24 Jul Get Ready For Towing Season
AMSOIL synthetic ATF and severe gear fluids provide maximum protection for summer’s extreme towing operating conditions
Drivetrain Challenges
Differentials today are subjected to severe-duty service and encounter more stress and heat. Modern turbodiesel trucks and vehicles with V-10 engines boast more horsepower and torque, challenging gear oils to provide adequate wear protection, while also providing maximum fuel efficiency.
Many vehicles are subjected to extreme towing operating conditions and hot temperatures in the summer, placing increased stress on drivetrain components. People commonly overstress their vehicles in the summer by overloading them and pulling trailers, campers or the like. This stress increases temperature to transmission and differential which causes conventional lubricants to thin, resulting in inadequate lubrication that can lead to component failure.
The extreme pressures and temperatures generated by modern vehicles increase stress on gear lubricants and can lead to a serious condition known as thermal runaway. As temperatures in the differential climb upward, gear lubricants lose viscosity and load-carrying capacity. When extreme loads break the lubricant film, metal-to-metal contact occurs, increasing friction and heat. This increased friction and heat, in turn, results in further viscosity loss, which further increases friction and heat. As heat continues to spiral upward, viscosity continues to spiral downward. Thermal runaway is a vicious cycle that leads to irreparable equipment damage from extreme wear, and ultimately catastrophic gear and bearing failure.
The Solution
The AMSOIL “Tow Package” AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF, ATL) and SEVERE GEAR® Synthetic Gear Lube (SVG, AGL, SVT, SVO) provide maximum protection in demanding environments such as towing, hauling and commercial use, providing increased lubricant film protection and reduced wear at elevated temperatures. These gear lubes are formulated for drain intervals up to 50,000 miles in severe service and 100,000 miles in normal service.
Field Proven
To demonstrate its effectiveness in severe service, Signature Series Multi-Vehicle Synthetic ATF was installed in Las Vegas taxi cabs. These vehicles routinely encountered demanding stop-and-go driving loaded with passengers and cargo, while the desert environment presented extremely hot ambient temperatures, placing enormous strain on the fluid.
Following 180,000 miles (289,682 km), a transmission was selected for analysis. The Aluminum Beaker Oxidation Test (ABOT) is an industry-standard test used to determine a transmission fluid’s oxidation resistance, which is a good indicator of its service life. Testing by an independent lab, that after 180,000 miles in severe service, Signature Series Multi-Vehicle Synthetic ATF resisted oxidation longer than required for new fluid to meet the Chrysler ATF+4 specification. Internal components, including the valve body and clutch plates, were virtually free of sludge, deposits and wear, confirming the lubricant’s high level of protection for severe-service applications.