What is the difference between engine oil and gear oil?
1 Answers
Gear oil and engine oil differ mainly in the following aspects: 1. Different working environments: Gear oil is mainly used in manual transmissions, reducers, and differentials, while engine oil is primarily used in car engines. Since gear teeth engage through line contact, gear oil must have extremely high viscosity specifications; otherwise, it cannot form an oil film at the gear engagement points. In contrast, engine lubrication points mainly involve surface contact without the extreme high pressure generated by gear engagement, so their viscosity requirements are relatively lower. 2. Different focuses: Gear oil emphasizes protecting gears under high temperatures, while engine oil prioritizes low-temperature fluidity. Moreover, gear oil is strongly alkaline, whereas engine oil is weakly alkaline. 3. Engine oil and gear oil must never be mixed, as this can easily prevent machinery from achieving optimal lubrication and cause damage.