lubrication question

[Lynn Eades]

Thank you all. Mike, you comments made me think of something. I pulled the lid on a Dodge 4 speed that had been sitting for years. (war time oil?) It had a skin over everything inside (except the contacting areas) the box was in very good condition. I have seen gear boxes opened with later oil in them and the oil had drained away on top and all above the oil line was rusty. I wonder if this box had this type of oil?
The coating was like a plastic skin that we used to find on some new gears back in the 70s. as I recall the gears were blackish but the oil looked nice and clean (given time to settle it always does)