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Your car's transmission - or gearbox - is a complex mechanical marvel that allows your engine to smoothly transfer power to the wheels, enabling you to accelerate, brake, and change gears effortlessly. However, this intricate system relies on a crucial lubricant - transmission fluid - to function effectively and protect itself from wear and tear.
Transmission fluid, often referred to as ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) or MTF (Manual Transmission Fluid), plays a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation and longevity of your vehicle's transmission system. It acts as a lubricant, coolant, and hydraulic fluid, facilitating the movement of gears and clutches, regulating transmission temperatures, and transmitting power from the engine to the wheels. Without it, your gearbox wouldn't work.
Three primary types of transmission fluid exist:
Checking and changing transmission fluid as per the manufacturer's recommendations is essential for maintaining optimal transmission performance and extending its lifespan. Some manufacturers say that their gearboxes are "filled for life" but nothing lasts indefinitely, and a transmission fluid change can often still be a very good idea.
Transmission fluid plays a pivotal role in ensuring your vehicle's performance and longevity. Let's break it down:
Neglecting transmission fluid replacement can lead to costly repairs and dangerous situations, so ensure you are on top of your car's maintenance schedule.
Choosing the right transmission fluid for your vehicle is crucial to maintaining optimal performance and longevity. Your vehicle's owner's manual is a good starting point to find your specific car's recommended type and grade of transmission fluid, but at Opie Oils we're oil experts and can find the right oil for your car. Get in touch – we're happy to help.
The choice of fluid depends on the type of transmission your vehicle has, there are three main types of transmission fluids:
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF): ATF is specifically designed for automatic transmissions and comes in many types, such as Dexron, Mercon, Type-F and many transmission-specific formulations. Getting the right fluid for your specific transmission is crucial.
Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF) / Manual Gearbox Oil: Used in manual transmissions. Available in different viscosities which determine its flow characteristics and resistance to shear. The viscosity grade recommended for a particular transmission depends on factors such as operating temperature range and load conditions. Using the correct viscosity grade is crucial for proper lubrication and performance.
Continously Variable Transmission Fluid (CVT Fluid): . Continuously Variable Transmissions are a type of automatic transmission that can seamlessly change through an infinite number of effective gear ratios between maximum and minimum values. CVT Fluid is designed especially for this type of transmission.
The signs that indicate the need for changing gearbox oil or automatic transmission fluid (ATF) can vary slightly between manual and automatic transmissions but often overlap. Here are some common signs to look out for:
While many of these signs apply to both manual and automatic transmissions, some symptoms may be more pronounced in one type over the other. For example, slipping gears and delayed engagement are more common in automatic transmissions, while manual transmissions may exhibit grinding or difficulty shifting when the fluid is compromised.
Ignoring transmission fluid maintenance can lead to:
To keep your car running smoothly, check your transmission fluid and change when necessary!
This guide provides general steps for changing transmission fluid, but always refer to your vehicle's specific manual for exact requirements and procedures. If you are uncomfortable with any step or unsure about the specifications of your vehicle, consult a professional mechanic.
Before you begin, ensure you have all the necessary tools and materials. You will typically need:
Transmission fluid drains easier when it's warm. You can warm the transmission by idling the vehicle for a few minutes or by driving around the block.
Elevate the front of the vehicle using a jack and secure it on axle stands or wheel ramps - ensure you use the correct jacking points. Chock the rear wheels to ensure the car doesn't move while you are working.
Slide under the vehicle and locate the transmission fluid pan on automatic transmissions or the drain plug on manual transmissions. The fluid pan is typically easy to find near the engine bay and secured with bolts.
Position your fluid drain pan under the pan or plug, then use your torque wrench or ratchet to unscrew and remove it. Allow the fluid to drain completely. If your vehicle has a transmission pan, consider unscrewing one side more than the other to direct the flow.
Once drained, remove the transmission pan completely. Check it for debris or metal shavings, which could indicate transmission damage. Clean the pan or plug it with a cleaning solvent before replacing it.
Inspect the transmission fluid filter for any damage and replace it if necessary. This is often recommended with every fluid change to ensure no contaminated material gets into the new fluid.
Once the fluid is fully drained and the filter is dealt with, replace the pan or plug. Ensure you also replace the gaskets or O-rings to prevent leaks. Apply a layer of grease to each gasket for an extra sealant.
For automatic transmissions, refill with the appropriate type and amount of new transmission fluid through the filler reservoir under the hood using a funnel. For manual transmissions, you may need to use an oil pump to refill the system through a filler hole on the top of the transmission housing.
After adding the new fluid, turn your vehicle on and let it idle. This allows the new fluid to circulate through the transmission and coat all the internal components.
After the vehicle has idled, check the transmission fluid level using the dipstick in automatic vehicles. In manual cars, you might need to check the fluid by removing the filler plug. Make sure there are no leaks under the vehicle. If there are, you may need to tighten connections or address seals and gaskets you've replaced.
Before finishing, test the transmission by driving and shifting through several gears. Ensure the vehicle shifts smoothly and correctly.
Finally, take the old transmission fluid to a recycling centre or automotive shop that accepts used fluids. Never dispose of it down drains or in a standard bin.
If you notice fluid leaks or discoloured fluid, or encounter serious issues with your transmission, it's crucial to seek professional assistance as quickly as possible. Leaks can lead to severe transmission damage, and addressing these problems early reduces the chance of further issues occurring.
If your car runs out of transmission fluid completely, you will find that it won't move, go into gear, or shift at all. This will be especially true for automatic vehicles. If you allow your vehicle to run out of transmission fluid, this will lead to extensive and costly repairs. If in doubt, check your transmission or take your vehicle to a professional who can check it for you.
When it comes to caring for your automatic transmission, you will sometimes hear the term 'transmission flush'. A transmission flush helps to ensure that there is virtually no old fluid in your transmission, torque converter, or the vehicle's cooler. It's an effective way to get rid of gunk and grime.
This process requires the use of a specialist machine that removes all the old fluid and replaces it with new fluid, sometimes including a cleaning solution to enhance the process. Carrying out a transmission flush can help prolong the life of your transmission and prevent certain issues from occurring.
As for manual gearboxes, while they don't typically require a transmission flush in the same way automatic transmissions do, they do benefit from regular fluid changes. However, the process for manual transmissions is different. Instead of a flush, manual transmissions usually undergo a fluid drain and refill procedure. This involves draining the old fluid from the transmission and refilling it with fresh fluid.
Manual transmissions have less complex hydraulic systems compared to automatic transmissions, so they don't accumulate contaminants or break down fluid as quickly. However, regular fluid changes are still important for maintaining proper lubrication and cooling within the transmission.
Your car's transmission is a vital component, and proper maintenance can significantly impact its longevity and performance. Follow these best practices to keep your transmission in top shape:
Remember, preventive maintenance extends your transmission's life and saves you from costly emergency repairs. Regular care ensures smoother shifts, better fuel efficiency, and vehicle reliability.
For gear oil for most manual transmissions, the American Petroleum Institute set the recommendations for oil manufacturers to follow, and this applies in whatever country you're motoring. Incidentally, this is where we get the "API" rating from.
These ratings generally control the viscosity parameters and additive content for all oils produced for the automotive market.
The two most common categories are:
Base stocks are important; however this is not something that all lubricant producers readily publish or would like you to know. There are three main classes:
Base stocks often determine the quality of the finished product and inevitably the price, as with everything you get what you pay for and there are many benefits of group 5 synthetic oils:
Automotive lubricants are blended with an additive package. The additives determine the characteristics of the lubricants operation and can be altered for different applications.
A common anti-wear additive used is Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate; a bit of a mouthful, so it's commonly referred to ZDDP. This type of additive literally reacts with the metal surface when the reaction energy (temperature) is high enough. This reaction layer provides a "sacrificial" surface layer that offers increased levels of protection.
Extreme Pressure Additives (EP) are used as the loading and metallic contact increase, the strength of the additive and reaction process increases. This leads to the use of a sulphur-phosphorus based extreme pressure chemical.
The EP additives form organo-metallic salts on the loaded surfaces that serve as sacrificial films to protect against aggressive surface damage. EP additives are used in oils to reduce the adhesive wear of gears and absorb the shock of the moving components making contact. These additives create a barrier or film between the moving parts, its chemistry means the oil clings on to moving parts.
Automatic transmission fluid (ATF) is a complex mixture of base oils and various additives designed to meet the specific performance requirements of automatic transmissions.
ATFs typically contains a blend of base oils derived from either mineral oil or synthetic oil sources. Synthetic base oils offer better performance in terms of temperature stability, oxidation resistance, and shear stability compared to mineral oils. The points above in the "gearbox oil technical information" hold true for ATFs too.
ATFs are blended with an additive package to enhance their performance and provide protection to transmission components. These additives include:
As you can see, there's a lot more to transmission fluid than meets the eye, and not everything in oil is oil!
ATF formulations must meet specific performance specifications set by organizations such as the American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
Additionally, gearbox manufacturers (such as Asin Warner, ZF, Honda and Getrag) specify their own standards which fluids must meet for correct operation in the gearboxes that they supply. These specifications define parameters such as viscosity, frictional properties, and compatibility with transmission materials.
ATF formulations may also need to consider environmental factors such as biodegradability and low toxicity to meet regulatory requirements and minimise environmental impact.
Manual gearbox oil / MTF and automatic transmission fluid / ATF serve similar purposes but have distinct differences due to the different requirements of manual and automatic transmissions.
At Opie Oils, we have a huge range of products available from the likes of Millers, Fuchs, Castrol, Motul and Red Line. We reckon we have the biggest choice in the UK (and probably further afield) so we're sure we'll have something suitable. A good place to start is our transmission fluid and gear oil product page.
We know that it's not always easy to know what gearbox oil to buy... should you need any advice on the correct fluid for your transmission - or if you've got something a bit special - then please give our experts a call on 01209 202 944 or drop us an email to sales@opieoils.co.uk and we'll be happy to help. Online chat is available during working hours too.