one-third the sulfur content, the Delo Trans Fluid ESI tarnished a copper strip to the same degree as the Delo Gear Lubricant ESI (80W-90).
4. The Delo Gear Lubricant ESI has a "4-ball wear test" scar diameter of 0.66mm. This is worst than all 14 GL5 oils in the Amsoil survey (http://www.synthetic-oil-tech.com/Gear Lube White Paper.pdf, page 15).