chaincase fluid alternatives

[maxwellzx]

i know there was a thread about this somewhere. but as i like to change my gearing alot im tired of buying the 400ml BRP bottle for 20$.

i heard of people using transmission fluid and whatnot. want something i can buy bulk. its for a skidoo but dont see why that would matter.

 

[sledcrazzy]

I have been using ATF for years with no problems, its nice and runny when cold and the bright red is nice for showing any small leaks. Some people use 80/90 gear oil but it is way to thick for a chain drive in the winter and can cause problems.

 

[Summit Guy]

ATF as well

 

[Dop]

Gear Oil

Lucus gear oil been running it for a few rears now and seems to be performing great. I've found less filings by far now that I changed over to Lucus gear oil. I buy it at Napa costs a bit more than ATF fuild however I didn't want to take any chances as chains cost so much.

 

[Scott]

I used to run SAE30 when I had a chaincase.

 

[12sheamus]

I have been using ATF for years with no problems, its nice and runny when cold and the bright red is nice for showing any small leaks. Some people use 80/90 gear oil but it is way to thick for a chain drive in the winter and can cause problems.

Been using 80/90 in my sleds and others for years down to -40 never had any issues. Used ATF in drag sled no problems

 

[Insaneboltrounder/sjohns]

I use mobil 1 atf. Very little chain wear or stretch every season. Ran the stk chain on a modded king kat for 5 years. sj

 

[Thistledoo]

I run royal purple gear synthetic....15 bucks per litre and its nice cause you cans ee the color well....4 or 5 years now and no issues at all.

 

[Wheel House Motorsports]

good old 90 weight, maybe not the best on the earth, but its thick and aint gonna hurt anything, got lots of miles on that stuff and no complains.

 

[sledcrazzy]

A link belt type chain drive such as our snowmobile chain cases should not have 90w gear oil in it, this is coming from a auto mechanic that works on chain driven transfer cases. They have the same chain and if you use gear oil it is so thick that it can become trapped between the chain and gears at speed and cause the chain to snap or stretch. If you don`t like the ATF idea then use engine oil.

 

[X2Freeride]

good old 90 weight, maybe not the best on the earth, but its thick and aint gonna hurt anything, got lots of miles on that stuff and no complains.

Gear oil is NOT made for chain and gear systems.... Its made for gear to gear contact. I will never understand why people think they can run 90 weight oil in a chain case. Ever see what that stuff is like when its cold out? Its like tar. Tell me how that is going to give you proper lubrication. Sure eventually it warms up.... But, the stuff is going to stick to gears and the chain and cause a bunch of problems potentially stretching the whole system out. Which can cause your chain to break. Not to mention that it just loses performance by causing unnecessary friction.

If you could use just anything tell me then why would they make CHAIN CASE OIL in the first place. If gear oil inst recommended in your manual then its not ok to use. The only other thing I would consider using is Automatic transmission fluid.

 

[Beels]

I use either ATF or Trans-Hydraulic fluid. Whatever I have open and laying around the shop.

I have to agree on the gear oil thing. I know there's guys using it without problems, but why in the hell would you run something that thick when cold that can cause parasitic loss, not lube the pins in the chain properly, etc.? Guys spend thousands of dollar in the name of lightweight then throw something in the chaincase like that.

Take it for what it's worth, every chain type transfer case on trucks that I know of run ATF. They have a heck of a lot more power run through them and at high speeds and they hardly ever give grief.

 

[HANDSOME]

I use 75/90 and did use atf for a few years in a zrt800 and allways had chain issues. Maybe the chain was cheap ... The old 208 transfer case used 80/90 and when it was cold in neutral(t-case) I could drive away about a block befor it would break loose so that tells you how thick it gets.Gear oil does have ep additives to slow the shearing of the oil so I think a synthetic gear oil is the way to go.

 

[skibreeze]

Gear oil is NOT made for chain and gear systems.... Its made for gear to gear contact. I will never understand why people think they can run 90 weight oil in a chain case. Ever see what that stuff is like when its cold out? Its like tar. Tell me how that is going to give you proper lubrication. Sure eventually it warms up.... But, the stuff is going to stick to gears and the chain and cause a bunch of problems potentially stretching the whole system out. Which can cause your chain to break. Not to mention that it just loses performance by causing unnecessary friction.

If you could use just anything tell me then why would they make CHAIN CASE OIL in the first place. If gear oil inst recommended in your manual then its not ok to use. The only other thing I would consider using is Automatic transmission fluid.

While I agree that 90w may not be the best, I totally dsagree with you chain case statement about that's why they make chain case lube. They make it to make huge profits on it. No different than the honda dealer recommending putting a honda oil filter, honda oil, or honda ATF in a honda. I will always use ATF in my chaincases.

 

[Himark]

Theres oil in there?



































j/k..I have used atf before but always just use Amsoil chaincase oil and have it on hand.

 

[HANDSOME]

While I agree that 90w may not be the best, I totally dsagree with you chain case statement about that's why they make chain case lube. They make it to make huge profits on it. No different than the honda dealer recommending putting a honda oil filter, honda oil, or honda ATF in a honda. I will always use ATF in my chaincases.

Believe it or not Honda fourstroke engine oil has anti shear additives because the engines have gears using the same oil as the crank case so regular engine oil will not last as long as the honda oil. I know this because I was at esso oil seminars when I was an oiler.

 

[ewanaburner]

chaincase oil

for high hp use mobile 1

 

[skibreeze]

Believe it or not Honda fourstroke engine oil has anti shear additives because the engines have gears using the same oil as the crank case so regular engine oil will not last as long as the honda oil. I know this because I was at esso oil seminars when I was an oiler.

Lol, I wonder just how much more you would spend over the lifetime of the vehicle just to buy the "honda" stuff. The return on investment is damn near ZERO. I haven't managed to wear out a motor in any car I have ever had.

 

[NoSecondChances]

Ported chaincase all the way. No messy oil and it runs cooler with added airflow, the trapped air in the chaincase can escape and won't cause any back pressure, which will result in more HP. Anyone who says you should put oil in your chaincase is a moron.

NSC

 

[triple7]

I use 90wt and only 90wt. I have never had a single issue that you guys are speculating about, by the time the motor is warmed up from my easy run, the chaincase is too. I have no chain stretch issues, very little metal material in the oil and havent had any chain/gear issues to date.

We got an oil testing machine one time that measured how much load an oil could take before being wiped off and the parts going metal to metal. It provided some interesting information, but right on the machine it said 'Do not test 90 wt.' So, we promptly tested it, and you know what? That thing couldnt create enough force to see what it would take to wipe the oil off and parts to go metal to metal. 90wt is GOOD oil and withstands the abuse that the chaincase puts it through.

Take it or leave it, JMO

Jake