Schedule for changing the oil in the gearbox. When to change the oil in a manual transmission. How wear occurs

What guys, we talked a lot about the classic torque converter automatic transmission (automatic transmission), what. But behind these useful articles, we completely forgot about another titanium of the market, namely a manual transmission (manual transmission). Many argue that it is much better (about this). But there is also oil in it - does it need to be changed or not? Some of my readers assure - that it is filled there for the entire service life, but is it so? Let's figure it out, there will be a lot of photos and videos at the end, so be sure to read ...

Actually, you can understand the owners of the mechanics - they unanimously "shout" that this is just a "non-kill" transmission and it runs for years without repair. Oil is filled there for the entire service life and you do not need to touch it, many do not even know which oil is filled there, and they are not interested. However, after 120 - 150,000 kilometers, the manual transmission can "howl", especially in working gears, first and second. BUT WHY? Yes, everything is simple, but first, let's recall a little the structure of mechanics.

A few words about the structure

The mechanical transmission works in a completely different way than, here the torque is transmitted to "dry", that is, in the air, but not in oil. In an automatic transmission, the transmission is carried out using a torque converter, but in a variator using variable discs and a special belt.

The mechanics are distinguished by two discs - the clutch and the so-called "basket" (if this is exaggerated). By default, they are closed, but when you press the clutch pedal, a special "fork" starts to move, and you open them. Then you can change gear, then releasing the pedal, you connect the engine to the transmission and through it to the wheels.

Usually a manual transmission has a pair of shafts on which special gears are located, and they correspond to the gears. When you move the gearshift lever in one direction or another, with the help of special "forks" you transfer one or another gear into engagement, raising or lowering gears.

But it is worth noting that in mechanics there are often several gears in engagement (usually two), with the exception of the neutral gear, of course, then they are open, that is, the "box" is untied from the engine - remember this is important!

The role of oil in a mechanical box

Well, that here we come to the most interesting, namely, why is there oil at all? There is no oil pump or oil transmission here, so why?

There are several reasons for this:

• Grease , but how, where without it! The better the gears are lubricated, the smoother they engage, and therefore the wear will not be high. And the better the quality of the oil, the less wear and tear.
• Protection ... Lubrication on gears creates a protective film that reduces wear, protects against corrosion
• Removing excess heat ... Of course, the mechanics do not heat up as much as their automatic counterparts, but it should be noted that with long driving or slipping, it can also heat up significantly. The oil removes this heat and is quite effective.

Actually, these are all reasons, whatever one may say, but the lubricant significantly prolongs the life of the transmission, even not such a large volume.

V mechanical box gears, filled only from 2 to 3 liters transmission oil.

So what is great, the temperatures are not so high, the protection is there, probably, you don't need to change it! But not really.

Do I need to change or not?

Of course, there is not such a critical need to change the oil (the structure is different), however, as I think it is still necessary to change. And that's why:

• Gears from the factory are made for sure, I do not argue, especially if it is any serious brand, say SKODA or TOYOTA. But whatever one may say, during operation, after a certain long period of time, metal shavings will still form, which will float in the oil. But the manual transmission has no filters!
• The lubricant itself loses its properties after a certain service life, of course, the mileage can be huge, for example, 150 or 200,000 kilometers, but it will darken, become saturated with shavings or even carbon products (say, if it has been skidding for a long time).
• If noise or hum appears during the operation of the manual transmission, this indicates a large wear of the gears. And it appears for a reason, it is the waste shavings that slowly but surely grind the surfaces of the teeth.

• After changing the oil, after a long run, you notice that the shifting has become smoother, the gears are lubricated with new oil better, which means that the work will be smoother.

What else I want to note, guys in the manual transmission, changing the oil is cheap. It itself is inexpensive, and there is simply not enough of it, just a couple of liters! Not like in automatic transmissions, often about 8 - 10 liters.

Personally, I would do this, change it every 60 - 70,000 km (believe me, it's really cheap), then there would be no “hum” at all in 150,000! Of course, those who will now say that the oil in a mechanical box for the entire service life is right about something, you can drive like that, it won't be a mistake! But a new lubricant, I repeat once again, protects and makes the "box" work - IN A NEW way , soft, pleasant, 100%, and the protection is restored anew, the shavings go away.

A manual transmission, compared to automatic transmissions (as well as their more advanced DSG versions) and CVTs, seems almost eternal. However, it also needs maintenance. About when to change the oil in a manual transmission - read below.

Regulations and compliance

The manufacturer's recommended transmission oil change intervals in all units (not only manual transmissions) are usually prescribed in the "Maintenance" or "Transmission" section of the operating instructions. The keyword here is “featured”. Because every car is operated in different conditions. And the aging rate of the oil, the intensity of wear of the gearbox parts, as well as the initial quality of the transmission lubrication are individual factors in each case.

Should the manual transmission oil be changed according to the manufacturer's instructions, or are there any other standards? In the event that the following conditions are met, a planned replacement is sufficient.

1. The vehicle is operated under normal conditions. This concept means a mixed driving cycle (approximately the same mileage on the highway and in the city) without intense and prolonged overloads, such as driving close to maximum speed or systematic towing of loaded trailers.
2. There is no leakage through the pallet gasket (if any), the seals of the axle shaft (cardan flange) or the input shaft.
3. Normal operation of the gearbox, easy shifting of the lever, no hum or other extraneous noise.

If all three conditions are met, then the oil must be changed according to the manufacturer's instructions. Replacement intervals are usually from 120 to 250 thousand kilometers, depending on the car model and the oil used. In some manual transmissions, oil is filled for the entire service life.

Cases when the oil should be changed regardless of mileage

There are practically no ideal operating conditions for a car. There are always some deviations from the standards prescribed by the manufacturer. For example, a long trip at maximum speed due to a rush, or a long towing of another, often heavy car. All this affects the service life of the gear oil.

Let us consider several common situations and characteristic signs in which it is necessary to replace the transmission oil in a manual transmission ahead of schedule, before the onset of the scheduled run.

1. Buying a used car with solid mileage. If you don’t know the previous owner well and there is a possibility that he didn’t change the oil on time - we merge the working off from the manual transmission and fill in with fresh lubricant. The procedure is relatively inexpensive, but it will ensure that the box is serviced.
2. Leaks through oil seals. Constant topping up of oil in this case is not the best the best way... Ideally, oil seals will need to be replaced. But if this is not possible, change the oil no later than the regulations require. And better - more often. Leakage through seals usually does not imply leaching of wear debris from the box. And if we restrict ourselves to one topping up, small chips and heavy oily fractions, oxide products, which will later grow into sludge deposits, will accumulate in the box. Also pay particular attention to the lubrication condition after driving through deep puddles and wet weather. There are cases when, after a similar ride, water seeped into the box through the same leaking oil seals. And driving on grease enriched with water will lead to corrosion of manual transmission parts and accelerated wear of gears and bearings.

1. Tight shifting of the lever. Aging of the lubricant is a common cause. This phenomenon is often observed on domestic cars closer to the replacement date. Has the lever become more stubborn? Do not rush to sound the alarm. First, just change the oil. In more than half of the cases, after renewing the transmission lubricant, the problem of the tight lever either disappears altogether, or is partially eliminated.
2. Cheaper and lower quality oil has been filled in. Here, too, reduce mileage between replacements by 30-50%.
3. The car drives in dusty conditions or at extreme temperatures. Under these conditions, the oil life is reduced. Therefore, it is desirable to change it 2 times more often.
4. Any repair of the oil drain box. In this case, it is not rational to save on oil. In addition, you will save yourself for a long time from the need for a separate replacement.

In other cases, adhere to the scheduled time frame.

With the advent of the car, a person acquires not only comfort, but also a new range of responsibilities. Indeed, in order for the car to break down less and serve for a long time, the owner must carry out maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer's regulations.

Cars are becoming more whimsical every year. To the extent that if maintenance is not performed on time, the transport unit may break down. If drivers are well aware of changing the engine oil and filters, then when asked, when to change the oil in a manual transmission not everyone will give the answer. Although the gearbox is the second most important part in the performance of the car.

The first thing I want to say is that how many people - so many opinions. If you ask a question about changing the oil to a driver with 30 years of experience, who is used to driving domestic cars, he will confidently declare that the oil in the box is filled for the entire service life of the car. At the plant, the liquid is filled with original production and of good quality, they say, this makes it eternal. Some conservative drivers are guided by these thoughts.

A modern driver will tell you that it is imperative to change the oil. Indeed, during the operation of a car, the liquid loses its physical qualities and does not fulfill its functions by 100%. We need to understand this issue.

To change or not to change the oil in the manual transmission?

The main functions of the oil in the operation of the gearbox are as follows:

• lubrication of internal parts. Gear shifting occurs when the gears engage. Thanks to the oil in good condition, the grip is smooth. Poor quality fluid will wear out the gears faster. friction between parts increases;
• protects internal parts from corrosion;
• the oil washes away the chips that appear during the operation of the manual transmission.
• the oil helps to cool the parts.

Having learned such minimal information, it becomes clear that the oil of good quality and in good condition significantly increases the life of the gearbox. The next question is how long it takes for transmission oil to deteriorate in useful qualities.

When a car is released, the manufacturer makes maintenance requirements for each model. This data can be found either in the car book or in automotive program... These sources contain information that will explain the life of the oil.

Now technical documentation for any brand of car can be easily found on the Internet. The book will indicate the exact mileage or service life of the car, at which it is required to update the oil in the gearbox.

Frequency regulation Maintenance from the manual Hyundai operation Solaris 2013 release

There is an average value for all cars, at which it is necessary to perform a routine replacement. If we talk about the mileage, then this is about 10 0,000 km... If about time, then after 5 years of oil exploitation even if the car has not driven 100,000 km. Those. depending on what comes first.

Often at domestic cars issued before 2000, according to the documentation, the period is much higher, up to 200,000 km, and the service life does not matter. And here modern cars, both foreign and most domestic production, have the same average value. Why is that? Because such a long declared mileage is indicated for the service life of the entire vehicle. That is, in fact, after such a run, the car should simply be disposed of and buy a new one. However, naturally, no one does this - at least they are trying to resell it. Accordingly, in order for the car to remain on the move and further, the oil should be changed more often than once every 150-200 thousand km.

How often to change the oil in the manual transmission?

If the car is operated in difficult conditions, the oil must be changed more often - approximately every 50-60 thousand km.

The exact numbers can be found in the vehicle manual.

There are situations when an oil change must be carried out outside of routine maintenance. Such situations are shown in the table.

Description of the situation	Reason for replacement
Buying a used car	It is worth changing the oil, because there is no certainty that the oil was changed according to the regulations, even if the previous owner claims that everything was done on time.
Replacing the gearbox	It is worth pouring new oil into the new manual transmission. However, in a situation where the oil in the box was changed according to the regulations, and after a short time it was decided to supply new box gears, unrelated to the failure of the old gearbox, then you can reuse the oil.
Manual transmission repair	One of the reasons for the failure of the box is bad oil, so only new oil should be used after repair.
Jerks or noise when shifting gears	The first and less costly way to save the manual transmission is to change the fluid. If you contact on time, then there is a high probability that the work will help get rid of the malfunction.

It happens that the previously poured liquid in the manual transmission may not be of the best quality and its properties will not be enough for 100,000 km. The oil level in the manual transmission, for some reason, may become below the permissible level. Insufficient transmission oil can damage the transmission. That's why it is recommended to check its level every 10,000 - 15,000 km.

Each car brand has its own way of checking the oil level and its condition. But, as a rule, it is necessary to unscrew the plug in the sump and drain some of the oil. The condition is determined by the color of the liquid and the consistency, the blacker the oil, the worse it is.

Left - new oil, right - old

To check the level in the checkpoint, you need to install the car on the most even pit or lift. Leave it on for a while to cool those liquids. If your car model has a probe, then use it, if there is no probe, then you need to find the car below filler plug(just the filler, it is on the side! Not to be confused with the drain, which is directed downward), by unscrewing which, you can check the level of the transmission oil - the fluid should be at the level of the lower thread of the control hole.

If the oil in the manual transmission is at the level of the lower thread, then everything is fine, if it is lower, you need to top up

If there is less oil or it is not visible at all visually, then it is imperative to add to the desired level using a syringe. In this case, it is worth inspecting the crankcase for signs of leakage of sealing elements (oil seals, washers). If any details are suspicious, then be sure to replace them. When adding oil, it is easy to determine the correct level. Oil will begin to flow out of the inspection hole. After the procedure, be sure to wipe the crankcase dry.

Add oil through the same filler plug using a syringe

The first telltale sign of a health check transmission fluid is the appearance of extraneous noise during the operation of the machine, as well as the appearance of jerks, especially when changing gears. Often, the first thing that is recommended is to update the manual transmission oil. After replacement, with a high probability, the causes of the malfunction will be eliminated, and gear shifting will be smooth and smooth.

The second factor in checking the condition of the transmission oil is aggressive driving, with frequent slippage. During this operation, the gearbox parts are constantly heated due to high temperatures. In this mode, the oil deteriorates faster, the additives lose their useful properties and the liquid begins to foam. Because of this, the lubricating and heat-dissipating properties of the oil deteriorate. If the oil is not changed in time, the gearbox will fail. And the repair of this part is expensive.

Manual Transmission

As soon as the driver notices any change in gear shifting, the first thing to do is check the condition of the manual transmission oil.

You cannot buy the first gear oil that comes along and put it in a car. Each brand and model of machine has a specific gear oil specification. This information is contained in the technical documentation.

For the correct selection, it is worth contacting professionals who can say with 100% certainty which gear oil is needed for your car. But if this is not possible, there are universal methods for selecting oil.

SAE classification can be used, i.e. by oil viscosity. For winter season, depending on the temperature, oils of the following viscosity are used:

Suitable for summer - 80W, 85W, 90W, 110W, 140W.

For example, in the instruction manual Kia spectra recommended for manual transmission SAE oil 75W-90

If you know what kind of gear oil is needed for a car, then it will not be difficult to acquire it. Each package indicates which specifications the oil meets. When buying, preference should be given original oils recommended by the manufacturers. Their price is higher, but there is also confidence that the liquids will be of good quality.

There are also proven analogue brands of gear oils on the market that have proven themselves well:

• The Febi brand is perfect for German cars (Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda).

• The Mobil trademark is a universal manufacturer, suitable for various automotive industries.

• The trade mark "Liqui Moly" is used for the cars of the French car industry.

• Trade mark "ELF". Meets the requirements of the French car industry, especially Renault.

However, recently, there are frequent cases when transmission oil is not spilled in the packaging of a renowned company. better quality... Therefore, when buying, you should definitely check the integrity of the packaging and excise tax. Give preference to trusted stores. It is worth remembering that a good product should not be suspiciously low.

On any car, it is necessary to carry out work on changing the gearbox oil. If possible, it is recommended to entrust the work of changing the transmission oil to professionals. The advantage of this option is that the driver does not need to pick up oil and look for tools to replace it. They will do everything for him. When carrying out work, it is important to observe the technology and set the correct oil level.

However, the procedure itself is not complicated. If the driver has a little experience and understanding of the structure of the car, then you can make a replacement yourself. Before starting work, you need to prepare a minimum set of tools:

• keys for unscrewing;
• container for draining oil;
• syringe.

Before you start changing the oil in the gearbox, you need to warm it up a little. It is enough to drive 5-8 km. This is necessary so that the heated oil, due to the change in density, will be convenient to drain. Now you can start directly to work. The oil change process can be described in the following steps:

1. Place the car on a pit or lift. The drain and filler openings are located on the bottom of the machine.
   
2. Unscrew the oil filler cap. Thus, we will get rid of the rarefied air, and the liquid will drain faster. Place a previously prepared container under the car (you can use a 5-liter bottle) and unscrew the drain plug. It is imperative to check the condition of the sealing ring of the plug, replace if necessary.

   

   Draining the oil from the manual transmission drain hole

3. The liquid should drain into a container.
   
4. The next step is to screw the drain plug back on.
   
5. In order to fill the oil, you must use a special syringe. The crankcase is filled with oil through the oil filler neck. When the oil is ready to overflow from the filler hole, you need to stop. It is advisable not to overflow the required oil level, in order to avoid smudges on the oil seal. If this happens, you need to wipe everything thoroughly. When finished, screw on the filler cap.
   

Following the steps described above, changing the transmission oil should not cause any difficulties.

For an illustration of how to change the oil in a manual transmission, see the video:

Every driver should know that changing the oil in the gearbox must be carried out in accordance with routine maintenance. This part in the car requires the same attention as the engine. Changing the transmission oil must not be neglected.

It is also recommended to check the condition and level of the oil during operation. Preferably every 10,000 - 15,000 km. Thanks to this, it is possible to significantly increase the service life of the manual transmission and avoid costly repairs. And if they began to notice extraneous sounds and jerks, you should immediately contact the service. With immediate diagnosis, you can get off, as they say, with a slight fright.

A car with a manual transmission is very popular, especially among experienced drivers and fans of aggressive driving. Greater reliability of the box and ease of maintenance, cheap repair, full control over the car is one of the advantages of a manual transmission.

To ensure its long-term operation, it is necessary to regularly check the fluid level in the manual transmission and replace it in a timely manner, selecting the oil that meets the operating conditions.

Do I need to change the oil in the manual transmission

The manual transmission is an important and complex vehicle unit that occasionally needs maintenance to ensure normal operation and long-term operation without repair.

Reasons why it is necessary to change the oil in a mechanical box:

• after a sufficiently long period of time, chips are formed, and a filter is not provided in the manual transmission;
• over time, due to thermal and mechanical influences, the transmission fluid loses its useful properties (foams, viscosity changes, lubrication efficiency decreases, additives precipitate);
• chips in oil and / or a decrease in useful properties lead to increased wear of parts and premature repairs.

Classification of gear oils

Transmission oil – lubricating fluid for gearboxes, created from petroleum products or synthesized chemicals with the addition of special functional additives (EP, anti-corrosion and anti-wear), which protects parts from wear and overheating.

The principle of operation of transmission fluid is based on the creation of a special film that protects parts, covering them, and protects complex operating parameters from harmful factors.

Classification of oils by base and viscosity:

• mineral;
• semi-synthetic;
• synthetic.

To operate a car with a manual transmission in summer or in climatic conditions with positive temperatures most of the time (negative temperatures are either absent, or occasionally drop slightly below zero), you can use mineral oil.

For winter time (when the thermometer drops below -10) or with significant temperature changes (from very low to very high), it is necessary to use a synthetic or semi-synthetic transmission oil.

A versatile and inexpensive option is a semi-synthetic fluid.

Mineral water

Mineral oil (85W-90) is the cheapest transmission fluid formulated from refined petroleum products with the addition of sulfur-based additives.

Such oil creates a dense and durable film on parts regardless of operating conditions; in cars with significant mileage, it seals collapsing oil seals and gaskets, protecting them from leakage.

Mineral transmission fluid has less fluidity, higher density and thickens at low temperatures, which leads to increased gasoline consumption and increased gearbox wear until the fluid warms up in the manual transmission.

It tends to oxidize and requires more frequent replacement due to reduced performance.

Mainly used in vehicles over 10-15 years old. It is an environmentally friendly product that affects the price, making it attractive and affordable.

Semisynthetics

Semi-synthetic transmission oil (80W-90) is created on the basis of petroleum products with the addition of additives and is the "golden mean" between cheap mineral and expensive synthetic, including the ideal combination of quality and price.

The characteristics of such an oil are close to those of synthetics at a more affordable price.

Synthetics

Synthetic transmission fluids (75W-80, 75W-90) are obtained by synthesizing chemicals, they are more fluid and less dependent on temperature range environment, making them all-season.

This product has excellent protective and detergent properties, enhanced by additional additives.

In addition to the high cost, the disadvantages of this type of oil include the likelihood of leakage through oil seals and gaskets in manual transmissions with significant mileage. Synthetic fluid changes through more mileage, than semisynthetics, and even more so mineral water.

Synthetics are the most acceptable option for a temperate climate, allowing you to operate a car with a manual transmission all year round without the risk of increased wear or seasonal replacement liquids in the box. Ideal for new vehicles.

Frequency of oil change in manual transmission

Automobile manufacturers and official service stations unanimously approve of the need for more frequent fluid replacement in manual transmissions under severe operating conditions of the machine.

In Russia, the operating modes of the car and the checkpoint are mainly heavy.

Heavy duty:

• transportation of significant weight (heavy loads or a large number of people);
• poor quality, broken road surface;
• towing vehicles;
• significant temperature differences in the environment (too low or too high);
• city ​​traffic (traffic jams, constant stops);
• wheel slip when driving on mud, clay, ice;
• aggressive driving style (quick starts, high revs, abrupt and fast gear changes).

The volume of oil for a manual transmission is small compared to an automatic transmission, and for replacement, on average, less than 3.5 liters are needed, therefore, in order to extend the resource of the box, it is not so difficult to replace fluids in a manual transmission more often.

The cost of transmission fluids is much lower than the repair of such a complex unit, therefore it is better to prevent repairs by regularly updating the oil in the manual transmission.

It is necessary to check the fluid level regularly (every 10 thousand km), periodically look under the bottom to control the appearance of oil stains. When they appear, it is necessary to check the manual transmission oil seals, the oil filler neck gasket for leaks.

• mineral water, it is worth replacing no later than after 35-40 thousand km.
• semi-synthetics, should be changed every 45-50 thousand km.
• synthetics, it is advisable to replace it after 65-70 thousand km.

With a neat, calm driving style under normal conditions, the fluid in the box can be replaced by 20-30 thousand km. later, but no more than 100 thousand km. or 6 years (whichever comes first).

How to change the oil in a manual transmission

Changing the fluid in the manual transmission is a simple procedure, quite doable on your own.

For self replacement transmission fluid in the manual transmission will require a lift or a viewing pit, in extreme cases, an overpass.

For some vehicles with high ground clearance, the replacement can be done on a flat surface by simply climbing under the vehicle.

From tools and materials you will need:

• container for draining the waste liquid;
• large syringe;
• funnel;
• wrenches or ratchet heads for the diameter of the drain and oil filler plugs, engine protection bolts or manual transmission;
• O-ring for the oil filler neck (if the vehicle significant mileage or operation was carried out in difficult conditions);
• transmission fluid in a volume not less than that specified by the manufacturer.

The main stages of replacement working fluid in manual transmission:

1) You need to drive 10-20 kilometers to warm up the liquid in the box. After warming up, it will become more liquid, it will merge easier and faster.

2) Place the car on a lift or a viewing hole, fix it hand brake or anti-rollback devices. The fluid change must be started no later than 10 minutes after the engine is turned off to maintain a more fluid texture of the oil.

3) If it interferes, remove the engine / gearbox protection. Place a container for waste liquid under the drain hole. Unscrew the oil filler plug or pull out the dipstick (whichever is present) to facilitate draining. Check the condition of the gasket and replace if necessary.

4) Unscrew the drain plug on the box crankcase and drain the oil into a container. The fluid must be transparent and free of impurities, otherwise manual transmission diagnostics are needed to find out the reasons (increased wear, overheating, etc.). After the liquid stops dripping from the drain hole, it is necessary to tighten the plug.

5) If there is a dipstick, liquid is poured through the funnel into the oil filler neck. The oil level should be controlled using a dipstick (between min or max, or in the middle between other labels).

With other manual transmission designs, a large syringe is poured into the mouth of Jeanne with a large syringe, making sure that its level is not higher than the lower edge. Stop pouring liquid when it starts dripping.

6) Reinsert the dipstick or screw on the oil filler cap. Install the protection in place. Start the car and drive a certain number of kilometers in different gears to fill the mechanisms and distribute fluid through the manual transmission.

7) Check the level of the working fluid in the manual transmission, top up if necessary.

The manual transmission is a reliable unit, despite the complexity of the device. It is possible to significantly extend its service life by timely replacement of the gear oil suitable for the operating conditions with control over its color and the presence of inclusions.

It is necessary to regularly check the fluid level in the manual transmission, since the operation of the unit with an insufficient level of transmission oil will significantly shorten the operating period and bring the gearbox repair closer.

When to change the oil in the automatic transmission, after how many kilometers will the oil in the automatic transmission turn into a liquid that has nothing to do with the lubrication of the gearbox? Or oil is poured into an automatic transmission "for the entire service life", as it was customary to write in some operating instructions, and nothing needs to be changed at all? Is it possible to change the oil yourself or is it necessary to contact specialized services? All these questions worry motorists, especially since automatic boxes transmissions are becoming more widespread.

Why are there discrepancies?

Automatic transmissions began to appear en masse in the Russian automotive market relatively recently, therefore significant experience in operating such gearboxes has not yet been gained... In addition, different designs of gearboxes require different oils and, which makes even more confusion in the views of car owners about the procedures for changing oil in automatic transmissions. And finally, technological progress has been going on so fast lately that recommendations that worked perfectly five years ago may now turn out to be irrelevant and even harmful.

In addition, car manufacturers are causing confusion. Many of them claim that the oil is filled “for the entire life of the car”, but at the same time they diligently keep silent about how much this “entire service life” is. In fact, it turns out that this is no more than 150,000 kilometers, that is, a maximum of 5-7 years from the date of car production. But in fact, a car in today's realities on average lasts much longer, although it rarely spends its entire "service life" in the same hands. the main problem: the first owner has nothing to change the oil in the gearbox for, because its 3-5 years old, a modern automatic machine is guaranteed to "run off" with what is flooded at the factory, and hardly anyone wants to overpay for an expensive replacement procedure. Moreover, if there is no corresponding recommendation from the dealer or manufacturer. True, if the operating conditions were difficult, the car was "driven into the tail and into the mane", then the wear of such a box may already be excessive and irreversible, and the second or even the third car buyer will have to deal with this. secondary market, but buyers of "salon" cars, as a rule, do not care.

When to change?

Most independent auto experts agree that it is necessary to change the fluid in the "automatic machine" if you are planning a long and trouble-free operation of the car with automatic transmission... But the question remains - how often is an automatic transmission oil change required? At the same time, replacement intervals are called different - from 60 to 90 thousand kilometers during normal operation of the car and from 30 to 50 - when driving in the so-called "difficult conditions" - with constant towing of trailers, in dead city traffic jams, with intensive acceleration and braking, dirt roads, in hot or very cold climates, etc. This opinion is confirmed, although not always directly, by the gearbox manufacturers themselves. The fact is that 3-4 companies specializing in the production of transmissions supply most of the gearbox models. The most famous of them are ZF, Aisin and Jatco... Often, in order to obtain more detailed information on your automatic machine, it makes sense to find out what kind of gearbox you have and try to find a manual for the repair, maintenance and operation of the unit from the gearbox manufacturer, and not from the factory that produced the car. Perhaps you will learn a lot more about your box and your understanding of the issue will be deeper. Fortunately, the Internet allows such things.

What else experts agree on is that it is possible to change Dextron or ATF only if the machine works normally, without failures, pokes, dips, etc., and the liquid itself is not "burnt", not cloudy and has not changed its original Colour . If at least one of these signs is present, then any manipulations, except overhaul machine, can only hasten the inevitable end of the box, and not correct the situation. The fact is that the particles that settle in the oil as a result of wear of the automatic transmission gradually change its viscosity, make the oil thicker, which for some time can compensate for the wear of the actual parts of the automatic transmission, and even with a very unimportant looking oil, the box continues to work more or less normally Alas, miracles do not happen: removing a significant amount of old oil together with these particles can instantly bring the box into a semi-working state, or even completely "sentence" the unit completely and immobilize the entire car.