80 90 Gear Oil VS 85w 140: Which Gear Oil Is Perfect?

Gear oil is an excellent lubricant for gear systems, transmission systems, and other differentials of heavy-duty engines. Suppose you have large trucks and other similar vehicles. In that case, you must use the best quality gear oil to get superior performance from them since it will give you excellent engine performance and help you get a smooth transmission movement.

I faced a regular query from my customer, who wanted to know about the difference between 80w90 gear oil Vs. 85w140 gear oil. These two are well known for their quality additives and high-quality particles supporting the heavy-duty engine. Let’s get through a detailed comparison of these two gear oils and decide which one wins.

Which Gear Oil Is Perfect: 80w90 gear oil Vs. 85w140?

Gear oil is mainly made for heavy-duty engines that require high viscosity and long-lasting. You don’t want to change both engine oil & gear oil frequently, which may decrease the overall engine performance. However, you will find some similarities in their components, but they have different quality and requirements that will be different from other engine oils.

Suppose you consider the 80w90 gear oil, also known as 80-90 gear oil. It has a medium viscosity level that will be an excellent choice for medium trucks or moderate engines. It also has some suitable quality additives depending on various brands. Since the additives and other gear oil ingredients vary and come with different budgets.

On the other hand, 85w140 is another high-quality gear oil that will give you the thickest viscosity level to get perfect gear support from your heavy-duty engines. It will come with a thicker viscosity level, providing long-term support and lubricating your transmission system perfectly and better than any other gear oil.

In a nutshell, comparing those two gear oils depending on their viscosity level will not be a good thing. You may find that 85w140 is a good option; before making a final decision, you must go through some other areas to clarify them clearly and help get a clear idea about them. So, let’s get through the comparison section and then decide which one is better than the other.

Let’s Compare 80 90 with 85w140.

• Kinematic Viscosity: In a nutshell, the kinematic viscosity index measures how much an oil’s absolute viscosity changes in response to changes in temperature.

According to these specifications, the kinematic viscosity of the 85w140 and the 80w90 at the specified temperature of 40 degrees Celsius is 133 and 122.2 mm per second, respectively.

• Pour Point: The temperature at which a gear oil or any other type of oil, in general, may still be poured while retaining its liquid state is referred to as the pour point. Because of the shallow temperatures, oils can freeze or become solid, depending on the temperature and, of course, the pour point.

Either of these outcomes renders the oil unusable. If you are a victim of harsh temperatures, the pour point of gear oils proves to be a very beneficial feature. In this scenario, the pour point of the 85w140 is 18 degrees Celsius below zero, while the pour point of the 80w90 is much worse at 30 degrees Celsius below zero.

• Suitable Vehicles: Even though gear oils can be used in various cars and vehicles, some experts recommend using them in trucks and automobiles that are suitable for them to get the most out of your gear oil.

In this scenario, the 85w140 gear oil is ideal for big trucks and general automobiles, whereas the 80w90 gear oil is more suited to general cars driven daily.

• Thickness: In terms of consistency, 80w90 is thinner than 85w140. The first number on a multigrade oil label indicates how thick the oil is when it is cold, and the second number indicates how wide it is when it is hot.

A lower number indicates a lower viscosity rating and hence a thinner substance at any given temperature. When the oil is heated, it will become thinner, but when it is cooled, it will become thicker.

• Viscosity: The 80w90 gear oil has a viscosity index of 110, whereas the 85w140 gear oil has a viscosity index of 110, which means that it is more liquid-like and has less thickness. Although gear oil with lower viscosity is easier to pour when the temperature is lower, gear oil with a higher viscosity tends to thicken with age.

This is in contrast to the 80w90, which has a higher viscosity index. The viscosity index of this substance is 99. It has been shown that 80w90 gear oil has a viscosity index of 110. However, when it comes to everyday use, the two gear oils, despite having certain similarities, are best suited for different applications due to their distinct characteristics.

Other distinguishing characteristics include the kinematic viscosity, the pour point, and the vehicles generally suggested for use. The lower the viscosity index, in general, indicates that the substance has a more significant effect on the environment in which it is found. Overall, this is a very important topic to keep in mind because it has the potential to influence how efficiently your car uses fuel.

• Features: In addition to the technical characteristics, each of these gear oils has a number of other advantageous characteristics. At first glance, both of these oils have fully synthetic formulations, satisfy the requirements for GL5 and MT1, and are conveniently anticorrosion and anti-oxidation oils. This contributes significantly to the durability of the gear oils and helps a great deal in terms of how long they last.

Who Wins Between 80 90 gear oil with 85w140?

Although they are for different engines, you may also compare these two with each other and get the better one. For example, the 80w90 is preferable for light and regular use vehicles, but the 85w140 gear oil is mainly for heavy-duty engines that need a high viscosity engine. Although you can also use the 85w140 in your regular vehicle, 80w90 is preferable for everyday use.

Sometimes, people want high-quality additives and oil particles from their gear system. In that case, you will always find higher viscosity from 85w140 gear oil. It’s mainly for heavy-duty vehicle engines that need increased protection against wear & corrosion. It will protect your transmission system for a long time by lubricating it.

The 85w140 will be an excellent choice for your heavy-duty truck or vehicles since it has high-quality additives and other ingredients. If you don’t make any mess and keep the transmission system safe & clean, the 85w140 will keep it safe & make it long-lasting for years.

So, it can be said that 85w140 is a clear winner here, but you cannot compare this gear oil with 80w90 if you have a regular vehicle or car. Using heavy-duty gear oil for a regular vehicle engine won’t be easy. In that case, you must declare that the 80w90 is a winner because it can support your standard vehicle engine better than other oils.

Why Does 85w140 win?

The 85w140 gear oil wins because of its long-lasting effectiveness and high viscosity level. You will find better additives, quality particles, and all other support for your heavy-duty engine since it will become the best & supportive gear oil for a large and powerful engine. When you buy a large truck to carry goods and other products, you must use high-viscosity engine oil & gear oil.

Here, the 85w140 is an excellent choice for such a vehicle. You will never regret using this gear oil in your powerful engine if it is summer. But the better result will come from the 80w90 if you use it in winter. Besides that, heavy-duty engine always prefers to use high-viscosity gear oil for long-lasting protection.

Considering the additives and lubrication ability, you must give more points to 85w140. But in extreme conditions, the 80w90 will be an excellent choice. Again, you must consider the weather condition and temperature.

Is 80w90 gear oil a loser?

No, the 80w90 gear oil is not a direct loser here; instead, this gear oil will give you better support and efficient engine performance in extreme weather conditions. You must be able to create a positive vibe in winter by starting your heavy-duty truck or large vehicle with 80w90. In extra or cold weather, you will struggle to run your powerful engine with 85w140.

Moreover, the 80 90 gear oil perfectly matches low or regular vehicle engines. You will get superior gear system protection and an excellent choice for regular engine transmission systems. You will love using that for your gear, transmission system, and other parts or differentials.

Can I Use 80 90 gear oil instead of 85w140?

Yes, you can use 80-90 gear oil instead of 85w140 because both gear oils can serve you the same purposes. However, if you consider heavy-duty engine oil or gear oil, you must go with 85w140 gear oil because the 80w90 gear oil will come with low viscosity and fewer protective additives.

Is it safe to use 85w140 gear oil in a regular engine?

Yes, using 85w140 gear oil in your regular vehicles is safe, although it will not become a perfect solution for your standard engine. So, always try to use 80w90 gear oil. It will give you the best support and enhance your performance indeed.

Closing Words

80 90 gear oil Vs. 85w140 is an excellent thing to know about. You must know the difference between them to make a secure decision. You can use them wisely and get the optimum service from both of them. However, if you want a perfect match for heavy-duty engines, you should go for 85w140 gear oil. Otherwise, 80-90 gear oil would be the first choice.