Tired of foaming gear oil went to no detergent

Pgitug · Oct 22, 2017

Decided my gear box does not need detergent to keep the burning exhaust elements from sticking to the metal parts. As with any detergent product you get “Foaming” when agitated, which IMHO reduces the oils effectiveness in lubrication. Checked with Twin Disk and they agree with non-detergent oil being used in marine gear boxes.
Live and learn.

FF · Oct 22, 2017

"Checked with Twin Disk and they agree with non-detergent oil being used in marine gear boxes."

Our TD requires 50 wt non detergent , and its getting hard to find.

Motorcycle dealers are easiest source.

Nomad Willy · Oct 22, 2017

ATF has high levels of anti-foaming additives.

Pgitug,
How is “burning exhaust elements” getting into your gearbox?

You must be talking about automotive lube oil as gear oil is common at higher viscosities.
As for engine lube oil Valvoline markets (readily available) 60W racing engine lube oil that is probably lacking in some common lube oil additives. I use the Valvoline to thicken oil at times.

Pgitug · Oct 22, 2017

ff said:
"checked with twin disk and they agree with non-detergent oil being used in marine gear boxes."

our td requires 50 wt non detergent , and its getting hard to find.

Motorcycle dealers are easiest source.

napa

what_barnacles · Oct 22, 2017

pretty much any full synthetic gear oil for rear ends (70-140) is high detergent and low foaming.

The detergent isnt to prevent "burning exhaust elements" from getting stuck on the hears, but to keep any coked lube from damaging the gear surfaces. Transmissions and rear ends get really hot and can coke lube easily enough. Consider all that power and torque being transferred thru 2-3 sq. inches of surface area. Its the main reason they use tranny lube coolers.

psneeld · Oct 22, 2017

Passed along from a fellow pilot....

FF wrote "Our TD requires 50 wt non detergent , and its getting hard to find."

It's as close as the nearest airport. Aeroshell 100 straight mineral oil

Rossland · Oct 22, 2017

Or you could try combined hydraulic/transmission oil commonly used in Farm Machinery.

caltexflanc · Oct 22, 2017

On Allison transmissions at least, foaming is most commonly caused by too much or too little oil, usually caused by not reading oil levels per the manual.

I doubt it has anything to do with detergent in the oil.

Here is a more thorough discussion:

http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/1765/foaming-in-oil

Chrisjs · Oct 23, 2017

Twin Disc (MG5050) specifically says NOT to use detergent oil, and to use single weight (SAE30 or SAE40) - not multi-weight.

Tired of foaming gear oil went to no detergent

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