What transmission oil should I put in my car?
It is easy for a car owner to get lost in the variety of oils, especially transmission oils . There is a choice of many products on the market with differences in standards and characteristics. What is the difference between them and how to fill in the oil that is right for your car?
What is transmission oil used for ?
Transmissions, like any other mechanism, need lubrication during operation. The parts touch each other, creating dry friction, and if they are not lubricated, the wear process is inevitable. Transmission oil is the same lubricant that creates a strong film on the surface of the parts and protects them from friction, small particles and dirt.
What are the differences between transmission oils?
To understand how transmission oils differ, let’s go over the main indicators:
Gearbox type
Separation of oils by the type of vehicle gearbox for which it is used:
For mechanical transmissions – MTF
For automatic transmissions – ATF
For continuously variable transmissions – CVTF
For robotic transmissions – different types of oils are suitable depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Base oils
Base oil is the basis from which transmission oils are produced. There are three main types of base oil:
Mineral – oil fractions of petroleum, purified from impurities, the most accessible oils.
Semi-synthetic – the same, but with the addition of chemically synthesized compounds.
Synthetic – a product completely synthesized in the laboratory.
Synthetics behave much better in cold weather than mineral oil and create less sediment. However, synthetic oils are not suitable for many outdated designs and are more expensive than others.
Viscosity index
Designation of the degree of viscosity of oil for manual transmissions in various temperature conditions. The most common specification is SAE (Society of Automobile Engineers), a world standard that determines the degree of viscosity of oil.
Compliance with industry standards
API standard
The API (American Petroleum Institute) classification system divides manual transmission oils by formulation and the technology in which they are used.
GL-4 – designed for transmissions operating in moderate conditions and containing parts made of non-ferrous metals and alloys for which GL-5 is undesirable.
GL-5 – has a large number of extreme pressure additives for transmission operation under high load conditions.
GL-4/5 is a universal transmission oil that combines the properties of both standards.
Dexron standard
Classification of automatic transmission fluids from General Motors:
Dexron (with subclass B)
Intended for cars manufactured from 1967 to 1972.
Dexron II (with subclasses C, D, E)
Intended for cars manufactured from 1973 to 1992.
Dexron III (with subclasses F, G, H)
Intended for cars manufactured from 1993 to 2005.
Dexron VI (with subclass J)
Intended for cars manufactured from 2006 to the present.
For robotic gearboxes, as well as variators, there is no specific standard of oils or liquids that regulates their characteristics. Oil recommendations from car manufacturers are used.
What mistakes are made when changing oil?
Extends oil change intervals
Often, the manufacturer recommends not to change the transmission oil for a long period of operation. However, this is nothing more than a marketing ploy that can lead to premature wear of the gearbox. During operation, the oil additives begin to be produced, thickening begins. Waste oil products accumulate on the nodes of transmission systems, sludge and sediment are formed, and transmission wear begins. Accordingly, by changing the oil ahead of time, you do not allow waste to appear, and the transmission will always work efficiently.
Incompatible oils are poured in
A common mistake made by motorists is to fill in oil with a viscosity index that is not suitable for their transmission and operating mode. This results in the transmission parts operating under increased load, overcoming greater resistance during operation, which accelerates their wear.
Mix different oils
Transmission oil differs in many parameters, and mixing it with another will lead to negative results. Sediment may form and foaming may begin, the viscosity and properties of the oil may change. Jerks and extraneous noise appear, wear increases significantly. It is unacceptable to mix oils without extreme necessity (for example, if you urgently need to change it in the middle of the road).
Which transmission oil should you choose?
When choosing transmission oil, you need to thoroughly study the information from both the manufacturer and specialists. A large number of fakes on the market leads to the fact that buying a popular brand becomes a dangerous lottery, where the stake is the safety of your car. In addition, prices for oil from leading global manufacturers become too high in times of crisis. A reasonable alternative in this case is to choose an inexpensive but reliable transmission oil, the timely replacement of which will not hit your wallet. In addition, information on the product from the manufacturer is important to be sure that the oil meets the characteristics.