The need for periodic oil changes automatic transmission The transmission of a car is often ignored, especially in those regions where automatic transmissions are not very common. Most people know that engine oil needs to be changed regularly. But when it comes to the transmission, they may not interfere with its operation until problems begin.

In other words, before it's too late.

The truth is, there are many problems that cannot be prevented by simply changing the automatic transmission oil. But given the cost of repairing (or worse, replacing) an automatic transmission, it's not worth increasing the likelihood of problems that an oil change could prevent.

Before we get into the question of when to change your automatic transmission oil, let's look at why you should do it.

Why is it necessary to maintain a certain oil change interval?

Automatic transmissions are very complex mechanisms. A manual transmission is a simpler design and most problems in them arise as a result of erroneous actions by the driver. In the case of an automatic transmission, you cannot even drive it “wrongly”. Well, only if you try really hard.

There are many more processes going on inside the automatic transmission, so many more problems may appear, no matter how you drive.

In this case, gear oil plays a huge role. Automatic transmission oil is more than just a lubricant that ensures moving parts operate properly. The oil is also responsible for powering the internal hydraulics of the transmission and cooling its components. In short, oil gets into every part of the transmission.

Hydraulic system

The secret of automatic transmission operation lies mainly in the use of hydraulics. You can write a lot about this, but we will mention only a few points. In simple terms, fluid under pressure moves components in the transmission. This is achieved by directing the oil flow through special channels inside the transmission. As the oil circulates, it passes through filters, metering valves, and many small holes. Not to mention a few major components like the torque converter and oil cooler.

How does understanding this affect the frequency of oil changes in an automatic transmission?

Foreign particles and metal dust

The peculiarity of the clutch is that it wears out over time. During operation, metal residues and dirt enter the transmission oil. Foreign particles also enter the oil as a result of wear of other moving components, such as bearings. All this “good” gradually gets into the oil. And this is a normal process.

Lock

You've probably already formed a picture in your head. Fluid filled with metal shavings and dirt passes through narrow channels, filters and openings - a perfect recipe for disaster. As debris accumulates, it will begin to interfere with the operation of some parts of the automatic transmission. This can lead to clogged valves, resulting in slow or harsh gear changes. Sometimes valves can become blocked altogether, causing one or more gears to be lost.

But the worst case scenario is significant blocking of the main gearbox filter. The purpose of the filter is to prevent contaminated oil from recirculating through the transmission. But this also means that all liquid passes through it. If all the fluid needed to power the transmission passes through the filter, which is gradually blocked... You understand how it will end.

Chain reaction

A blocked filter will only cause loss of traction in rare cases. But, the amount of garbage will gradually increase. Partial blocking of the filter will lead to partial oil starvation of the automatic transmission. And this is much worse than complete starvation.

The fact that transmission oil powers everything means that a transmission that is starved of oil is not capable of damaging itself. A transmission that receives too little fluid may only have partial power to use the clutches. If the clutch is not applied properly, it slips more than it should, causing even more debris to enter the fluid. The filter will become clogged faster, resulting in loss of drive.

The difference is that sudden filter blocking can be eliminated by replacing it and flushing the automatic transmission. If the problem develops gradually, as described in the previous paragraph, the transmission in most cases requires overhaul. And this is an expensive pleasure, to put it mildly.

Details about the automatic transmission oil change interval

We hope that the previous section has convinced you of the need for regular oil changes. automatic transmission car. What should this interval be? The question is not easy. There is a huge variety of automatic transmissions, and they all have different service intervals.

General principles

The first thing you need to take into account is that changing the oil in an automatic transmission will never be superfluous. You will not damage the transmission by performing this procedure more often than the manufacturer recommends. One of the interval options for changing transmission oil is about 50,000 km. If you are unable to find an official recommendation on this issue for your automatic transmission, we advise you to stick to this option.

Other typical service intervals are 100,000 km and 160,000 km. Some manufacturers claim that their development can easily cover even more than 160 thousand km without maintenance. We do not recommend trusting these words. Please note the information in the next section.

"Eternal" oil

Some transmissions, especially those from BMW, are advertised as having a sealed case and running on “perpetual” oil. This means you don't have to open up the transmission and it won't need a fluid change. We don’t want to repeat ourselves, but we advise you to ignore such a statement. There is a high probability that the statement about the “eternal” fluid will be formally true for the sole reason that the mechanical part of the automatic transmission will fail before the end of the normal service life of the oil.

Probably, marketers are counting on the fact that at the moment of transmission failure good condition The oil should slightly lift your mood.

Change the oil anyway

As mentioned above, too frequent replacement oil is not a problem. If you do not take into account the cost of this service, of course. In any case, the gearbox will thank you. An additional bonus to regularly changing transmission oil is the ability to obtain accurate information about the condition of the automatic transmission. For example, if the oil turns black and smells burnt, this is a sign of an internal problem. This is an elementary way to check the condition of the box, but this can only be done after receiving an oil sample.

Have you already read the article about 5 popular ones? Be sure to check it out, it will be interesting!

This also gives you or a service technician the opportunity to detect any oil leaks from the gearbox. Often the leaks are minimal and not so easy to notice since they do not leave puddles on the garage floor or asphalt. Of course, the oil level in the automatic transmission can be easily checked using a dipstick. But not all transmissions have it.

If your car is equipped with an automatic transmission with a dipstick, we recommend checking the oil level in the transmission at least at the same frequency as the oil level. motor oil.

It never hurts to detect a problem in the operation of an automatic transmission at an early stage of its development.

When to change the oil gearbox? Expert advice

If everything is clear with the motor lubricating fluid, then the question of when to change the oil in the gearbox and whether it needs to be done at all is still open for many motorists. It seems that everything is sealed there, no contaminants get inside, so there seems to be no need for replacement. Moreover, some manufacturers claim that the oil they fill will be sufficient for the entire life of the vehicle.

So should you change the oil in the gearbox or drive and not worry about it?

Why is replacement needed?

Both motor and transmission oils contain a base and additives. When to change the coolant Daewoo car Nexia? How to replace antifreeze with your own hands? Based on this, their properties are revealed, and additives also improve performance by performing various functions.

In addition to lubricating transmission oils perform another important task: they remove heat from the gears that are in mesh.

On average, the temperature in the gearbox is kept at one hundred and fifty degrees, and in the gear itself reaches three hundred. With such high loads The lubricant naturally begins to foam and lose its beneficial qualities. In automatic transmissions, it also plays the role of a working fluid, transmitting torque from the motor to the gears.

If it comes to foamy lubricant, the car simply will not be able to drive. In this case, even special radiators designed to cool liquids will not help. However, the situation is saved by special additives included in the oil.

When to change the gearbox oil

So, replacement may be required precisely because additives lose their functionality over time. They cease to reliably protect rubbing parts, which is why the latter are subject to rapid wear. Home articles practice how often you need to change the engine oil. Don't change the oil. Foamed oil can cause the final drive to seize.

As a result, the gears begin to hum. And after fifty kilometers the process of their destruction will begin. Do I need to change the oil in an automatic transmission? It will all end with the box jamming and driving will be impossible. This is typical for the anterior and all-wheel drive. For rear wheel drive vehicles with manual transmission, the oil does not experience such strong temperature loads. Therefore, it can be used up to twenty thousand kilometers longer than with an automatic transmission. Usually when the time comes when change oil in the gearbox is necessary, including the period of changing the oil in the gearbox. The procedure is carried out in order to remove dirt and chips released during the operation of the gears, which come out along with the lubricant.

To ensure that the mechanism wears out less and lasts longer, manufacturers usually indicate a period after How many change the oil in gearbox, equal to fifty to sixty thousand mileage, and with extreme conditions exploitation is even less - from thirty to forty thousand.

Do I need to change the oil in a manual transmission? When to change the oil in a manual transmission. Just something complicated

Let's think about it - is it worth it at all? change oil in mechanics (mechanical box gears)? Or is it still this.

If necessary change manual transmission oil

However, there are a number of models in which transmission lubricant is filled for the entire period of operation. In such cases, there is not even a drain plug or dipstick for checking the level.

CVT automatic

It’s worth mentioning separately about automatic transmissions, namely CVT varieties. To understand when to change the oil in an automatic transmission of this type, you need to study their operating principle. The fact is that they are designed differently from a conventional transmission, although they belong to the automatic class. VAZ 2110; VAZ 2112; how many liters of oil are in a box of a VAZ 2109, what is the volume in the box and how much. Their operating mode is more stringent, so special lubricant is required for such boxes. It is recommended to change it once every fifty thousand kilometers, and if the driving is usually intense, then once every thirty thousand. The frequency of such replacement must be strictly followed, since under such conditions additives lose their properties much faster.

As for whether to rinse the unit when replacing it or not, just as in the case of motor oil, experts do not have a consensus. I just want to say that if you do this, it’s best to use the same oil, which will be uploaded later. Such flushing will be the key to stable and long-term operation of the transmission in the future.

Examination

The oil level in a manual transmission is usually checked after the car has been idle overnight. Good afternoon everyone, here this morning on TV one expert said that the oil on the manual gearbox needs to be changed after a maximum of 45 thousand kilometers. The longer it sits with the engine turned off, the more accurate the results will be in order to understand when to change the oil in the gearbox.

To do this, wipe the crankcase where the speedometer drive is located. The bolt is turned out, the fasteners are removed, and then the assembly is removed. The oil in the box needs to be changed, I would even say it is absolutely necessary. Of course, the transmission does not have such high temperatures as the engine, so no. It is, of course, better to pour the bolt itself with Vedashka and be careful not to rip off the head.

The check is carried out by the speedometer drive gear. A slight excess of the level is acceptable. But there should be no shortage of it under any circumstances.

Replacement

If the recommended mileage has been completed, and the time has come to change the oil in an automatic or manual transmission, and also if, during the check, you come to the conclusion that this needs to be done urgently, the process begins with a preheated engine.

Draining is done by unscrewing the plug located at the base of the crankcase. When to change antifreeze in a car. It is pre-wiped and the container is placed. After draining, the thread is wiped, a new washer is put on, and the plug is attached in place.

It should be noted that it is not possible to completely drain the oil from an automatic transmission. However, it will be enough to remove the abrasive from the inside.

What kind of oil to fill

It is important not only to know how often change oil in the gearbox and follow this, but also use exactly the lubricant that is suitable for your car. You must purchase a fluid that is prescribed by the car manufacturer. However, if the instruction manual has not been preserved, then general recommendations are followed.

Oils, both motor and transmission, are mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic.

Mineral ones are usually used only in certain trucks and domestic rear-wheel drive cars.

Semi-synthetics are also recommended for our cars and those foreign cars that operate at low speeds. It is inexpensive and has best characteristics compared to mineral water.

Synthetic oils are the most expensive, but they are also equipped with the best package of various additives, the properties of which last much longer. Therefore, the period after How many change the oil in the gearbox; when using synthetics, it will increase.

For excellent transmission performance, it is better, of course, not to spare money on oil and use synthetics. ATF (automatic transmission oil) can often be used for manual transmissions: it has better characteristics compared to those oils recommended for manual transmissions.

The need to change the oil in a manual transmission is one of the most controversial topics of discussion among car enthusiasts. There are several diametrically opposed opinions about when to change the oil in mechanical box gears and how to do it correctly. To make the right decision, you need to understand what function this lubricant, and how its replacement affects the performance and service life of the transmission. We will talk about this topic, useful for all drivers, in the article.

Why change the gearbox oil?

Experts identify three main functions of oil in a manual transmission.

1. Lubricating. Since the gears of the gearbox are constantly interlocked with each other, a means is needed to reduce their friction. Oil makes the grip smoother and parts wear out more slowly. Oil removes metal shavings from the rubbing elements, which can act as an abrasive on the metal.
2. Protective. Transmission oil forms a kind of protective layer that protects parts from corrosion and oxidation. The unit serves for a long time and trouble-free.
3. Cooling. While the car is moving, the temperature at the point where the gears engage reaches 250 degrees Celsius. The oil does not heat above 150 ℃, which means the parts give off excess heat to it.

Changing the oil in a manual transmission is often not regulated by the manufacturer, however, constant use of the car leads to wear and tear of even the most durable parts of the car, regardless of the brand. At 150-250,000 kilometers, the smallest particles of exfoliated metal fill the liquid, thus changing physical properties oil, its thermal conductivity increases. The design of the “mechanics” does not provide for the presence of a special filter, which means that the “garbage” will be in constant motion inside the box.

The result of constant heating of the oil may be the formation of foam inside the assembly. A foamed oil mixture mixed with wear products loses its lubricating and protective properties, which is especially dangerous for an automatic transmission. At the moment of critical contamination of the oil in the automatic transmission, the torque from the engine simply stops being transmitted, which makes it impossible for the car to move. The answer to the question of whether it is necessary to change the oil in the gearbox is quite obvious in this case.

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 class vehicle.

Types of oils and features of their use

All gear oils differ in the type of base. Inexpensive mineral oils today they are almost never produced and are mostly used in cars with rear wheel drive. 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 front wheel drive cars economy class. 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.

1. We warm up the oil by driving for ten minutes. Placing the car on a specially equipped pit with the wheels secured using “shoes”;
2. Unscrew the oil filler plug;
3. Remove the drain plug and drain the oil into a container;
4. 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 sure about own strength, 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!

Despite the fact that I already have many articles about why it can (in general, I have a lot of articles on this topic), many of my friends, and my readers, still ask me the question - “Serge, is it necessary at all?” change the lubricant and after what mileage should this be done?” Others claim that the dealer told them that their gearbox is completely maintenance-free, that is, drive it for the entire service life and don’t worry. As usual, we’ll sort everything out on the shelves, and there will also be a detailed video. After this information, I think everything will fit into your head...

First, I want to tell all my meticulous readers that the automatic transmission is filled with . I already wrote what it is. BUT, in fact, this is an oil of certain characteristics; it should be noted that this is a fairly technologically advanced liquid (if I may say so).

Oil is everything to us

Now I won’t go into detail about how an automatic transmission works, it’s complicated, and I’ve done it many times already. I just want to remind you of the role of this oil (or ATF fluid) in the entire structure.

To put it in simple words, the transmission (from the engine to the gearbox and then to the wheels) initially occurs without any rigid engagement in the automatic transmission (of course on high speed blocking may occur, but initially there is none). And it is transmitted by a torque converter, a certain design in which there are two blades, one is attached to the engine, and the other to the automatic transmission, and all this is filled with ATF fluid. The one on the engine puts pressure on the second blade, thus transmitting the torque to the transmission. If you imagine this simply, imagine two fans with blades directed at each other; if you turn on one and it starts working, the second one will automatically start rotating.

BUT the most important thing is that the oil inside the torque converter is the working fluid; it is the one that is pumped from one blade to the other!

At the same time, it gets very hot; for example, if you skid on an automatic transmission, it can heat up to critical temperatures, then the automatic transmission will turn off so as not to fail. There is even a special system for cooling it (radiator and pipes).

That is, it is worth understanding that the oil inside is needed not only for lubrication, as many people think, it is precisely this (to put it roughly, that contributes to the movement of the car - the working fluid).

Well, if this is a “working fluid”, then over time it can also wear out, just like the rest of the parts (nothing lasts forever). Moreover, it is worth considering that the oil operates in difficult conditions:

• Constant warming up and cooling down (and for the territory of Russia this is especially important in winter)
• Lubrication of internal components
• Protective film (albeit not as serious as that of motor oil, but still)
• Retention of dirt and waste materials

It is clear that the oil MUST BE CHANGED after a certain period of time! Otherwise, you will simply disrupt the performance of the automatic transmission.

What if you don't change the oil?

But really - what will happen? Well, I won’t change it, is it scary for an automatic machine or not?

Personally, my opinion is scary! Why? There are several reasons for this:

• Over time, the oil may lose its properties and fluid injection will not be as effective, that is, torque will not be transmitted as efficiently.

• Overheating is dangerous for automatic transmissions, but you can’t avoid it (for example, in winter). The oil can burn; if this happens, it can negatively affect the valve body with solenoids and the radiator (by simply clogging it). And if the cooling system becomes clogged, the automatic transmission will quickly fail.
• Dirty oil (where there are remnants of friction clutches and other wear products) can clog the thin channels of the valve body, and even the solenoids themselves. The pressure in the line may drop, and then you will experience shocks, or slipping of one gear, or several at once. Because there is no pressure, squeeze the package. By the way, they will wear out much faster.

In general, sooner or later, your automatic transmission will become so dirty that there will be problems with shifting gears, or with overheating, and then it’s not far from repairing the gears!

So remember a simple truth - the automatic transmission oil needs to be changed, and after a certain mileage!

Different manufacturers have different replacement mileage, but they are close. This applies to KIA, HYENDAI, MAZDA, TOYOTA, RENO, NISSAN, etc.

How long does it take to change?

Since they are automatic, they are also called classic torque converter gearboxes and have a similar structure. Then many manufacturers make the replacement interval approximately the same:

So, for cars (essentially this is the same thing) - replacement should take place in 60,000 km

RENAULT and NISSAN (ours can also be attributed here LADA KALINA, GRANTA, etc. ) this is again one corporation - the same 60,000 km (and in difficult conditions approximately 40 – 50,000 km)

– strictly regulates 60,000 km

CHEVROLET – 60-70,000 km , in difficult conditions, replacement should occur twice as often (that is, every 30,000 km ).

YES, many other manufacturers regulate replacement at exactly 60,000, this is a kind of “extreme figure” that has been developed over the years.

A few words about new and old automatic transmissions

I already wrote a separate article about this, but now I want to remind you. Usually, it is advisable to change the oil in an automatic machine along with oil filter. In old automatic transmissions (this is either 4 or 5 gears), this can be done easily and simply: drain the oil - unscrew the pan of the “box” - remove the filter, change it to a new one - then change the pan gasket - put it on again - fill in fresh fluid - drive for another 60 000.

But in new automatic transmissions (usually 6 or 8 gears), you won’t be able to replace the filter, because there is no pan, and the automatic transmission is non-separable! BUT it is advisable to change the filter to modern cars it is made of felt and can become clogged with wear products, which means the oil pressure (passing through it) can drop.

What to do then? YES just change the oil a little earlier. What's the point - at 60,000, the ATF fluid is still light, but still it has already collected a lot of dirt and wear products, often it is no longer able to absorb more contaminants. At 50,000 there are much fewer of them, it is still capable of absorbing dirt, and that’s when it needs to be replaced with a new one. So far there is not much pollution. This way the filter will stay clean longer. I think the meaning is clear.

The dealer said - oil for life

Another nonsense, from fabulous dealers, and they can be of any brand. Remember guys -This simply doesn’t happen! There are two catches here:

• Either the dealer is lying to you, he wants your automatic transmission to break down and then you (hypothetically) come to them for repairs
• Or the service life of the car is VERY NOT LONG (according to the dealer)

Here I am telling you (as if in spirit), an incident from life. My friend has a LADA KALINA with an automatic transmission, it has JATCO (mostly Nissan gearboxes). The mileage is approaching 58,000 and a friend is wondering whether to change the oil or not?

He asks the dealer – “does it need to be changed”?

They answered - “no, your ride is flooded for the entire service life!” WOW!

And they don’t care that this box is almost the same as on the NISSAN TIIDA, NOTE, ALMERA. But if you take the operating instructions from them, it is written in black and white - change the oil in the gearbox every 60,000 km.

Car owners do not always know when to change the oil in an automatic transmission. Vehicle owners believe that this is done after 150,000 kilometers driven. Others are sure that it cannot be replaced at all. But transmission fluid is the main component in the automatic transmission of any vehicle. Therefore, topping up the box and replacing it with new oil is mandatory and after a very short time.

Many companies that produce automatic transmissions do not recommend changing the lubricant. Manufacturers argue that this is due to unnecessary costs. Since the transmission fluid filled in at the factory, according to manufacturers, can not be changed until the service life of the automatic transmission expires. For example, like on a Mercedes Benz with a five-speed automatic transmission. Other companies write that the frequency of oil changes depends on environment in which the vehicle is used.

Experienced car owners believe that it is worth changing the oil in the automatic transmission after driving sixty thousand kilometers.

The following table from automatic transmission manufacturers shows the frequency of oil changes for different operating environment conditions of the vehicle.