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Gearbox oil – how to choose it and how often to replace it?

Gearbox oils – how to choose them and how often to replace them?

Gearbox oils – how to choose them and how often to replace them?

Oils in the gearbox wear out in the same way as engine oil. How often should the transmission fluid be changed? Which gearbox oil should I choose? We give you a hint!

Why do you need to change the oil in the gearbox?

One of the standard service activities is replacement engine oil. Typically, new fluid is poured into the power unit every year or after driving 10 to 000 km. Why is gearbox oil so important?

Changing gearbox oil isn't mentioned as often in the context of car maintenance as it is with engine oil. Some users even believe that the transfer fluid should not be replaced with a new one at all.

This may be due to, among others: from the fact that manufacturers sometimes indicate in service manuals that changing the oil in the gearbox is not necessary during the "entire life of the car". How can this be understood?

Contrary to appearances, it is not always about driving with the factory-filled oil for several years. The service life may mean the time until the warranty expires. After this time, the manufacturer is de facto released from responsibility for how the car works.

Oil for a manual or automatic gearbox wears out just like any other gearbox car chemicals. The lubricant preparation is influenced by, among others: warm. Although the transmission does not get as hot as the engine, it can reach high temperatures during operation due to friction.

Moreover, additives that improve gearbox oil lose their properties. The viscosity also changes. There is also the issue of metal filings. Although the magnets placed in the box will catch particles, over time they may accumulate so much that it will be worth getting rid of them permanently.

Old oil can cause the gearbox to wear out faster. The elements inside the gearbox will not be properly lubricated and will start to rub against each other. The gearbox will also not be as well cooled as with fresh oil. It may become susceptible to corrosion and its smooth operation may deteriorate.

The replacement is also important due to the need to top up the gear oil level. Running out of lubricant can be even worse than driving with old oil. We will not use solutions such as engine regenerator. The transmission may be damaged and the cost of repairing or replacing it may run into thousands of zlotys.

How often should you change gearbox oil?

Information about when to change the oil in the gearbox should be included in the service book. If the manufacturer has not included such data or we do not have access to the book, we can stick to generally accepted guidelines.

Now you will learn how often to change the gearbox oil. In the case of a manual gearbox, it is recommended to change it every 80 - 000 km. When it comes to automatic gearboxes, the intervals should be shorter. The first replacement should be done after about 60–000 km, and subsequent ones every 80–000 km.

If a given gearbox does not have a good reputation, it is worth shortening the mentioned mileage. This applies to both manual and automatic transmissions. Intensive use, which includes not only dynamic driving, but also frequent driving around the city or towing trailers, contributes to faster wear of gear oil.

Which gearbox oil should I choose? Is it worth buying a replacement?

Choosing oil for the gearbox is not as easy as choosing engine fluid. What needs to be taken into account?

We can focus on, among others: API quality class and SAE viscosity. We write more about how to read this type of code in the article Engine oil markings – how to read them and what are the types you need to know about? How to choose the right engine oil?.

Importantly, a given oil does not necessarily have to have the same API or SAE as recommended. The key information is the manufacturer's standard specifying the fluid's suitability for a specific type of gearbox. It may happen that two oils have completely different classes, but are suitable for the same transmission.

For this reason, a safe solution is to pour OEM oil, i.e. the original oil recommended in the service book. There are no obstacles to using a substitute. In such a case, it is a good idea to use the oil catalog and check which product meets the standard for a given gearbox.

We change the gearbox oil

Transmission

Oil in automatic and manual transmission – are there any differences?

Automatic transmission oil may have different properties compared to manual transmission fluid. They may be characterized by, for example, lower viscosity. The specific nature of the machine may require that the fluid provides better protection and cooling than in the case of a manual spacer.

Automatic transmission oil has the marking ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid). Regardless of what kind of transmission we have, we must adhere to the car manufacturer's standards. There are cases where ATF oil is recommended for a given manual transmission.

Can I change the gearbox oil myself?

Yes, just like in the case of engine oil, we can also replace the oil in the gearbox ourselves. However, it is not always worth taking such action.

Not in every case we will have easy access to the drain plug. It may not even exist at all. Additionally, it may be necessary to dismantle the oil pan and replace the filter. We will also have to take care of the disposal of used oil, as we cannot pour it into the sewage system.

Another issue is that with the so-called using the static method, i.e. draining oil from the gear by gravity, we will often not be able to get rid of all the fluid. In automatic transmissions, up to half of the old oil may remain inside the structure.

A more convenient option is to use a transmission fluid replacement service. The service can perform the replacement using a dynamic method. This process uses a device that sucks out used gear oil.

How much does a gearbox oil change cost?

The cost of replacing gear oil can vary greatly. Much depends on the design of the gearbox and the scope of activities that need to be performed to get rid of the old oil.

If mechanics have easy access to the transmission, the cost per man-hour will be similar to that of changing engine oil. We will pay approximately PLN 150-300. The dynamic method may be more expensive, ranging from PLN 300 to PLN 700.

The cost of changing the oil in the automatic transmission will probably be high. Workshops charge even more than PLN 1000 for such a service. In addition, there is the oil itself. The price per liter can range from PLN 40 to even PLN 200.