Pre 84 Trucks 1st gen pickups

Gear oil in engine

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 22, 2012 | 01:39 PM
  #1  
83Toyota88's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 4
From: Memphis, TN
Gear oil in engine

Well I goofed up today pretty good. Truck was a little low on engine oil so I grabbed what I thought was engine oil and poured some in and it ended up being gear oil. I poured in maybe half a quart the most. I started the motor and it sounded awful and died then I realized what I did and was like well @#$%. So I went and bought 6 quarts of oil, one which I used to try flush out the engine while I drained the oil. I then put in fresh engine oil and it started right up. Should there be anything I need to worry about or anything else to do?
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2012 | 01:55 PM
  #2  
rworegon's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,125
Likes: 4
From: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon...east side
I'd run it a few miles and then change the filter and oil again to help remove the gear oil additive package which could be hard on engine internals.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2012 | 01:58 PM
  #3  
83Toyota88's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 4
From: Memphis, TN
Change it a second time? I had considered that.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2012 | 02:00 PM
  #4  
rworegon's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,125
Likes: 4
From: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon...east side
Yes, a second time. And, the filter too especially if you did not change the filter the first time.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2012 | 02:02 PM
  #5  
83Toyota88's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,220
Likes: 4
From: Memphis, TN
I changed the filter the first time too.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2012 | 02:08 PM
  #6  
rworegon's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,125
Likes: 4
From: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon...east side
If it was me, I'd replace the filter a second time. Again, the concern is the additives package from the gear oil that may be working there way through the filter.

Driving to the local part store for oil and a filter is plenty far to drive to get it mixed into the oil for the next drain.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2012 | 02:37 PM
  #7  
UPS's Avatar
UPS
Registered User
 
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Beaver, Utah
rw you may be right but I don't think it should be that big a deal. Gear oil is made to not break down under "sheariing", gears smashing into each other. Engine oil doesn't hold up well to that kind of thing. I want to see what the Gurus say.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2012 | 02:53 PM
  #8  
rworegon's Avatar
Contributing Member
 
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,125
Likes: 4
From: Columbia River Gorge, Oregon...east side
It's the sulfur and the EP additive package in the gear oil that does not play nice with engine bearings...can cause foaming of the engine oil and react with water and combustion byproducts to form acids which are corrosive to the engine internals.

It may not be a big deal since he only added about 1/2 qt. of gear oil to start. My conservative nature says a second OC to be safe.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2012 | 07:14 PM
  #9  
toastyjosh's Avatar
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: new mexico
Half can of seafoam, run for a while, drain, change oil and filter.
Reply
Old Dec 22, 2012 | 07:24 PM
  #10  
niall's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: All over Canada
like most have already said, just change the oil again. I'm sure it didn't hurt much, there's a chance some of the additives actually cleaned you up a little bit. Just Change it Again, don't worry about any seafoam/etc unless that's something you regularly do, and you will be A-Ok.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bigjstang
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners
21
Jun 2, 2025 03:56 PM
RedRunner_87
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners (Build-Up Section)
84
Jun 1, 2021 01:51 PM
voiddweller
86-95 Trucks & 4Runners (Build-Up Section)
19
May 2, 2016 09:10 PM
God's Bounty Hunter
Pre 84 Trucks
6
Jul 8, 2015 12:54 PM
Jnkml
95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners
3
Jul 6, 2015 01:20 PM




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:53 PM.