Is OK to use automotive lubricants in industrial equipment?
” This is a common problem that can cause the user to select the incorrect lubricant type or incorrect lubricant viscosity. The SAE-grade viscosity classification system for automotive and gear lubricants in industrial applications was common in older equipment due to lack of knowledge or standardization. Surprisingly its use continues even today by many users and OEMs. Lubricant selection and lubrication guidelines for new equipment, are one extreme or the other – either confusing or simple. In your case, the requested lubricant viscosity for air-line lubrication is typically an ISO VG 32. However, viscosity is not the only important physical property that must be considered. I suggest you look at the service manual for specific lubricant recommendations as well as talking to your lubricant supplier about lubricants for pneumatic systems. For the transmission, the equivalent viscosity for an SAE 80 (gear) spans from ISO VG 68 to ISO 100. If the transmission has only spur gears and is
