Gear Shift: A New Pointer of Customer Delight for Automotive Gear Oils

This paper reports the preliminary studies of developing automotive gear oils with superior gear shift characteristics. Various automotive gear oils were screened for the basic properties of low temperature rehology, weld load, wear scar diameter and yellow metal protection characteristics as a prelude to establish their gear shift features. SRV friction studies at room temperature and sub zero temperatures and EHD traction coefficients were generated on various base blends and their friction modifier top-treated versions to check the efficacy of various friction modifier chemistries in smoothening the gear shift. Preliminary cold chamber testing was conducted as a validation of rig test findings.