Are synthetic oils and lubricants any quicker

[Maverick]

I have a question, and it is about gear life, but more with the ratio's than the lubrication. Do the whole number ratio's have less life the the non whole numbers. For example a 5.0, certain pinion teeth only hit on certain teeth on the ring gear. While a 4.86 ratio, all the pinion teeth will eventually mate with the ring teeth. Does this promote longer gear life, when the teeth of the gears, are moving to different teeth each revolution. I believe, they call the gear sets hunting and non-hunting. I went to 4.86 instead of 5.0 for this reason. But don't know for sure
Steve "Willie" Williams from Indiana

[Dwight Southerland]

Common engineering is just like you describe for the consideration of wear. For the special usage of drag racing gears, it is not as much an issue since the gears will break or get retired before they wear out. Except in the case of 1320racer, since his stuff never breaks and he makes so many passes every year that he must commute to work in his race car.

[1320racer]

Dwight lets keep the discussion constructive and on topic.

That said, I've been racing nearly every weekend, 36 weekends a season, non stop for the past 22 years. Everything I have stated is true and 1st hand experience.

BTW, I hurt several engines, transmissions and rears during this time and all have been a learning experience.

Last I hurt my engine was on the last day of the 2012 season. Good news, it's been 9 years since I broke a transmission, thanks to Carl Rossler and I use synthetic oils/lubricants in my entire driveline and for most of the past 22 years.

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Ed, first I made no blanket statements, I posted my experience with my race car plus the many, many gear set' I've prepared for various racers. I stated I personally saw no measurable difference between the fluids, while stating that prep and set up is what leads to a long life from a gear set. please enlighten me as to exactly how many gear sets you've installed. A call to any reputable company will confirm that running an aluminum spool decreases gear life, this is "fact and truth" you're 2 favorite things, heavy cars, above 2800 lbs. according to Mark Williams they DO NOT recommend aluminum spools....why? Gear life is shortened. I'm sure with your higher education you can grasp the concept that an aluminum spool simply cannot resist deflection like it's steel counterpart. Now I've given pertinent info regarding the original question, not merely made unbelievable statements about how, FAST, GREAT, RELIABLE, PEPEATABLE, TICKET PRINTING my car is, so who's really making irresponsible and blanket statements? BTW I now know why your fellow racers call you "big head Ed" have a good one. Jeff, sorry for getting this post a bit sideways hope you got some good info out of the replies. Joe

[1320racer]

This is a blanket statement...

Originally Posted by buzzinhalfdozen

a pro gear will not survive that number of runs they are way too soft.

and obviously NOT true based on my 1st hand experience with my race car!

Further, this statement...

Originally Posted by buzzinhalfdozen

made unbelievable statements

infers that I am lying, which is not the case and is a personal attack.

Sorry to be the one to break it to you, but just maybe you aren't as good as you think you are being a gm "college" educated master technician and all. Just because you haven't been able to achieve the same, you chose to turn a blind eye and turn a deaf ear!

Newsflash...when you come out of your self induced coma and open your eyes and ears, you'll find that there are countless stock and super stock racers as well as many other class racers in other venues, sucessfully running an aluminum spool in cars heavier than 2800 lbs. including yours truely without issue or concern. Further, those that build these cars are installing aluminum spools without concern or issue too!!

As to a manufacturer's disclaimer, they are what they are, written by lawyers who's job it is to protect their clients from frivolous law suits.

That said, I don't care what you believe nor do I care what you or anyone else does with their car. I am simply offering the op as well those following this thread, my first hand experience as to what has worked for me with my race cars for over 2 decades. It is not my concern that this experience proves your and Allan's blanket statements to be untrue! Meanwhile, I don't make decisions whether it be business, personal or about my race program by committee no mind based on what I read on an internet forum, so I'll just keep doing what I'm doing regardless who here finds my statements unbelievable.

BTW, I've installed and setup the R&P in the 12 bolt of my former Chevelle for many years and now do the same with the 9" in my Firebird.

[Alan Roehrich]

It wasn't my "blanket statement", Ed, it was a statement by the API, and by the OEM's, regarding their products.

But, of course, I'm sure you know more than the API, and all of the OE automotive manufacturers, combined.

In any event, I'll not waste any more of Kenny's bandwidth on responding to you. Have a nice rest of your legendary life.

[Ed Wright]

He's back Alan. LOL

[1320racer]

Originally Posted by Alan Roehrich

It wasn't my "blanket statement", Ed, it was a statement by the API, and by the OEM's, regarding their products.

But, of course, I'm sure you know more than the API, and all of the OE automotive manufacturers, combined.

Alan, tell me/us where I can find the data/field test/results from the API as well the OEM specifically as it relates to using these oils and lubricants in drag racing engines, transmissions, rears and cars!

Originally Posted by buzzinhalfdozen

OK lets start with you've set up gears "for many years in your former chevelle"...so since you've claimed to make all these runs that equals 1 gear for the chevelle, since you've made it clear you simply cannot wear out or break a gear. Next the firebird looks like 2 for it, so a grand total of 3 gears. Now I NEVER claimed you cannot run an aluminum spool in these cars I SAID i run one in my own car, I said Mark Williams did NOT RECOMMEND IT! your claim is unbelievable to me, being as you're the 1 and only person in nearly 30 years that's ever made such a claim. Could be your experience is simply not typical, as pretty much everyone that responded has not had a similar one.

Being able to perform sucessfully simple arithmetic must not be a requirement for admission into the gm "college" or a prerequisite to earning your degree as a "master technician".

I've stated in this thread that I typically got 200 passes on a set of gears in my former chevelle which btw, I'm told is about 100 more than a similar weight B/SA Stocker with a 12 bolt. I've also stated that I typically make 250 passes a season so one with a 3rd grade education could conclude that I changed the gears in my chevelle every season and I raced that car for 17 years but I only started doing them in '97 IIRC, after discovering they were broken after parking for the bracket finals. The Firebird is on it's 2nd set of gear since I have own it which btw, as of the last day of this season has over 200 passes on them!

You absolutely infered I was lying!

As to what you said Mark Williams doesn't recommend, again a legal disclaimer as with most if not all racing parts and again noted stock/super stock chassis builders have and continue to install aluminum spools in cars weighing in excess of 2800 lb.s without issue or concern.

As for my truth and facts that you refuse to believe, call unbelieveable and refer to as a claim, how many of all those you've discussed this issue with over 30 years(btw, how old are you) were bracket racers, a bracket racer who makes at least 250 passes a season and a bracket racer that ran/runs a MW "Pro Stock" 3rd member with an aluminum spool in a state of the art super stock car weighing at least 3100+ lbs.?

[buzzinhalfdozen]

Originally Posted by 1320racer

This is a blanket statement...


and obviously NOT true based on my 1st hand experience with my race car!

Further, this statement...

infers that I am lying, which is not the case and is a personal attack.

Sorry to be the one to break it to you, but just maybe you aren't as good as you think you are being a gm "college" educated master technician and all. Just because you haven't been able to achieve the same, you chose to turn a blind eye and turn a deaf ear!

Newsflash...when you come out of your self induced coma and open your eyes and ears, you'll find that there are countless stock and super stock racers as well as many other class racers in other venues, sucessfully running an aluminum spool in cars heavier than 2800 lbs. including yours truely without issue or concern. Further, those that build these cars are installing aluminum spools without concern or issue too!!

As to a manufacturer's disclaimer, they are what they are, written by lawyers who's job it is to protect their clients from frivolous law suits.

That said, I don't care what you believe nor do I care what you or anyone else does with their car. I am simply offering the op as well those following this thread, my first hand experience as to what has worked for me with my race cars for over 2 decades. It is not my concern that this experience proves your and Allan's blanket statements to be untrue! Meanwhile, I don't make decisions whether it be business, personal or about my race program by committee no mind based on what I read on an internet forum, so I'll just keep doing what I'm doing regardless who here finds my statements unbelievable.

BTW, I've installed and setup the R&P in the 12 bolt of my former Chevelle for many years and now do the same with the 9" in my Firebird.

OK lets start with you've set up gears "for many years in your former chevelle"...so since you've claimed to make all these runs that equals 1 gear for the chevelle, since you've made it clear you simply cannot wear out or break a gear. Next the firebird looks like 2 for it, so a grand total of 3 gears. Now I NEVER claimed you cannot run an aluminum spool in these cars I SAID i run one in my own car, I said Mark Williams did NOT RECOMMEND IT! And I stated the reason they (MARK WILLIAMS) gave....reduced gear life, since the aluminum spool costs more what possible reason would they have for making this statement? So maybe reading or understanding English isn't your strong suit. I never inferred you were lying merely stated that your claim is unbelievable to me, being as you're the 1 and only person in nearly 30 years that's ever made such a claim. Could be your experience is simply not typical, as pretty much everyone that responded has not had a similar one. However at this point I'll have to simply ignore any further posts made by you on this subject as you have proven you know all and every thing you have is absolutely amazingly fast and durable.

[Nathan Stinson]

Originally Posted by buzzinhalfdozen

A call to any reputable company will confirm that running an aluminum spool decreases gear life, this is "fact and truth" you're 2 favorite things, heavy cars, above 2800 lbs. according to Mark Williams they DO NOT recommend aluminum spools....why?

I know this question is kind of off topic from the OP's question but I would like to get some more input on this item. I have ran aluminum spools for several years with no problems at 3000 lbs. I am assuming that the reason it is hard on gears with the heavier weight is that the spool can flex enough to change the contact pattern on the gear? I am changing combos this year and will now have to weigh 3400lbs and wondering if it would be better to switch back to a steel spool? What would be better gear life or accelerating the steel spool? How many runs before the gear starts to go away with the aluminum spool at that weight?