What is the Difference Between Gear Oil and Engine Oil?
4 Answers
Gear oil and engine oil differ in their working environments and primary focuses. Below are the key differences between gear oil and engine oil: 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 in direct contact, gear oil requires extremely high viscosity to form an oil film at the gear engagement points. In contrast, engine lubrication involves surface contact and does not experience the extreme pressure generated by gear meshing, so its viscosity requirements are relatively lower. 2. Different focuses: Gear oil emphasizes protecting gears under high temperatures, while engine oil prioritizes low-temperature fluidity. Additionally, gear oil is strongly alkaline, whereas engine oil is weakly alkaline.
I was just chatting with a mechanic about this the other day – gear oil and engine oil are quite different. While both are lubricants, they serve completely different parts. Gear oil is specifically designed for lubricating gear sets like those in transmissions and differentials. Since gears endure massive impact forces when meshing, gear oil needs to be extra viscous and contain extreme pressure additives to withstand high pressures. Engine oil, on the other hand, is tailored for engines, needing to flow and lubricate precision components like pistons and connecting rods under high temperatures. The most noticeable difference is the replacement interval: my car's engine oil needs changing every 8,000 km, whereas manual transmission gear oil can last up to 50,000 km. Never mix them up – my neighbor once poured engine oil into the transmission, and the gears ended up worn down like they'd been chewed by a dog, costing over 5,000 yuan to fix.
Having worked in auto repair for over a decade, I often encounter car owners who can't distinguish between these two types of oil. The fundamental difference lies in their functional roles: engine oil's core job is to lubricate and cool internal engine components, as well as clean carbon deposits, so it needs good fluidity and strong high-temperature stability. Gear oil, on the other hand, is mainly used for the transmission system, especially in manual transmissions where metal gears directly mesh together, requiring high viscosity to form an oil film that resists compression. A simple way to tell them apart is by their labels: engine oil is labeled like 5W-30, while gear oil is labeled GL-4/GL-5. The maintenance routines also differ significantly: a regular car typically needs about 4 liters of engine oil per change, but changing gear oil requires 2-3 liters and is much more complex to perform. Important reminder: automatic transmissions must use specialized fluid—never attempt to substitute with gear oil or engine oil.
I asked the 4S dealership this exact question when I picked up my new car last year. Simply put, engine oil is the lifeblood of your motor—it lubricates internal cylinder components and operates at temperatures exceeding 100°C. Gear oil serves the transmission, primarily addressing wear during gear meshing. The most noticeable difference lies in viscosity: opening the engine oil cap reveals thin fluid, whereas gear oil pours out thick like syrup. My owner's manual specifies clearly: engine oil changes every 10,000 km, while gear oil requires replacement only every 60,000 km. During maintenance, I've noticed technicians use differently colored drums—red for engine oil, green for gear oil. Never attempt to substitute one for the other out of convenience, as using the wrong fluid can lead to catastrophic component failure.
