Re: what is the difference in marine gear oil vs regular automotive gear oil?
well im not endorsing any idea as right or wrong but the same exact arguments are made about motorcycle diferentials and they say they require the exact same anti-foaming and water suspension properties as outboards do. they get water from road mist riding in the rain, not just from leaking seals.
the motorcycle manufacturers say that almost all gear oil sold today meets the higher hypoid standards so the issues were related to the older class of oils that have been replaced by the new class that is specificly designed to meet the anti-foaming and water suspension properties.
every time I turn around I read something that leaves me with a 50/50 yes or no decision and its a coin flip in my mind if it makes any difference so THE only thing it always comes back to is nobody really knows for sure so spend the extra money just in case it might make a difference.
I was always told if its gl-5 hypoid oil you are protected and that's all that matters, beyond that buy it where ever you want and pay whatever you want for it but only the labels are different not the oil. (I don't know how true it is, but that's what I hear from experienced mechanics and repair shops)
opinions vary but I was hoping somewhere someone could say "this ingredient is in the marine gear oil and that's why its better" but I just cant find anything to point to like that.
for me its a lot more then a choice of spending more its also I have a 45 minute ride to the nearest boat dealer to get it because IF I am buying marine oil, it sure aint gonna be wally world brand, it will be the brand name of my or another outboard. so for me its the 45 minute ride plus the extra $ makes it more then a simple choice of what to use.
bottom line is I still have nothing to cause me to decide one way or the other if it is a feel good thing or something that really gives you better protection. its like asking the car salesman if you should buy the car, what else do you expect him to say but yes. marine dealers want you to buy their oil and they make money off of it but cant tell you what you are getting for that purchase, they say the same thing about the engine oil too but how many of you out there are using mercury or evinrude engine oil in your crankcase?
in all my searching for answers to what HAS TO BE brand specific or for marine use specific, the only thing I found proof you should buy only brand named product is with the oil filters because the pressure valves in them are specific to the motors oil pressures and the casings are made of aluminum or ss so they don't rust.
