[unstable]

can you run motor oil in a rear differential in a pinch?

[Pony]

Anything is better than nothing. But as each is designed for it's own purpose and should be used that way.

[68NovaSS]

Gear oils have a 'climbing' ability which helps move it to the outer ends of the hosing to lubricate the wheel bearings, I'm not sure motor oil and the lighter viscosity would do that. I played with a display at the local auto parts store for a product I can't recall, and was very impressed with the climbing action that occurs.

I'm sure centrifugal force would move motor oil around, but as you put it, "in a pinch", I'd agree with Pony, only to get yourself home for a short distance.

[jimfulco]

I used some 30w in a rear end but only long enough to drive it to a station for some gear lube, maybe 5 miles, real easy. Never had a problem with it.

[unstable]

well, I guess the front differential (4WD) was leaking...making some awful noises so it was probably already toasted. My pops was probably a couple hundred miles from his destination, told him to pop the motor oil into the front differential and have at it...hopefully it won't seize up...it didn't, he made it home. I'm just glad that everything we did (new motor/trans/transfercase/exhaust) held up for the trip...and it ended up being something that we had nothing to do with.

We didn't have the front drive axle hooked up anyways. I told him, he could probably open up the front differential and remove some gears and be able to drive it without the nasty noises until he had time to get it repaired...whether this is true or not, I don't know, just a hypothesis I have.

Anyone have any experience with turning a front differential into a "roller"?

[68NovaSS]

I'm not a 4 WD mechanic but I'd talk to someone in the know about how the front outer ends get lubricated. If it's a solid differential, similar to the rear, I'd be concerned how the front outer bearings and seals are getting lubrication. Without the ring and pinion churning things up the lubrication wouldn't have any way to work it's way out to the bearings and seals. If it had independent axles or stub shafts, that would be a different story.

It's something to look into though.

[killerformula]

spoze you could use some 60wt valvoline racing oil. I love that stuff, I bought a quart when I was storing my motor, when the bores were bare. Stuck like glue, great stuff.

K

[BOBCRMAN@aol.com]

Large tractors and some low speed industrial vehicles use hydraulic fluid ( about 20w) thru-out their gearboxes,rear ends, and hydraulic systems. Short term use (emergency) should not hurt..

[M&M CUSTOM]

Originally posted by 68NovaSS
I played with a display at the local auto parts store for a product I can't recall, and was very impressed with the climbing action that occurs.

You're not the only one, and it was most likely the Lucas oil display.

Lightweight viscocity oil can be used when the only other choice is nothing, and for a very temporary time.

The solid front axle you are referring to has NO capability of getting gear lube out to the ends of the axleshafts, as there are seals just outboard of the differential carrier bearings the tubes are open from that point outward.

As for the "roller" axle question, either turn the hubs "if equipped" to the unlock position, or yes, you can remove the axleshafts and ring and pinion gears.

If the axleshafts are removed you MUST either re-install the outer portion of the axleshafts in the spindle and re-attach the half shaft to the hub, or have a plug made to seal up the axleshaft sized hole to keep dirt and water out of the spindle bearings.

[unstable]

Thanks for the help guys...you really have saved my arse over the past several days.

For anyone wondering, my pops drove from Cape Cod Mass to Niagara Falls NY yesterday...only problem ended up being the front differential. He said he checked the fluid before he left here and it was a little low, but liveable. Near Albany he started hearing some nasty noises...he narrowed it down to the front differential. Unable to locate heavy weight gear oil on the highway, he used motor oil and drove slowly the rest of the way to Niagara Falls. He made it safely, but we're both pretty confident the front diff is toasted.

I'm fairly happy. It would have been nice if the front diff wasn't smoked, but we didn't play with it at all...so there's no love lost. The motor, tranny and transfer case worked flawlessly. I took a short ride in the truck before he left and it sounded good...drove good, shifted good...can't really ask for much more.