Gear Lubricants

What is Industrial Gear Oil?

Industrial gear oil is a lubricant specifically formulated to protect and enhance the performance of gears and bearings in industrial machinery. Industrial gear oil provides heat dissipation and corrosion prevention, ultimately protecting gearboxes and bearings under extreme conditions. It extends equipment life, reduces downtime and improves efficiency, and helps support lower maintenance costs. It is a necessity across a variety of industrial industries.

Industrial gear oil differs from automotive gear oils in formulation, performance requirements, and the environments they are designed to operate in. Industrial gear oils are formulated to withstand extreme temperatures, pressure, and other conditions. Automotive gear oils are designed for more specific automotive needs, such as for vehicle transmissions and differentials.

Gear Oils for Every Application

Industrial gear oils are used for a variety of applications and in a wide range of industrial industries.

Common use cases include:

• Manufacturing equipment: In factories, it’s used in assembly lines and machines like conveyors, crushers, extruders, and other critical robotics.
• Mining and construction gearboxes: Gear oil is essential for heavy-duty mining machinery and construction machinery and equipment.
• Food-grade operations: Food-grade gear oil is used in machinery where food and beverages are processed and stored.
• Turbines and compressors: Designed for applications where rust and oxidation protection is crucial.
• Marine: Gear oil is used for lubricating gears in ships and other vessels.

Popular Industrial Gear Oil Viscosities and Specs

The ISO VG (International Organization for Standardization Viscosity Grade) system is a widely used standard for classifying gear oils. Popular industrial gear oil viscosities include ISO 150, ISO 220, and ISO 460. 

Here are some common uses for popular ISO VGs:

ISO 68: Commonly used in light to moderate-duty applications, especially at lower temperatures. May contain anti-wear (AW) or EP (extreme pressure) additives depending on use.

ISO 100: Suitable for moderate temperatures and loads under extreme pressure. Often found in industrial gearboxes and compressors where higher viscosity is needed.

ISO 150: Used in medium to high load applications and moderately elevated temperatures. A step up in protection from ISO 100. Presidential uses EP additives in our Presidential EP ISO 150 Gear Oil.

ISO 220: A standard choice for heavy-duty gearboxes and applications with high loads and temperatures. Offers strong film strength and EP protection. Presidential uses EP additives in our formulation. Presidential uses EP additives in our Presidential EP ISO 220 Gear Oil.

ISO 320, 460, 680: Designed for the most demanding applications, including slow-speed, high-load gear systems (like in cement plants or steel mills). These grades provide excellent protection at high temperatures, extreme pressure, and under shock loading conditions.