Universal Oil Possible—But Not With Hypoid Axle
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DURING the discussion on "Automotive Transmission Lubrication" presented by Mr. W. H. Patrick, of Lubrizol (Great Britain) Ltd., at a meeting of The Institute of Road Transport Engineers, Midlands Centre, last week, the author said that the use of one grade of oil for the engine, gearbox and back axle was not feasible if the axle was of the hypoid type, but that it was practical to use the same oil for the gearbox and a hypoid axle. In the case of a spiralbevel axle, it "Might just be possible to get away with" a universal oil for all the components, if the axle were initially runin on the recommended oil. The chance of success depended on operating conditions. A thick oil did not necessarily have a higher load capacity except in the sense that it was more difficult to squeeze out
from mating 'surfaces which it contacted.
Asked whether he was in favour of employing a scaled transmission unit (without a drain plug) in which the same lubricant was used for the designed life of a transmission unit, Mr. Patrick said that it would be feasible if the components were designed with "plenty of stress capacity in hand ". The maker of a popular car normally based the designed life of a unit on the " first owner" life, which was usually about 25,000-30,000 miles. An operational mileage of this order in the case of life-fill unit was only practical if it were drained after being run in A magnetic plug might collect particles after they had been circulated through the mechanism and the particles could be temporarily dislodged from the plug by high-speed churning.