|
Straight from the industry discussions on Mil-Specs... (now I want all you guys who've been listening to Old Wives and Old Timers who think paraffin belongs on the top of jam in a mason jar to quit believing everything those geezers say about GL-5. Quit bickering and use the stuff in your N-Ford because it's better for your tractor than that old early stuff. You don't still use non-detergent motor oil in the engine do you? You don't still run only plain water in the radiator, do you? GL-5 is not harmful to your tractor. GL-5 is an industry standard in hundreds of thousands of gearboxes with "yellow metals" and GL-5 will NOT HARM YOUR FORD TRACTOR IN ANY WAY. The folks at I&T FO-4 manuals know it, and so should we! Read the following from ASTM and quit spreadin' rumors! ;Þ "Clearly defined industry performance specifications are intended to enable OEMs, end-users, oil marketers and lubricant additive manufacturers anywhere in the world to speak the same language when it comes to lubricants. The standards are your assurance that gear oils are up to the challenge, so it’s important to understand what they mean.
What’s the difference? The performance requirements for automotive gear lubricants depend on their intended use.
API Category GL-1 (inactive*) designates the type of service characteristic of manual transmissions operating under such mild conditions of low unit pressures and minimum sliding velocities, that untreated oil may be used satisfactorily. Oxidation and rust inhibitors, defoamers and pour depressants may be used to improve the characteristics of lubricants intended for this service. Friction modifiers and extreme pressure additives shall not be used. API Category GL-2 (inactive*) designates the type of service characteristic of automotive type worm-gear axles operating under such conditions of load, temperature and sliding velocities, that lubricants satisfactory for API GL-1 service will not suffice. API Category GL-3 (inactive*) designates the type of service characteristic of manual transmissions and spiral-bevel axles operating under mild to moderate to severe conditions of speed and load. These service conditions require a lubricant having load-carrying capacities greater than those that will satisfy APL GL-1 service, but below the requirements of lubricants satisfying the API GL-4 service. API Category GL-4 designates the type of service characteristic of spiral-bevel and hypoid gears in automotive axles operated under moderate speeds and loads. These oils may be used in selected manual transmission and transaxle applications. API Category GL-5 designates the type of service characteristic of gears, particularly hypoids in automotive axles under high-speed and/or low-speed, high-torque conditions. Lubricants qualified under U.S. Military specification MIL-L-2105D (formerly MIL-L-2015C), MIL-PRF-2105E and SAE J2360 satisfy the requirements of the API GL-5 service designation. SAE J2360 standard is a new global quality standard that defines a level of performance equivalent to that defined by MIL-PRF-2105E, a U.S. military standard for approval that was not available to oil blenders in all parts of the world. It includes all of the most recent axle and transmission testing requirements identified in API GL-5, API MT-1, and MIL-PRF-2105E including the need to demonstrate proof-of-performance through rigorous field testing. * API Categories GL-1, GL-2, GL-3 and GL-6 were declared inactive by SAE Technical Committee 3 in 1995, even though oils may be marketed with these designations. Similarly, ASTM does not plan to maintain the performance tests associated with these categories, as in a number of cases these tests can no longer be run because parts or test installations are not available. More and more, end-users worldwide are finding that the performance defined by API GL-5 is the practical minimum to deliver acceptable performance and equipment dependability. As a result, API GL-5 may be regarded as the industry’s fundamental building block in growing numbers of the world’s regions. The tests indicated on the following table provide end-users the assurance of a basic level of gear oil performance. API GL-5: An update, not a new standard
Confusion and ambiguity that once surrounded the API GL-5 standard should rapidly be alleviated, thanks to a forthcoming rewrite – or update – of the standard. Previously, some users found it difficult to access the test equipment and ASTM STP 512A, which was the book that contained the API GL-5 test information, and was primarily a compilation of test procedures. The update is in the form of an ASTM Standard, easily accessible to anyone who needs it. In addition, there was no process in place to periodically review and update the standard. As a result, references to certain test methods became outdated and there was potential for confusion regarding what constitutes an acceptable result. The update includes current test procedures and reference oils, and designation as an ASTM Standard requires review and revalidation every five years. The rewrite is the result of more than one year of work by a technical committee of ASTM International, one of the world’s largest voluntary standards development organizations. The committee included representatives of oil marketers, dependent and independent testing facilities, the military and additive manufacturers ."
| 
