The gearbox consists of many rotating elements. These are gears and shafts. As in an internal combustion engine, it has its own lubrication system. On mechanical boxes, it is slightly different. Here, the oil does not fulfill the function of transmitting torque. Only gears are “dipped” into it during rotation. However, this does not mean that it does not require replacement. Well, let's consider whether an oil change is necessary in the manual transmission, and how to do it yourself.
Is it worth it to change at all? About Resource
In the operating instructions, manufacturers often do not regulate the life of this lubricant. According to them, the oil in the box is filled for the entire period of operation. However, in fact, the lubrication resource in the mechanical box is 60 thousand kilometers.
After this period, the oil begins to quickly lose its properties. The product changes its own and incorporates all the output from gears - shavings. It then acts as an abrasive, reducing the life of the shafts and teeth.
Untimely oil change in the manual transmission can lead to a quick failure of the box. It is important not only to comply with the regulations, but also to periodically check its level of residue in the transmission. If the gearbox “sweats” and has characteristic streaks, the gears will not be lubricated properly. Pay particular attention to this when placing the machine on a lift.
Signs of a need for replacement
One of the hallmarks is a tight gear shift. If the oil level is below normal or completely absent, a characteristic hum will soon appear when driving. It can appear on one, or at once on all transfers.
But in any case, you need to look at the mileage. If this is a freshly bought used car, experts recommend immediately to perform this operation. So you exclude the possibility of occurrence of malfunctions associated with development on the teeth.
What to choose and how much to pour?
As you know, the viscosity of transmission oil is an order of magnitude higher than that of engine oil. When choosing a new fluid, follow the manufacturer's recommendations. What viscosity to choose if manual transmission oil is replaced? Focus, for example, operates on 75W-90 grease.
Another common question is how much should I fill in? Here, the opinions of motorists differ. If it is a Ford Focus manual transmission oil change, you need to purchase 2 liters of fluid. On Nissan cars, you need to use up to three liters. If the Kia Rio manual transmission oil is replaced, up to 1.9 liters is poured into the box.
In terms of viscosity, the 75W-85 fourth grade API will be the best option. As for manufacturers, many trust trusted brands:
- Castrol.
- Motul.
- "Mobile-1."
- ARAL.
Prices
The cost of oils can vary significantly. So, an original product from the Ford company with a viscosity of 75W-90 costs 1 thousand rubles per liter. Honda produces lubricant in the amount of 4 liters. It can be purchased for 2800 rubles.
There are cheaper universal remedies. For example, a Mannol product with a viscosity of 75W-90 costs 890 rubles for 4 liters. The manufacturer claims that it is a universal lubricant. It can be used for most modern mechanical boxes.
Tools and fixtures
The gearbox is in a remote place. Therefore, the replacement of manual transmission oil (“Opel” or BMW, it does not matter) should be done on a lift or on a viewing hole. Access to the drain neck can only be obtained from the bottom.
We also need a set of hex keys. On Nissan vehicles, the drain plug is twisted with a “14” key, and the filler neck is “12”.
And the most important thing is the capacity. Its volume should be at least two liters. You can use an old canister with engine oil (it is designed for 4-5 liters) by cutting it with a “hatch” on the side. Additionally, you need a syringe.
We will get them the rest of the oil (since it is very thick).
Getting to work
If the oil change in the manual transmission is carried out in cold weather, experts recommend heating the liquid in the box. To do this, you need to drive a few kilometers by car (just drive, because the gears do not rotate on the "neutral").
After that, we put the car on a viewing hole and get to work. An oil change in the manual transmission begins with the discharge of the old fluid. So, pick up a set of hex keys and unscrew the cork. It is located in the same way as in the photo below.
Next, we substitute an empty container and wait until the old oil is completely merged from the box. Please note that the fluid is very viscous. After 10 minutes, even if 1.2 liters are poured into the transmission, another 20 percent of the grease will remain. Therefore, we take a syringe in our hands and forcibly pump it out of the box.
Next, close the drain hole and go to the engine compartment (remove the car from the lift, if one was used). Now we need to fill the new fluid into the transmission. We find the neck and unscrew it with the same hex key. For convenience, we use a syringe with a hose. So we will not spill part of the grease that will be filled. Watch the oil level.
It should be in the area of the lower edge. After that, we twist the neck and put the tools in place. At this stage, the oil change in the manual transmission is successfully completed.
According to motorists, riding on a new lubricant is already felt from the first kilometers. The gears are engaged effortlessly, the box does not rustle at speeds. However, this only happens subject to the regulations.
In advanced cases, the process of gear destruction is already irreversible. Perhaps the new oil will reduce noise and wash away production. However, this will not restore the integrity of the teeth that worked “dry”. Here the situation will be changed only by replacement of mechanisms or turning work.
Conclusion
So, we figured out how to change the oil in a manual gearbox on your own. As you can see, the process is quite easy and requires a minimum set of tools. For the future, make a note in the logbook to remember how long it takes to change the oil.
Timely replacement of lubricant in a mechanical transmission is a guarantee of stable and continuous operation of all its components and components. There are frequent cases when a manual gearbox "survived" to 600 thousand kilometers without a single repair. But it’s better not to experiment like that.