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I drive an 07 Nissan Pathfinder which is on warantee and most of the driveline fluids are specified, such as 'Nissan Matic J' for the transmission, etc so I'm locked into using those, but the non-lsd (not a limited slip differential) rear differential requirement is left open as to any 'API GL-5 Synthetic 75W-90 gear oil or equivalent'.

After looking through specs for just about every company's 75W-90 gear oil I had about given up hope of finding anything energy efficient until I ran into a Castrol commercial ESGL product which looks to be excellent for my cold weather application.

http://www.castrol.com/liveassets/bp_internet/castrol/castrol_canada/STAGING/local_assets/downloads/p,q/pds_esgl_3600.pdf

http://www.castrol.com/castrol/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=9010578&contentId=7021628

About the closest 'light weight' 75W-90 gear oil that I've found for non-lsd differentials is put out by Redline, but even that one has viscosity numbers well above the Castrol ESGL;

http://www.redlineoil.com/pdf/5.pdf

An odd thing about the ESGL oil is that it doesn't show up in searches on the BITOG site, and it is listed in the commercial section of Castrol rather than for personal vehicles. Have any here used this particular oil or seen any other major oil company 75W-90 oils with better low temp viscosity numbers. Thanks.

I'm not familiar with Castrol's gear lube, but their synthetic motor oil is actually a hydro cracked petroleum product.

I use Amsoil products. Here is a link to their application guide:

http://www.amsoil.com/scripts/runisa.dll?amsoiloaf:index

Also remember that low viscosity is all fun and games until there's not enough of it to properly lubricate your stuff.

Redline MT-90 and other weights have been the standard for years, and I've never heard a single complaint concerning them.

Thanks for the replies fellows, I'm looking at all manufacturers gear oils and my intent is to find one that optimizes fuel efficiency and stays within the engineers specs for the vehicle; ie 75W90 as well as suiting the needs of sub zero temps. Up to now the only oil that I have seen offered as an 'Energy Saving Gear Lubricant' in an SAE 75W-90 and that has viscosity numbers at 40C to back it up is the Castrol ESGL. Two or three months of my work is at -40C temperatures so that's a consideration, and I notice that Nissan is listed on the ESGL spec sheet. I'd be interested to see a VOA of the Castrol ESGL.

Hi GreyBrick:

___I will be very interested in what you find wrt your gear oil details. We don’t touch on that too often and this would be a great opportunity for many of us to learn a thing or three due to your research.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Also remember that low viscosity is all fun and games until there's not enough of it to properly lubricate your stuff.

Maybe one of the answers to help improve fuel economy for colder climates is to use and change a low viscosity gear oil as often as we change engine oil and to keep it in grade, rather than depending on high viscosity, high additive, relatively high friction oil to be for the 'life of the component'. Most gear oils sold are claimed for 'lsd use' which implies a higher friction so that the lsd clutches can work. From some reading low friction gear oils don't work with limited slip differentials, so if we have non-lsd differentials in our fuel efficient vehicles why are we using lsd spec gear oils, rather than low friction?

Redline MT-90 and other weights have been the standard for years, and I've never heard a single complaint concerning them.

As far as I know Redline MT-90 (GL-4) is not specified for any differentials and is not for my use, although the 75W-90NS might work.

...I will be very interested in what you find wrt your gear oil details. We don’t touch on that too often and this would be a great opportunity for many of us to learn a thing or three due to your research.

Thanks Wayne, I'll contact Castrol about the ESGL gear oil and post their response.

Cheers, Ken

Here is the link for the Amsoil synthetic:
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/fgr.aspx

I contacted Castrol in New Jersey and they said that the ESGL in 75W-90 was discontinued. I did track down another interesting oil with some good numbers though; Shell Helix racing oil, a 75W-90 GL-5, just have to see if it's OK to use with hypoid gears, which is only the front diff anyway.

http://www.shell.com/static/shellracing-en/downloads/pdfs/lubricants/75W-90.pdf