Nissan Frontier; question about differential lube choices

[Rally2045]

Nissan calls for 80W-90 Conventional GL-5 in the front diff in the Frontier. Any reason why? Can I put 75W-90 GL-5 synthetic in there?

I guess I am confused as to why it specifically says "Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 ( con-
ventional oil) or equivalent" Is this just some kind of cost savings for service plans like some people have suggested on the owner forums?

Is there some way that synthetic would damage the diff? Bought some 80W-90 oil just because I am still under warranty, but the back takes 75W-90 just fine and I would like to have one grade of gear oil if possible.

 

[Hall]

Use it

 

[martinq]

I would use 75w90 all the way around. 80w90 will just cause more drag / flow issues in the cold.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

You can use 75w90 with no problem

 

[Rally2045]

I guess my question is why they would spec 80W-90? Was there some reason behind it? I’d think that 75W-90 would have been better for gas mileage if they were trying to stretch that.

 

[MolaKule]

@Rally2045 I would use a synthetic 75W110 because it has better both low and high temperature performance and thicker oil film.

 

[martinq]

I guess my question is why they would spec 80W-90? Was there some reason behind it? I’d think that 75W-90 would have been better for gas mileage if they were trying to stretch that.

This is a valid question. Do you have the service manual or access to service bulletins / updates?

 

[Passport1]

@Rally2045 I would use a 75W110 because it has better both low and high temperature performance and thicker oil film.

+1 BTW, W.C. Fields took a slightly different tact from Churchill;

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. Then quit. No use being a **** fool about it".

 

[barkingspider]

Either one will work. I never had any issues w 80w90 in front diffs. I always had 80w90 in the fronts of all my 4x4 and AWD trucks I’ve owned. Zero issues. I also ran 80w90 in the rear of an old S10 and zero issues.

 

[Hall]

I guess my question is why they would spec 80W-90? Was there some reason behind it? I’d think that 75W-90 would have been better for gas mileage if they were trying to stretch that.

From what I've seen, conventional gear oils in that range will be 80W-90 while synthetics will be 75W-90 (there can be exceptions). Nissan sees no need to synthetic gear oil so they spec the simpler and known option, conventional gear oil. My 2008 G35 specs the same 80W-90. Amsoil, for example, lists both weights (both synthetic in the case of Amsoil) as suitable for my front and/or rear differential.

 

[2strokeNorthstar]

They have some odd specs since the merger with Renault. Made in Mexico with Spanish/French specs is bound to get you somethings that are uncommon in the USA

 

[Rally2045]

This is a valid question. Do you have the service manual or access to service bulletins / updates?

I actually did pay for the service manual and saved PDF’s of the relevant procedures I wanted but it just repeats the owners manual, 80W-90.

I don’t have access to it anymore it costs $30 a day.

 

[ejes]

I guess I am confused as to why it specifically says "Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 ( con-
ventional oil) or equivalent" Is this just some kind of cost savings for service plans like some people have suggested on the owner forums?

Is there some way that synthetic would damage the diff? Bought some 80W-90 oil just because I am still under warranty, but the back takes 75W-90 just fine and I would like to have one grade of gear oil if possible.

I would bet you dollars to donuts if you were to ask one of the mechanics at a Nissan dealer what they use, they'll tell you 75w-90 synthetic in both diffs and transfer case. Toyota specs straight 75W in their transfer case, but most Toyota techs will tell you they use 75w-90 all the way around if they're being honest. You'll be fine; especially on the front diff if you don't use 4WD all that much. When I drained mine on my Tundra at 60k, it looked and smelled like new. I generally engage it once a month in no-snowfall months to stir it up or before I drive into a pasture or onto a sketchy looking low maintenance road. The rear on the other hand looked pretty well used and I will be doing it every 30k.

 

[thastinger]

I guess I am confused as to why it specifically says "Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 ( con-
ventional oil) or equivalent" Is this just some kind of cost savings for service plans like some people have suggested on the owner forums?

Is there some way that synthetic would damage the diff? Bought some 80W-90 oil just because I am still under warranty, but the back takes 75W-90 just fine and I would like to have one grade of gear oil if possible.

Walmart sells ST 80-90 GL5, I just did the Wife's front & rear diffs in her Armada this past weekend...but you would be fine with either.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

80w90 is cheaper. That's why Nissan spec'd it.

 

[MolaKule]

I guess I am confused as to why it specifically says "Genuine NISSAN Differential Oil Hypoid Super GL-5 80W-90 ( con-
ventional oil) or equivalent" Is this just some kind of cost savings for service plans like some people have suggested on the owner forums?

Is there some way

hat synthetic would damage the diff? Bought some 80W-90 oil just because I am still under warranty, but the back takes 75W-90 just fine and I would like to have one grade of gear oil if possible.

Did you ever state the year and model of your vehicle? That helps us to respond to your needs.

I ask because the 80W90 spec was a general "fitz-all" spec for many older vehicles.

When the AGMA and the SAE updated their viscosity charts 75W110 was introduced to cover the old 80W90 spec.
See this (from the information posted in the Public Domain):

Also Search the Web for: AGMA Standard 9005-F16 Viscosity Ranges for Enclosed Gear Drives

 

[Rally2045]

Did you ever state the year and model of your vehicle? That helps us to respond to your needs.

I ask because the 80W90 spec was a general "fitz-all" spec for many older vehicles.

When the AGMA and the SAE updated their viscosity charts 75W110 was introduced to cover the old 80W90 spec.
See this (from the information posted in the Public Domain):
View attachment 243465

Also Search the Web for: AGMA Standard 9005-F16 Viscosity Ranges for Enclosed Gear Drives

It is a 2022 so very new.

 

[Apples]

Is there some way that synthetic would damage the diff? Bought some 80W-90 oil just because I am still under warranty, but the back takes 75W-90 just fine and I would like to have one grade of gear oil if possible.

I don't have an answer for you but I do have a use case to report.

I have just had installed an EATON Detroit Truetrac helical gear-type limited slip differential in the rear axle of my 2016 Ford F150... and in EATON's manual supplied with the diff it states: 80W-90 conventional lubricant.

Apparently, since the lubricity of synthetic oil seems to be so much more "slick" it can change the torque bias imparted by the design of this helical-gear differential. Same reason they suggest "no friction modifier/s" - it can change friction levels, or the amount of friction at the interface of the differential body and the helical pinions and how they transfer torque from one side gear to the other.

And stuff like that. I don't know. I'm just a cave man. But there's one thing I do know! and that is that I'd like to stick with using a conventional oil in this application. I will use a synthetic oil or a synthetic blend for other machinery than my truck's drive axle differential.

 

[wlk]

I don't have an answer for you but I do have a use case to report.

I have just had installed an EATON Detroit Truetrac helical gear-type limited slip differential in the rear axle of my 2016 Ford F150... and in EATON's manual supplied with the diff it states: 80W-90 conventional lubricant.

Apparently, since the lubricity of synthetic oil seems to be so much more "slick" it can change the torque bias imparted by the design of this helical-gear differential. Same reason they suggest "no friction modifier/s" - it can change friction levels, or the amount of friction at the interface of the differential body and the helical pinions and how they transfer torque from one side gear to the other.

And stuff like that. I don't know. I'm just a cave man. But there's one thing I do know! and that is that I'd like to stick with using a conventional oil in this application. I will use a synthetic oil or a synthetic blend for other machinery than my truck's drive axle differential.

I love my Truetrac in my 93 C1500. It is fabulous in the snow and on ice as I have not gotten stuck since I had it installed 4 yrs ago. And yes 80w90 is all you want to put in there. I am saving up to hopefully have one installed in my new 94 F350, open diff

 

[SC Maintenance]

Well I know lots of Nissan guys that use 75w-90 in their front diff. However the identical diff in my xterra has 400K miles on it - all on conventional 80w-90. It’s 100% original including the seals.