Gear oil color???

Please, no speculation. I need to hear from someone with actual experience.

I was at a gear shop getting my CVs repaired and I asked about gear oil for my front diff and transfer case. The guy said he could sell me some bulk fluid so I bought a gallon of 90w. But he put it in a box so I didn't get to look at it. So now I'm at home looking at it and its not a color I recognize. It's super thick like honey and a thin amount in the cap looks brownish, but the bulk of it looks black. I searched online but I don't see any examples of black fluid.

Has anybody seen gear oil this color? I have a hard time believing that they would sell me used fluid or the wrong type. They're a reputable gear shop. I have to do the repair tonight due to my schedule, so either I just use this or I go spend a bunch of money on more fluid from the parts store. Here's a couple pics:

 

btw, he charged me $67 and the shop is over an hour away so I'm not going to bother with returning it.

 

Looks used to me. I would call and ask but still wouldn't trust it if they said it was new. I'd go buy new from somewhere else.

 

That looks used. The hypoid gear oils I have used in the past have been a translucent yellowish color, not brown/black opaque like the stuff in that bottle.

 

fml you guys really think they sold me used oil???

 

Don't know if it's used but I know I wouldn't use it!

 

If that is automotive hypoid gear oil, that stuff is used. I would give them a call and see exactly what they gave you. How does it smell? Old/heavily used gear oil, I am sure you know, has a very pungent smell to it.

 

90w is thick like honey. Take it to a local parts house to get their opinion. It does look a little dark for new gear oil.

 

Yes the oil that came out of my diff is honey colored and stinks super bad. My whole garage stinks from the little bit thats puddled under my truck.

This stuff smells sort of minty like medicine

 

yeah this stuff is thick. It makes little strings when I pull the cap like a sticky syrup

 

Lets try something revolutionary and pick up the phone and call the store where you purchased the product and see what they say. You might be surprised at something good happening or at the least you are out the $67 because you won’t drive back to return it?

 

Let's try something revolutionary like not being a smart ass and actually reading what I wrote. I bought from a gear shop, not a store. They're closed until Monday and they didn't mention what brand it was, they just said they have bulk fluid.

I have to do the repair tonight because of my schedule

 

Also it took me over an hour to drive there and 2:15 to drive back because of normal traffic. I'm not going through that again just to return it

 

My apologies sir. Did not know your shop was closed. Maybe if you aren’t sure about the product then put off the fluid change? Is this an emergency?

 

No worries homie, its all good. I'm just a little frustrated with this.

I broke a CV and I have to install it and refill the diff because I lost a lot of fluid. In order to do that I have to remove my skid plates which is a hug pain in the ass. My diff are due anyway so I am going to swap the fluid in the front and transfer.

The only time I have blocked off to do this is tonight. I'd like to have my truck rolling this weekend

 

Go buy mobil1.

 

fml I guess I'll pick up some fluid.

 

Well yeah, thats my problem. They're definitely a reputable shop. I just can't believe they would charge me that much money and sell me used fluid. But some guys think that maybe they get bulk fluid thats filtered. Idk. It certainly doesn't smell used. It smells like medicine

 

gahdammit!

 

But none of those are black...

 

It is pretty dark but if it doesn't smell used or feel dirty, id run it since it's from a reputable shop.

 

It definitely doesn't smell like the crap that came out of my diff. That stuff stinks. I also don't see anything floating in it

 

Alex, did you have to break the seal on the bottle cap?

 

Its bulk fluid, they poured it into a water bottle