How to properly maintain a car's gearbox ?

The only maintenance that needs to be done after a certain number of kilometers is an oil change. You simply drain the oil currently in the gearbox, and replace it with new oil. However, automatic and manual transmission oil changes are quite different. You must also be careful and use the oil recommended by the manufacturer.

Maintenance of Manual Gearboxes

A manual gearbox consists of two shafts: the primary shaft and the secondary shaft, or gearbox output shaft. These shafts carry pinions, which form gears. A good lubrication of these elements is essential for an optimal driving comfort.

To maintain a manual gearbox, the only operation to do is to perform an oil change. The drain and fill plugs are often inaccessible, but it is a very simple operation. Be sure to check beforehand if there is a specific procedure for your model and the type of oil to put.

Nevertheless, if your manual gearbox cracks or makes noise, it indicates a bad lubrication of the gears. It is necessary to change the oil as a matter of urgency or to replace the whole gearbox if it is already too late.

Maintenance of Automatic Transmissions

There are two types of automatic transmissions, torque converter and dry clutch (single or double clutch).  For a torque converter automatic gearbox, it is recommended to change the oil every 60,000 km to 120,000 km. Again, this depends on your car and the manufacturer’s recommendations. However, for dry clutch gearboxes, it is also recommended to change the oil after 60,000 km.

Furthermore, when changing the oil, it is recommended to replace the oil filter and possibly the sump strainer. Use also adapted maintenance kits to avoid damaging the elements of your gearbox.

The maintenance of a manual or automatic gearbox is basically the same as changing the oil in it. However, you must observe the specificities of your gearbox.