Hello everybody. I think I found out oils both GE filter-flo and Whirlpool direct drives use. From what I learned, GE uses 40w oil in their transmissions while Whirlpool uses 90w gear oil in theirs, which might explain why the 2 oils feel and smell identical.
GE filter-flo vs. Whirlpool direct drive oils
- Thread starter gelaundry4ever
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Hi Jerome
Your post doesn’t make any sense, 40 and 90 weight oil is going to feel quite different, they could smell the same I guess but what on earth would the smell matter anyway, you could never smell it when it’s inside the transmission in the machine.
John
Your post doesn’t make any sense, 40 and 90 weight oil is going to feel quite different, they could smell the same I guess but what on earth would the smell matter anyway, you could never smell it when it’s inside the transmission in the machine.
John
Very few things smell as bad as 90W.
Since I rebuilt the transmission on my Whirlpool over 2 1/2 years ago, gear oil is more sticky and is designed to ‘climb up’ moving gears inside a gear box wether it be a automobile manual transmission or a transmission inside a washer. On the input gear on a Whirlpool belt drive transmission (the pulley the gear attaches to), there’s a spiral pattern which pushes oil down into a area where there’s a small hole oil comes out which is a primitive sort of oil pump, my guess is Whirlpool built their belt drive transmissions to be backwards compatible with other oils which were non-detergent motor oils. Not sure if that’s correct, but it could be a possibility judging by the things I observed over 2 years ago. As for motor/engine oils, they have to be a certain viscosity since the oil has to be able to flow correctly at low and high temperatures through the main crankshaft and camshaft journals, especially important with modern engines with variable valve timing and overhead cams. Push rod overhead valve engines can get away with using a thinker oil if there’s significant wear and noise since there’s no overhead cams to lubricate, just the rocker arms for the intake and exhaust valves. Definitely won’t be good news to use thinker oils in modern overhead cam engines with variable valve timing since there’s very fine oil passages for the various parts and such.
oil heating
What I mean is, you can smell the oil heating up while the machine is running depending on where you can smell it. I do like listening for any mechanical noises and when I do, I can smell the gear oil. This is most notable on GE filter-flo and Whirlpool LEAP direct drive models.[this post was last edited: 12/19/2023-19:46]
What I mean is, you can smell the oil heating up while the machine is running depending on where you can smell it. I do like listening for any mechanical noises and when I do, I can smell the gear oil. This is most notable on GE filter-flo and Whirlpool LEAP direct drive models.[this post was last edited: 12/19/2023-19:46]
ryner1988
Well-known member
Reply #1
John, I think I know what Jerome is referring to. One can smell the warm gear oil in some machines while they are running. Come to think of it, the filter flow is a prominent example of this, especially during the spin cycle. I just never really thought about it until this thread.
I did notice a really strong gear oil smell during the last few months of using my direct drive, but come to find out the transmission I bought 11 months ago was leaking oil. Ugh.
Ryne
John, I think I know what Jerome is referring to. One can smell the warm gear oil in some machines while they are running. Come to think of it, the filter flow is a prominent example of this, especially during the spin cycle. I just never really thought about it until this thread.
I did notice a really strong gear oil smell during the last few months of using my direct drive, but come to find out the transmission I bought 11 months ago was leaking oil. Ugh.
Ryne
to Ryner1988
That is exactly what I was referring to. The distinct warm oil smell coming from the filter-flo and direct drives. It didn't matter if I was knealing by it, or standing in front of it. That is what the direct drive reminds me of, the filter-flo due to the gear oil smell.
That is exactly what I was referring to. The distinct warm oil smell coming from the filter-flo and direct drives. It didn't matter if I was knealing by it, or standing in front of it. That is what the direct drive reminds me of, the filter-flo due to the gear oil smell.
memories
For whatever reason, the smell of the Whirlpool oil does bring back many memories of my old GE filter-flo when I smell it on a Whirlpool direct drive while it is spinning. This is especially true on the heavy duty or equivalent normal speed for those that only have 2 speeds.
For whatever reason, the smell of the Whirlpool oil does bring back many memories of my old GE filter-flo when I smell it on a Whirlpool direct drive while it is spinning. This is especially true on the heavy duty or equivalent normal speed for those that only have 2 speeds.
Oil smell
A GE Filter-flo washer transmission is sealed and does not have a vent hole like a Whirlpool transmission, unless you have an oil leak, I don't see how you can smell the oil. My guess in what your smelling is coming from the warm motor bearings, this could explain why both washers smell the same. I have been working on washer for over 50 years, and have a very good sense of smell, and have never smelled transmission oil from any washer unless it had a large leak.
A GE Filter-flo washer transmission is sealed and does not have a vent hole like a Whirlpool transmission, unless you have an oil leak, I don't see how you can smell the oil. My guess in what your smelling is coming from the warm motor bearings, this could explain why both washers smell the same. I have been working on washer for over 50 years, and have a very good sense of smell, and have never smelled transmission oil from any washer unless it had a large leak.
whatever it is...
You can tell it has an industrial smell in both machines. I could smell it whether I had an oil leak or not. I believe both heated their oil during operation.
You can tell it has an industrial smell in both machines. I could smell it whether I had an oil leak or not. I believe both heated their oil during operation.
ragnboneman
Well-known member
My Two cents...
I don't have much to add about washing machines, but lubricants I do know.
The foul smell of gear lubricants as mentioned with the 90W gear oil is from sulphur added to the blend as a friction modifier.
Interesting stuff how they work.
They are molecules that have a head and tail and one end the head clings while the tail acts to keep metal parts from touching.
Its quite common to find those types of oils in transmissions and gear boxes under the conditions of no clutches, and no bronze parts....
Read that last part over no bronze with oils containing sulpur!
Something like a more modern gear box with plastic or sintered metal parts will have different lubrication requirement obviously than cast iron parts.
Automotive oils are formulated with clean, hold dirt in suspension, work over a wider temperature range emulsify water, deal with fuel dilution and contaminants.
Already this is starting to not sound like what you should have in a washing machine right?
That wold be my guess too.
Automatic transmission fluids might be closer to the needs of some.
Light turbine oils for others ( with lots of sliding components and bronze parts )
Heavy gear oils might be right for iron gears and components with heavy shock loads.
I don't have enough experience with these washing machines to comment further.
I don't have much to add about washing machines, but lubricants I do know.
The foul smell of gear lubricants as mentioned with the 90W gear oil is from sulphur added to the blend as a friction modifier.
Interesting stuff how they work.
They are molecules that have a head and tail and one end the head clings while the tail acts to keep metal parts from touching.
Its quite common to find those types of oils in transmissions and gear boxes under the conditions of no clutches, and no bronze parts....
Read that last part over no bronze with oils containing sulpur!
Something like a more modern gear box with plastic or sintered metal parts will have different lubrication requirement obviously than cast iron parts.
Automotive oils are formulated with clean, hold dirt in suspension, work over a wider temperature range emulsify water, deal with fuel dilution and contaminants.
Already this is starting to not sound like what you should have in a washing machine right?
That wold be my guess too.
Automatic transmission fluids might be closer to the needs of some.
Light turbine oils for others ( with lots of sliding components and bronze parts )
Heavy gear oils might be right for iron gears and components with heavy shock loads.
I don't have enough experience with these washing machines to comment further.
90w gear oil
I’ve used it in a GE filter Flo transmission and also Kenmore/Whirlpool belt drives. Seems to do just fine.
I’ve used it in a GE filter Flo transmission and also Kenmore/Whirlpool belt drives. Seems to do just fine.
gear oil
I suspect that GE and Whirlpool both use steel gears, with Whirlpool also using a durable plastic gear. Maybe whoever supplied the oil for their transmissions worked with both companies.
I suspect that GE and Whirlpool both use steel gears, with Whirlpool also using a durable plastic gear. Maybe whoever supplied the oil for their transmissions worked with both companies.
ragnboneman
Well-known member
More likely the lubricants are already blended and sitting on the shelf.
The machine manufacturer goes to the lubricant maker with a list of specifications and chooses the oil.
Not very often at all you get an oil made for a machine, like VW who specified an oil for their diesel cars, or high performance lubricants for military air craft or special limited industrial process.
My employer used to buy a special grease from Imperial oil called OBRA 68 winter.
They did not like the price Imperial was charging and told them to get stuffed and went searching for a replacement.
Turned out there was no replacement and hat in hand they went back to imperial ( a subsidiary of EXXON MOBILE ).
The tail doesn't wag the dog, my employer might be a big fish in our business but not all that important to Imperial oil aka EXXON.
They said no, not any price, we made it basically for you up to this point and when you walked away we stopped making it...
So thats one reason why your choice should always be something on the shelf a standard product and why most smart companies adapt their machinery lubrication needs to match what can be purchased for it.
The machine manufacturer goes to the lubricant maker with a list of specifications and chooses the oil.
Not very often at all you get an oil made for a machine, like VW who specified an oil for their diesel cars, or high performance lubricants for military air craft or special limited industrial process.
My employer used to buy a special grease from Imperial oil called OBRA 68 winter.
They did not like the price Imperial was charging and told them to get stuffed and went searching for a replacement.
Turned out there was no replacement and hat in hand they went back to imperial ( a subsidiary of EXXON MOBILE ).
The tail doesn't wag the dog, my employer might be a big fish in our business but not all that important to Imperial oil aka EXXON.
They said no, not any price, we made it basically for you up to this point and when you walked away we stopped making it...
So thats one reason why your choice should always be something on the shelf a standard product and why most smart companies adapt their machinery lubrication needs to match what can be purchased for it.
GE and whirlpool
I assume that GE and Whirlpool which were rivals at the time decided to purchase the same gear oil per their machines.
I assume that GE and Whirlpool which were rivals at the time decided to purchase the same gear oil per their machines.
