identifying oil

Is there any way to identify 20-50 engine oil v.s. 90 wt gearbox oil when it's a small puddle on the floor? I'm trying to track down the latest Commando leak.

Smell it, gearbox oil has a distinctive smell, actually got that problem myself right now!

Gearbox oil smells like cat pee :shock:

Tastes like it too :?

er - so I've been told

Cash

Usually the gear oil stays looking clean and the engine oil is turned black. If that doesn't tip you off then you might consider running ATF in the gearbox for a short run to see if you are bleeding red. Since I have no clue as to what long term effects of using ATF in the gearbox might be, consider this at your own risk!

With that thought in mind...the fuel plants here use dye to mark diesel that is for nonroad (no road tax charged) purposes. I have seen both blue and red. If you could get some of that dye it would probably work in gear oil.

Russ

By sight and smell as stated. You can run ATF in tranny permanently same with non electric chain primary and does help both in function and leak hunting.
By levels too after a while. Newbies [me too] always tend to over fill so must leak out no matter what till optimal factory level reached.
I shampoo'd my Commando's a lot of times before a short run to look or dust with talcum to reveal. More than once been fooled by fork fluid and brake fluid showing up on and under engine tranny. I run power steering fluid in forks so clearish oil mess reveals where to look first. Trouble is often there are 2 leaks at once to confuse the evidence.



hobot

Now then, now then, now then.
Hmm, the oil could be coming from the swinging arm. Check to see if it is running from there. Usually it drips from the bottom of the engine plates.

hobot said:

By sight and smell as stated. You can run ATF in tranny permanently same with non electric chain primary and does help both in function and leak hunting.
By levels too after a while. Newbies [me too] always tend to over fill so must leak out no matter what till optimal factory level reached.
I shampoo'd my Commando's a lot of times before a short run to look or dust with talcum to reveal. More than once been fooled by fork fluid and brake fluid showing up on and under engine tranny. I run power steering fluid in forks so clearish oil mess reveals where to look first. Trouble is often there are 2 leaks at once to confuse the evidence.



hobot

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I personally would be a bit wary about going from 80-90 wt. Hypoy gear oil to ATF which is around 10wt. in consistency.

personally would be a bit wary about going from 80-90 wt. Hypoy gear oil to ATF which is around 10wt. in consistency.

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Yeah me too till I ran into limits of thick oil in sleeve gear and bushes and found that many had used ATF with great long term success long before I got the idea to try it.
Same in chain primary. Unless wrapping out in lower gears for long periods its a non issue but for fluid ID at a glance.

FWIW, I've had excellent results running Redline Shockproof Heavy in the gearbox. I think that has the viscosity of a 90W-140 and protects like a 250 weight gear lube. GL-5, for those still afeared of that bogeyman. I wouldn't use anything else in any of my gearboxes, totally sold on the stuff.

I use Redline MT-90 in the primary chaincase. That's a 90W and I've never had a bit of clutch slipping or sticking (I do kick through a couple times with the clutch disengaged before starting) and I really like the thought of that high quality lube in there. FWIW/YMMV.

No affiliation with Redline, but I love their products. Are they a private company? Cause if not, I wouldn't mind buying a few shares too...

Yeah man Brian, likely what I'll run in my over blown special, but otherwise ATF is good enough for this hayseed and way more seasoned Nortoneers proved its more than ok.