Year old shaft drive oil

[palerider]

YES. USE THE OIL. JESUS CHRIST FOLKS, IT'S ******* GEAR OIL> IF YOU DON'T WANT TO USE IT, SEND IT TO ME.

It's ******* gear oil? To use on my ******* gear?

 

[FJRay]

I just filled mine with Valvoline that must be at least two years old. If it explodes on the way to NAFO maybe I can sue the oil company. :yahoo:

 

[bramfrank]

The oil molecules were essentially formed tens of millions of years ago and you're worried it may have turned because it sat around a year or two after you bought it? When, exactly do you think it was refined?

Exactly.

It might already be 2, 3, 5 or more years since it was boiled.

 

[Herkypilot]

Yes, use it - no comparison to gas at all. Indefinate shelf life.

Herkypilot

 

[Violione]

.paul,

Yes it is still good even if the cap seal has been broke (but not left off). Think of it this way; how many millions of years was it in the ground before it was bottled for Yamaha? I think its OK to put in the pumpkin. Jusy an FYI, as long as it is GL-5 type gear oil weight between 60W - 140 it will work great. I believe Mama Yama recommends 80W-90 GL-5. I personally use the Super Tech (Wally World) 75W-140 Synthetic GL-5, it is Uber Gear Juice!

V.

 

[user 213]

Bottom line, gear oil is not hygroscopic, at least to the degree of say, brake fluid. It's not going to absorb moisture just sitting there in any quantity detrimental to it's use.

And SkooterG, that's Norwegian Monkey ****, not whaze ****.

But he's right that you might want to consider the good stuff instead of the plain stuff. Be it Yamaha or your choice of synthetic. Yamaha says the FJR specific gear oil is for "high speed" use, which when pressed, they defined as "sustained cruising over 75 mph". :blink: Even I qualify for that, living in a slow state!

The diff isn't going to grenade or anything, the better oils just handle heat better and have greater lubricity for reduced wear.