Author Topic: Hypoid gear oil smell after change  (Read 147 times)

Offline Lbxpdx

  • ^ Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 103
Hypoid gear oil smell after change
« on: May 31, 2026, 04:29:19 PM »
I changed my final drive and transmission oil with 75w90 GL5 and now I get occasional wife’s of hypoid gear oil.  Whatever I drained from the tranny was honey colored, drained slower than the final drive and does not smell like hypoid gear oil.  I see no leaks.  Ideas?  Does the tranny vent?

92 k75rt. 113k
  • Portland
  • 1994 K75S, 1992 K75RT, 1972 R60/5 & 1977 R100S

Offline Laitch

  • Faster than a speeding pullet
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Re: Hypoid gear oil smell after change
« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2026, 06:10:35 PM »
Gear oil and engine oil should be drained when the components have been warmed up, preferably by a ride when possible. Gear oil comes in various colors but all of them darken with age. You drained the old oil. Forget about its odor and how it looked if it didn't have chunks of metal in it. You replaced it with a specified grade. If you used the specified volume, you're good to go.

The transmission has a small vent as pictured below. In 100,000 miles I haven't felt the need to investigate it because no leaks caused by excessive pressure have been evident. I replace gear oil at the beginning of each riding season.

  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 102,000 miles

Offline Lbxpdx

  • ^ Motobrick Curious
  • Posts: 103
Re: Hypoid gear oil smell after change
« Reply #2 on: Today at 12:10:14 PM »
Just a follow up.  After riding a few hundred miles, there is no smell.
  • Portland
  • 1994 K75S, 1992 K75RT, 1972 R60/5 & 1977 R100S

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