Fuel efficient, shear stable axle lubricant

Abstract

A lubricant composition including a polyalphaolefin base oil component in an amount of about 30 wt. % to about 70 wt. % based on total weight of said lubricant composition and a thickener in an amount up to 30 wt. % based on total weight of said lubricant composition. The lubricant composition has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of about 5 cSt to about 15 cSt and a kinematic viscosity of at 40° C. about 30 cSt to about 70 cSt, each measured in accordance with ASTM D445.

1 . A lubricant composition comprising:
 a polyalphaolefin base oil component in an amount of about 30 wt. % to about 70 wt. % based on total weight of said lubricant composition and   a thickener in an amount up to 30 wt. % based on total weight of said lubricant composition,   wherein the lubricant composition has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of about 5 cSt to about 15 cSt and a kinematic viscosity of at 40° C. about 30 cSt to about 70 cSt, each measured in accordance with ASTM D445.   
     
     
         2 . The lubricant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the thickener is selected from the group of an olefin copolymer (OCP), polymethacrylate (PMA), polyisobutene (PIB), oil soluble polyalkyl glycol (PAG) (OSP), high viscosity polyalphaolefin (PAO), and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The lubricant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a second thickener. 
     
     
         4 . The lubricant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a diester. 
     
     
         5 . The lubricant composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an additive package containing at least one additive selected from the group of antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors, foam control additives, extreme pressure additives, anti-wear additives, detergents, and viscosity index improvers, wherein the lubricant composition is essentially free of dispersants. 
     
     
         6 . The lubricant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition is an axle lubricant. 
     
     
         7 . The lubricant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polyalphaolefin base oil component is included in an amount of about 50 wt. % to about 60 wt. % based on total weight of said lubricant composition. 
     
     
         8 . The lubricant composition of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricant composition has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of about 9 cSt to about 12 cSt and a kinematic viscosity of at 40° C. about 50 cSt to about 60 cSt, each measured in accordance with ASTM D445. 
     
     
         9 . The lubricant composition of  claim 3 , wherein the second thickener is included in an amount up to about 5 wt. %. 
     
     
         10 . The lubricant composition of  claim 3 , wherein the second thickener is a polyisobutene. 
     
     
         11 . The lubricant composition of  claim 4 , wherein the ester is included in an amount up to about 35 wt. %. 
     
     
         12 . The lubricant composition  claim 1 , further comprising an anti-foaming agent. 
     
     
         13 . The lubricant composition of  claim 10 , wherein the anti-foaming agent is included in an amount from about 0.001 wt. % to about 1 wt. %. 
     
     
         14 . An axle lubricant comprising:
 a polyalphaolefin base oil component and a thickener, wherein the polyalphaolefin base oil component comprises a Type IV base oil,   wherein said axle lubricant has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of about 5 to about 15 cSt and a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. of about 30 to about 70 cSt, each measured in accordance with ASTM D445; and   wherein said axle lubricant has a viscosity index of from about 150 to about 200 as measured in accordance with ASTM D2270.   
     
     
         15 . The axle lubricant of  claim 14 , wherein the polyalphaolefin base oil component is included in an amount of from about 30 wt. % to about 70 wt. % based on total weight of the axle lubricant. 
     
     
         16 . The axle lubricant of  claim 14 , wherein the thickener is included in an amount up to about 30 wt. % based on total weight of the axle lubricant.