Is gear oil compatible with yellow metals?

This question is frequently asked – especially with gear oils featuring API GL-4 or API GL-5 specifications.

The background: In manual transmissions and industrial equipment, yellow metals such as brass, bronze, or other copper alloys are commonly used. Typical components include:

Synchronizer rings in manual transmissions
Bronze plain bearings and bushings
Worm gears in industrial gear units
Hydraulic pumps and valve components
Compressors and turbines

Earlier lubricant formulations could, under certain conditions, contain reactive sulfur compounds that were capable of attacking copper alloys. This led to uncertainty as to whether GL-5 gear oils in particular attack brass.

Modern lubricants reflect the current state of the art and are generally formulated in such a way that, under normal operating conditions, they do not cause harmful reactions with common copper alloys.

Does this only apply to gear oils?

No. The question of yellow metal compatibility can also be relevant for hydraulic oils or industrial oils whenever brass or bronze components are installed in the system.

Midland’s gear oils as well as hydraulic oils are formulated in accordance with the current state of the art and are suitable for use in systems containing yellow metals.

Stay in Motion Smoothly - Lubricants from Midland

With Midland's lubricants, everything runs smoothly! Whether for passenger cars, trucks & buses, motorcycles & ATVs, marine, construction machines, industry, agriculture & forestry or classic cars - we offer you the full range of quality lubricants for all areas of application. This includes engine oils, transmission oils, hydraulic oils, additives, coolant protection and supplementary products. Since 2017, we have had the most modern fully automated lubricant production plant in Switzerland to constantly provide you with consistent and constantly carefully controlled quality. That's what our company slogan "Swiss Quality Oil" stands for.

Midland: A Brand of the Swiss Traditional Company Oel-Brack AG

The Midland brand was launched by Oel-Brack AG in 2004, which has been producing and importing products of American oil companies under license as a family business since 1880. Under the Midland brand, the Swiss family business trades in heating oil and fuels domestically and produces quality lubricants for domestic and foreign markets in Aargau (Hunzenschwil). In Switzerland alone, Midland lubricants are delivered to over 3000 passenger car and truck garages, motorcycle dealers, workshops, yards, forest offices and industrial companies, while almost half of the total production is exported.

Find the right lubricant with just a few clicks - Midland's Oil Finder

What engine oil should I use for my classic car? What hydraulic oil is best suited for my motorcycle? What should I look for when buying additives? Finding the right lubricants is not easy due to the large selection of different products. But now that's a thing of the past. Midland provides you with a convenient online Oil Finder, with which you can now reach the right lubricant with just a few clicks. Simply select the vehicle or machine and browse through the individually compiled product selection. You will receive product recommendations for each application area, including important interval hints for changing. Try it now!

Buy lubricants at Midland and get good advice

Midland offers quality lubricants and provides expert advice. If you have any questions about their products or would like to purchase motor oil, their specialists are available to assist you via phone +41 62 889 10 30, email info@oelbrack.ch, or their contact form. They are dedicated to providing personalized advice and are happy to answer your questions with their years of experience in the field of lubricants and fats.
Contact Midland for expert advice and support.

to overview

What is Midland?

Midland is an internationally active private label of the company Oel-Brack AG. The family business specializes in the production of high-quality lubricants, which are sold both in Switzerland and internationally under the brand Midland – Swiss Quality Oil. Additionally, the company deals in heating oil and fuels in German-speaking Switzerland, where there are also various Midland gas stations.

Which is the best grease?

Whether truck & buses, motorcycles & ATVs, marine, construction, industry, agriculture and forestry or classic cars - to keep wear to a minimum, most machines require regular maintenance and greasing with lubricating grease. But what exactly is this and how do I choose the best grease? Midland reveals the most important information in this article.

What do additives in lubricants do?

There are a large number of different additives which are used in lubricants. In general, they are intended to fulfill the following tasks:

Protect surfaces from wear and corrosion
Protect against oil aging
Improve oil properties

What types of hydraulic fluids are there?

Due to this variety of tasks, there are different hydraulic oils depending on the application area. The DIN 51524 standard classifies hydraulic oils by defining minimum requirements.

Which transmission oil is the right one?

Regardless of whether it is for cars, trucks & buses, motorcycles & ATVs, marine, construction machines, industry, agriculture & forestry or classic cars - which transmission oil is the right one primarily depends on which transmission needs to be lubricated. Due to the variety of different transmissions, there are also various transmission oils.

What kind of engine oil do i need?

Every engine is different, which is why there are different types of engine oils. To ensure that the engine is always optimally lubricated, the oil changes should also be carried out according to the manufacturer's specifications. With the right oil and the right change intervals, the lifespan of an engine can thus be extended. However, with the large number of engine oils that are now available, it is not always easy to keep track. We can help you find the right engine oil.