diff failures - Oil??
Discussion
I originally posted this up in Ford section since the failures were on Ford English axle diffs which I suspect were down to CRAP EP 80/90 oil. I've run English axles since 1972 - never had a failure until 18months ago, now I've had a 2nd failure after only 1200 miles,
However no-one replied in that forum hopefully someone here can help.
Here's the original post:-
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'Anyone else had recent failures of Ford English axle differentials due to worn gear teeth? I've used english axles for 40 years - never had a Diff problem til recemtly
I used ep 80/90 oil from my local motor factors which clearly hasn't lubed the teeth??
The photo's below are after only 1200 miles in a 550 kg kit car, you can clearly see that the teeth faces are worn out due to lack of lubrication.
This is the second failure I've had - last year the diff was howling when I took the car off the road for the winter, the car had done 3800 miles last year but didin 't fail completely like the one shown in the photo's, but the teeth were worn.
Would the ep80/90 halfords oil be the correct oil for this application??
I went specifically looking for a quality oil , I could only get Halfords own branded. Is this OK for English diff.'
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Checking the original Ford Escort works manual they recommend EP90 for differentials, the halfords rating is EP80/90 GL-5 whatever that means?????
Anyone else had any failures recently??
ANY OIL EXPERTS ON HERE who know whether the EP80/90 oil formula has changed recently?
However no-one replied in that forum hopefully someone here can help.
Here's the original post:-
>
'Anyone else had recent failures of Ford English axle differentials due to worn gear teeth? I've used english axles for 40 years - never had a Diff problem til recemtly
I used ep 80/90 oil from my local motor factors which clearly hasn't lubed the teeth??
The photo's below are after only 1200 miles in a 550 kg kit car, you can clearly see that the teeth faces are worn out due to lack of lubrication.
This is the second failure I've had - last year the diff was howling when I took the car off the road for the winter, the car had done 3800 miles last year but didin 't fail completely like the one shown in the photo's, but the teeth were worn.
Would the ep80/90 halfords oil be the correct oil for this application??
I went specifically looking for a quality oil , I could only get Halfords own branded. Is this OK for English diff.'
>
Checking the original Ford Escort works manual they recommend EP90 for differentials, the halfords rating is EP80/90 GL-5 whatever that means?????
Anyone else had any failures recently??
ANY OIL EXPERTS ON HERE who know whether the EP80/90 oil formula has changed recently?
Sorry for late response.
No point in taking a pic of pinion - no teeth left - all worn away
The diff was standard Lotus 7 fitted 3.77:1
As you can see from pics - quaife ATB diff was fitted
Car is 1970 Lotus 7
Power 155bhp
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I rebuilt the diff as I have many times when I've changed CWP's To different ratios, with/without LSD or ATB
Last years failure [3800 miles] was on 3.54:1 diff again with ATB fitted
Car has done 85000 miles with me driving it as Colin Chapman intended ie thrashed
- No Morris Minor or TVR type cruises whatsoever.
Tyre size 185/70x13" until recently when they became unavailable I used Yoko Ao21r's in 185/70x13" Size, now I have to use Normal 185/70x13" road tyres, which have less grip than the yoko's
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As previously mentioned I've never had a problem with diff failing until last years 3.54 broke a coupla pinion teeth and hence it started Howling, It was then I swopped to the original diff fitted to the car 3.77:1 the 3.54 teeth looked worn just like this diff, but I initially put that down to the broken pinion teeth - Now I'm not so sure.
The oil which I believe caused the failure wasn't the halfords which I showed but a bottle I got from local Motor factors. The point in showing the halfords oil was because that's what I intend to use next [ assuming you lot think its the correct stuff]??
TA
Maybe its not clear from my photos but the teeth have been worn considerably - gobsmackingly so - I've spent all my life working in Mech eng as a toolmaker - I've NEVER seen gear teeth worn in this way, the diff was full of oil when I took it off the car, so the only conclusion I could come to was that the oil was NOT lubricating the teeth, thus causing friction and hence the wear, unfortunately I don't have the Brand of oil I used, however It came from a motor factors I've used for 35 years the owner has a Mk1 Escort TC, so its unlikely he would sell crap, the oil said EP 80/90 on label I alway check this, however the Halfords oil clearly states for Differentials, they also sell EP 80/90 gear oil but that a GL-4 designation - Is this relevant??
No point in taking a pic of pinion - no teeth left - all worn away
The diff was standard Lotus 7 fitted 3.77:1
As you can see from pics - quaife ATB diff was fitted
Car is 1970 Lotus 7
Power 155bhp
>
I rebuilt the diff as I have many times when I've changed CWP's To different ratios, with/without LSD or ATB
Last years failure [3800 miles] was on 3.54:1 diff again with ATB fitted
Car has done 85000 miles with me driving it as Colin Chapman intended ie thrashed
- No Morris Minor or TVR type cruises whatsoever.Tyre size 185/70x13" until recently when they became unavailable I used Yoko Ao21r's in 185/70x13" Size, now I have to use Normal 185/70x13" road tyres, which have less grip than the yoko's
>
As previously mentioned I've never had a problem with diff failing until last years 3.54 broke a coupla pinion teeth and hence it started Howling, It was then I swopped to the original diff fitted to the car 3.77:1 the 3.54 teeth looked worn just like this diff, but I initially put that down to the broken pinion teeth - Now I'm not so sure.
The oil which I believe caused the failure wasn't the halfords which I showed but a bottle I got from local Motor factors. The point in showing the halfords oil was because that's what I intend to use next [ assuming you lot think its the correct stuff]??
TA
Maybe its not clear from my photos but the teeth have been worn considerably - gobsmackingly so - I've spent all my life working in Mech eng as a toolmaker - I've NEVER seen gear teeth worn in this way, the diff was full of oil when I took it off the car, so the only conclusion I could come to was that the oil was NOT lubricating the teeth, thus causing friction and hence the wear, unfortunately I don't have the Brand of oil I used, however It came from a motor factors I've used for 35 years the owner has a Mk1 Escort TC, so its unlikely he would sell crap, the oil said EP 80/90 on label I alway check this, however the Halfords oil clearly states for Differentials, they also sell EP 80/90 gear oil but that a GL-4 designation - Is this relevant??
Edited by rene7 on Monday 25th June 14:27
GreenV8S
Good point - IMO this would support what I've said about the oil NOT providing lubrication, Here's another photo which better shows the wear across the whole of and on the centre of the teeth:-
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Now to return to my original Q - does anyone know whether diff EP 80/90 oil specification has been changed recently??
Good point
- IMO this would support what I've said about the oil NOT providing lubrication, Here's another photo which better shows the wear across the whole of and on the centre of the teeth:->
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Now to return to my original Q - does anyone know whether diff EP 80/90 oil specification has been changed recently??
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