Engine oil often receives the most attention when it comes to vehicle lubrication, yet transmission and driveline lubricants operate under equally demanding conditions

As drivetrains become more sophisticated, selecting the correct gear oil is increasingly about more than simply matching viscosity.
Transmission and differential lubricants must manage high loads, temperature, shear forces and wear, while providing the friction characteristics and protection required by gears, synchronisers, clutches and bearings. The correct specification is therefore critical.
Liqui Moly says its gear-oil range covers applications from conventional manual and differential transmissions through to modern dual-clutch systems.
The company says its Fully Synthetic Hypoid Gear Oil GL4/5 75W-90 is one example of the importance of specification beyond viscosity.
While carrying a familiar SAE 75W-90 viscosity grade, the fully synthetic lubricant meets API GL-4, GL-5 and MT-1 requirements and is recommended for a range of OEM and transmission specifications, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and numerous ZF TE-ML requirements.
The product’s broad specification coverage means that, where the vehicle manufacturer permits it, a single lubricant can cover applications that might otherwise require several different gear oils.
For workshops and parts distributors, Liqui Moly says this can simplify lubricant selection and reduce the number of individual products required in stock, without compromising the need to match the lubricant to the application.
The complexity increases further with dual-clutch transmissions, where the lubricant can perform several functions simultaneously.
Liqui Moly explains that its Dual Clutch Transmission Oil 8100 is formulated for these applications and provides broad coverage across the market.
Liqui Moly recommends 8100 for more than 90 percent of wet DCTs on the European market, covering requirements from numerous vehicle and transmission manufacturers.
Its application range includes BMW DCTF-1, DCTF-1+ and DCTF-2, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz DCT, Ford PowerShift, Renault EDC, Mitsubishi TC-SST and VW, Audi, SEAT and Škoda DSG applications, just to name a few.
Application coverage is achieved through a carefully balanced formulation combining highly shear-stable viscosity index improvers, anti-wear additives, and durable friction modifiers.
In a wet DCT, these properties are critical because the same lubricant may protect the gearset and synchronisers while also providing the friction characteristics required for clutch operation and hydraulic control.

For more from Liqui Moly, visit www.liqui-moly.com.au