When to change the oil in the box: list of models

No matter how reliable the unit is, it is still necessary to carry out routine maintenance work in a timely manner to extend its service life. This applies to all components and assemblies of the car, including the transmission. In this article we will look at the issue of maintenance and oil change in the gearbox (both in automatic and manual transmissions of a car).

We will also try to determine what time intervals should be between routine transmission maintenance work, or at what mileage this work should be carried out. At the same time, we will consider which transmission oils are best to use, and we will also pay attention to the nuances and features that need to be known and taken into account when performing transmission maintenance work.

Transmission, oils and fluids

The word “transmission” comes from the Latin transmissio - “forwarding”, “transfer”. The vehicle's transmission serves to transmit torque from the engine to the wheels, allowing you to change the magnitude of the torque and the direction of rotation.

Historically, lubricants for transmissions and drive axles were called oils. But with the advent of automatic transmissions in English-speaking countries, the concept of ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) appeared - fluid for automatic transmissions.

Oil change intervals

The manual transmission oil change schedule can be found in the technical documentation for the car. Unfortunately, manufacturers often do not consider it necessary to write about this in the instructions. In this case, you should listen to the advice of professionals. Experts recommend changing transmission oil every 100,000 km or after 7 years of standard vehicle use, whichever comes first. If your car is subjected to frequent loads and operating conditions leave much to be desired, you need to change the oil every 60,000 -70,000 km. The time interval also depends on the type of oil and vehicle class.

When to change the oil in a manual transmission

In the vehicle's operating instructions, the manufacturer provides detailed information on the recommended maintenance schedule for this vehicle. Here is also a list of suitable brands of ATF gear oils. If the driver ignores the recommendations of the developers, the car’s behavior will show signs of unstable operation of the manual transmission: unfamiliar sounds, jolts when changing gears, a burning smell in the car’s interior, etc.

MTF classification

The American Petroleum Institute (API) classified gear lubricants into groups - GL 4 and GL 5. The main additive packages for these groups differ in the amount of extreme pressure additives. In MTF GL5 their content is much higher, approximately one and a half times. On the one hand, this is good. But such additives in large quantities have a bad effect on non-ferrous metals of synchronizers. Therefore, most domestic gearboxes require GF4 class oils.

Information about this can be seen in the service books. If there is no such documentation, it is better not to take risks and, when changing the oil, still use GF-4. Especially if the model is Russian. Both GF5 and GF4/GF5 are applicable to foreign-made boxes. Gear oils are characterized by viscosity values of 75W90 and 80W90. The technical documentation for the car will tell you which viscosity is best to use.

The most popular semi-synthetic Lukoil oils on the Russian market are TM4 and TM5 with viscosities 75W-90 and 80W-90. They are not only used in gearboxes, but are also applicable to transfer cases, differentials and rear axles. These products stand out for their relatively low prices. ZIC GF Top 75W-90 synthetic lubricant is also good. It was recognized as the best in the rating for manual transmission. MTF Castrol and Liqui Moly are popular.

Which oil is better to fill in a manual transmission: a brief overview of manufacturers

Let's look at several popular manufacturers of gear oils.

"Lukoil". Maintains a reputation in the Russian market for inexpensive and high-quality lubricants and is famous for the absence of counterfeits. Lukoil transmission oils are perfect for almost all gearboxes of domestic cars and unloaded manual transmissions of foreign cars.
Mobil. Expensive oils for manual transmissions that require lubrication. Suitable for drivers with an aggressive driving style. Almost the entire line of Mobil transmission oils has an increased oil film strength and extended service life.
ZIC. Golden mean. Worldwide recognized quality from the Korean oil refining giant SK Energy. Technological oil at an affordable price.

In the TopDetal.ru online store you can always buy original gear oils from the world's leading manufacturers at an affordable price. Just open the catalog and make sure: our prices are lower than the market average.

Partial oil change in automatic transmission with removal of the transmission pan and replacement of the filter

To change the automatic transmission oil using this method, you will also need an inspection hole or overpass. In addition, you will need: new oil, automatic transmission filter, automatic transmission oil pan gasket, drain plug gasket, measuring container to measure the amount of drained oil, a small funnel for filling in oil. You can select the filter and automatic transmission, automatic transmission oil pan gasket and drain plug gasket according to the make and year of manufacture of the car.

Before changing the oil, it is advisable to drive the car 5-10 kilometers so that the oil warms up and its fluidity increases.
Place the car in a pit or drive it onto an overpass, move the gear selector to neutral, and put the car on the handbrake.
Unscrew the drain plug at the bottom of the automatic transmission housing and drain the oil into a measuring container.
Unscrew the bolts securing the automatic transmission pan and tear it off the sealant, drain the remaining oil in the pan into the same measuring container.
If possible, replace the automatic transmission oil filter, and also drain the oil from under the filter into a measuring container.
Clean the pan from oil deposits using a special product, or using gasoline and a brush, remove the old gasket.
Degrease the installation site of the pan and the pan itself with acetone, install a new automatic transmission gasket, apply a small amount of sealant, install the pan in place and tighten the bolts.
Screw the drain plug into place, replacing the gasket on it.
Fill in the same amount of new oil as was drained from the automatic transmission through the hole in the automatic transmission dipstick using a small funnel.
Disconnect the automatic transmission oil cooling hose left in the direction of travel and lower its end into a measuring container, ask an assistant to start the car in neutral gear, using the handbrake. Old oil will come out of the hose, wait until new, lighter and more transparent oil comes out, turn off the engine, put the hose in place, add the same amount of oil through the dipstick hole as came out of the hose.
Check the oil level in the automatic transmission, if necessary, bring it to the normal value.

Hyundai

Koreans recommend changing the oil in manual transmissions every 120,000 km, and in automatic transmissions - every 90,000. For models with a full transmission, the oil in the transfer case and differential must be changed every 120,000 km.

All these recommendations relate to “normal” vehicle operation, the manufacturers warn. In more severe cases, the intervals should be shortened.

But what does “heavy” operation mean? Here are the factors that shorten the life of the transmission:

Frequent trips over short distances;
Frequent trips on uneven, dusty roads without asphalt;
Frequent use at low temperatures;
Regular trips in traffic jams with frequent turning off and starting of the engine;
Frequent steep ascents and descents;
Use of a trailer, caravan or roof rack;
Using a car as a truck or taxi;
High-speed traffic - more than 140 km/h.

Types of oils and features of their use

All gear oils differ in the type of base. Inexpensive mineral oils are almost never produced today and are mostly used in rear-wheel drive vehicles. A significant “disadvantage” of such compositions is their short service life and the absence of substances that promote self-cleaning.

Semi-synthetic oils can be found in gearboxes of front-wheel drive economy class cars. Under normal operating conditions, oils of this type can protect parts from wear until the car travels 50,000 - 60,000 km. Special additives included in the composition of “semi-synthetics” protect the metal well from destruction as a result of friction and corrosion, and the reasonable price makes these oils the most popular on the market.

The most expensive and high-quality oils are rightfully considered to be synthetic oils that can withstand strong temperature changes. “Synthetics” are most popular in areas with frosty winters and hot summers. High-tech additives make synthetic oils truly durable.

Paying attention to the types of oils, the car owner should know that the characteristics of the composition intended for manual transmissions differ significantly from those for automatic transmissions. You cannot replace one with the other.

How to change the oil in a manual transmission

It is recommended to change the oil in the gearbox in autumn or winter. It is during this period that the unit bears the heaviest load and the probability of its failure is high. An urgent oil change is also required for newly purchased used cars with a mileage of over 60,000 km. The independent procedure for replacing the working fluid in the gearbox consists of several stages.

We warm up the oil by driving for ten minutes. Placing the car on a specially equipped pit with the wheels secured using “shoes”;
Unscrew the oil filler plug;
Remove the drain plug and drain the oil into a container;
We fill the unit with new oil using a syringe to the lower limit of the “oil filler” neck (be careful not to overfill), tighten the cap (most often you need a new set of cap and o-ring).

If you are not confident in your own abilities, seek help from professional mechanics.
Official service centers of FAVORIT MOTORS Group offer a wide range of services for maintenance, diagnostics and repair of cars of any make and configuration. Do not neglect problems with the gearbox, other components and assemblies of the machine, your safety depends on their condition! Transmission oil catalog Ask a question

Brilliance

Probably the most honest answer is from a Chinese company that is not in the EU. He recommends for his manual transmissions the first shift is 10,000 km, and the next 40,000 km or 3-4 years.

An early first shift makes a lot of sense: new units have rough and uneven surfaces that quickly turn into chips. Their timely removal significantly extends the life of the transmission. This applies to both mechanical transmissions and so-called “robotic” transmissions. For automatic transmissions, it is recommended once every 60,000 km or once every six years.

Why you need to service your transmission

Motor oil most often operates at the optimal temperatures for which it is designed - simply because the engine is heated by internal combustion and has more efficient cooling. In a gearbox, heating occurs only from friction forces, and it overheats much more often. In hot weather and during intensive use, the temperature in the transmission can exceed the engine temperature by 15-20 degrees Celsius. And overheating accelerates oil degradation.

The individual components of the transmission wear due to friction against each other. The chips get into the oil and the only way to remove them before they start clogging the fine grooves is to change the oil. In gearboxes, these shavings are mainly steel; in manual gearboxes, particles of worn synchronizers - brass, bronze and various composites - are added to this. In the case of automatic transmissions and CVTs, there is also waste from friction discs. Let's not forget about the dust that gets into the valves during the overheating/cooling cycle. When digging deep puddles, water can also get inside.

Today's "downsized" turbocharged engines make things worse because they produce more torque and put more stress on the transmission. It seems obvious that a little attention is needed to cope. But how much attention? Here manufacturers cannot give clear answers.

The Russian magazine "Behind the Wheel" recently asked several large manufacturers for recommendations and received different answers even for brands of the same concern (and with the same units in them). There are probably many reasons, including the fact that each brand has its own after-sales service policy. Anyway, here are the recommendations for different brands.

Types of oils or fluids (types of gearbox lubricants)

Mineral is the most popular lubricant for low-speed gearboxes. A cheap type of liquid that quickly loses its properties. It is recommended to change this fluid every 30-40 thousand km. mileage
Semi-synthetic type - suitable for high-speed gearboxes. The lubricating fluid from this group is saturated with additives to improve chemical properties and anti-corrosion properties. The recommended replacement interval is 40-50 thousand km. mileage
Synthetic type is the most expensive type of lubricant with a large number of high-quality additives. Mainly used in automatic transmissions. The recommended replacement interval for “synthetics” for manual transmission is 60-80 thousand km. mileage, for automatic transmission up to 50-60 thousand km.