Motorbike transmission oil used in car by mistake

[belfry]

I ordered 4 litres of LSX 75W-90 API GL4, GL5 Synthetic transmission oil from Eni for an oil change on my car's gearbox, together with a new magnetic trans plug and washer.

I did the oil change last night and took the car for a good run early this morning. All good.

When I was clearing up the garage now I've noticed that 4 litres of API 75W-90 GL4 GL5 MOTOR BIKE transmission oil was delivered and unknowingly used in my oil change.

I'm hoping that the Eni Rotra LSX and Rotra bike are effectively the same synthetic oil. Does anyone know?

Thanks

[CoolHands]

I don’t, but I wouldn’t worry about it.

[Mignon]

Why don't you ask the seller?

[kev b]

Motorbike transmission oil usually omits certain additives to stop the clutch from slipping as most bike clutches live inside the gearbox.

[belfry]

Mignon said:

Why don't you ask the seller?

Superformance are closed until Monday.

[99hjhm]

If it’s GL4/5 spec it’s probably going to be fine.

[GreenV8S]

Check the manufacturer's web site and see what difference there is in the spec?

[belfry]

GreenV8S said:

Check the manufacturer's web site and see what difference there is in the spec?

Sadly they don't have a comparison chart. However, both are API, GL4 and GL5 whatever this means. My car revs to 7,500 rpm so there might be something about motorbike oil that'd suit it.

Anyway, I need to drive the car tonight. Do I go to Halfords and buy 4 litres of their GL5 transmission oil and do another oil change or press on with the motorbike oil???

Opinions please

[CoolHands]

I wouldn’t but you seem worried about it, if you do change it you should probably buy gl-4 if for a gearbox rather than gl-5 according to this:

https://www.opieoils.co.uk/t-api-car-gear-oil-spec...

[gareth_r]

kev b said:

Motorbike transmission oil usually omits certain additives to stop the clutch from slipping as most bike clutches live inside the gearbox.

Close...

Motorcycle engine oil omits certain additives, to stop the clutch from slipping, because most bikes use the same oil for the engine, gearbox, and primary drive/clutch.

EDIT:
There doesn't seem to be anything motorcycle-specific in the API specs.

https://www.oilspecifications.org/api_gos.php

API Gear Oil Specifications

GL-4
The designation API GL-4 denotes lubricants intended for axles with spiral bevel gears operating under moderate to severe conditions of speed and load or axles with hypoid gears operating under moderate speeds and loads. These oils may be used in selected manual transmission and transaxle applications where MT-1 lubricants are unsuitable. The manufacturer's specific lubricant quality recommendations should be followed.

GL-5
The designation API GL-5 denotes lubricants intended for gears, particularly hypoid gears, in axles operating under various combinations of high-speed/shock load and low-speed/high-torque conditions.


Detailed information >>>> http://www.api.org/certifications/engineoil/pubs/u...

Edited by gareth_r on Sunday 25th November 11:55

[belfry]

This is helpful. Thank you. The motorbike oil is also API and GL4 & 5 certified, so I'm assuming that car and bike specs for GL4 etc are the same. I'm worried that I might have caused some expensive damage yesterday morning and of course it's a Sunday so I cannot contact the supplier or manufacturers.

[belfry]

I have spoken to the suppliers. Apparently the only difference between the Eni Rotra Bike synth 75W-90 and Rotra LSX synth 75W-90 is one additive to stop a motorbike clutch from slipping. They've told me that this additive won't affect my Mondial Gearbox.

[gareth_r]

belfry said:

I have spoken to the suppliers. Apparently the only difference between the Eni Rotra Bike synth 75W-90 and Rotra LSX synth 75W-90 is one additive to stop a motorbike clutch from slipping. They've told me that this additive won't affect my Mondial Gearbox.

gareth_r said:

kev b said:

Motorbike transmission oil usually omits certain additives to stop the clutch from slipping as most bike clutches live inside the gearbox.

Close...

Motorcycle engine oil omits certain additives, to stop the clutch from slipping, because most bikes use the same oil for the engine, gearbox, and primary drive/clutch.]

I stand corrected.

Now I'm going to have to find out which bike engines have the clutch and gearbox in the same compartment, or at least in connected areas. Perhaps it's just that Harley Davidson recommends gear oil for the big-twin primary drive?

Off to Google I go...

[tvrolet]

gareth_r said:

I stand corrected.

Now I'm going to have to find out which bike engines have the clutch and gearbox in the same compartment, or at least in connected areas. Perhaps it's just that Harley Davidson recommends gear oil for the big-twin primary drive?

Off to Google I go...

‘Original’ 30s/40s/50s Indian Chiefs have dry sump for the motor with an oil tank at the front of the right fuel tank, and separate oil shared with the gearbox and primary/clutch.

I’m not sure Harley’s do ‘share’ the oil between the box and primary/clutch since plenty Harleys run aftermarket belt drive primaries so no oil in there, so unless there’s a mod to ‘plug’ any primary to gearbox oil share. Although clearly you could put the same oil in both. I though Harley’s were like old Norton’s etc with separate oil for motor (dry sunp) , gearbox (filler and level plug on the box) and primary/clutch (filer and level plug on primary case)? I had a Norton years ago, and just acquired a ‘47 Indian (and did an oil change at the weekend) so I know the info on these is correct - could be wrong on the Harley front though as never had one...

[gareth_r]

All old British stuff, and Harleys, are definitely three separate engine, gearbox, and primary oil supplies, although some British engines breathed between the crankcase and primary case and thence to atmosphere.

I'm struggling to think of anything that has the gearbox and clutch/primary using the same oil, unless it's the engine oil being used for all three (other than the original Indians, apparently, and I doubt if they figure in any oil company's marketing decisions ).

Edited by gareth_r on Monday 26th November 15:44

[kev b]

Most Japanese two strokes from the sixties onwards have shared clutch and gearbox oil, with the engine lubricated by petroil or total loss injection.

Examples - all Yamaha RD motors , Kawasaki S and KH triples, Suzuki GT and most European two strokes as well, basically anything without a dry clutch.

[Mr2Mike]

The clutch issue is odd, I can't think of any non-unit construction machine that shares gearbox oil with a wet clutch and is new enough to require multigrade oil.

The only other significant difference I can think of between bike and car gearboxes is that bikes don't have synchromesh, which is something that lubricants have to be formulated for.

kev b said:

Most Japanese two strokes from the sixties onwards have shared clutch and gearbox oil, with the engine lubricated by petroil or total loss injection.

Examples - all Yamaha RD motors , Kawasaki S and KH triples, Suzuki GT and most European two strokes as well, basically anything without a dry clutch.

Good point, though all the two strokes I owned specified engine oil for the gearboxes. Perhaps some did need multigrade gear oil though.

[227bhp]

Has anyone looked in a car gearbox at the synchro hubs and how they grip together to operate? They are effectively like clutches (two cones are brought together, one inside the other until they grip) and I've never fully understood how they decide what oil to put in as it opposes itself. A gearbox specialist once told me not to use fully synth.
If the oil is really slippery (fully synth) then it prevents the cones from gripping and the gears crunch, yet FS is good for the bearings....