How to Change Oil in Gearbox? A Step by Step Guide for 2023

Gearbox oil is an important part of a gearbox. It makes efforts to decrease strains that are produced by the gearbox. However, changing the gearbox oil is necessary.

But you may be wondering about how to change oil in a gearbox?

Oil changing is necessary but can be a costly one. But you can also do it by yourself. We will teach you the oil changing mechanism of gearbox with the instructions given in the article. Let’s have a look.

Gearbox oil – All you need to know!

Gear oil is a kind of lubricant used in gearboxes, mechanical gears, differentials, transaxles, and transfer cases in your vehicle or truck. It helps to keep your vehicles running smoothly. The most important fact of your gearbox is that, it can protect the internal mechanisms in your car’s gear systems.

A car’s gear systems have a lot of steel contact, which can cause heat and wear and tear. Gear oils play a great role by decreasing the roughness and transporting the heat away from moving parts. Plus, it also helps to protect them.

Let’s Know the Gearbox Oil Changing Procedures

Changing your car’s gear oil on a regular basis is a necessary maintenance that extends the life of your vehicle and helps you prevent costly issues down the line.

There are some steps to follow for changing the oil in a gearbox.

They are given below:

Step 1: Gathering your Tools

For this, some necessary tools will be required.  You will need

• Gear oil
• Jack and Axle stands
• Depending on your car or vehicle, a bunch of wrenches and a ratchet set will be needed.
• Fluid pump
• Rags
• Torque wrench – Some kind of oil drain container

Step 2: Identify and eradicate the screw of the filter.

First, lift up your car using the jack points and hold it with axle/jack stands. Precaution: Try not to go under a car that is only supported by the jack.

The filling bolt will then be located and removed. In rare circumstances, the filler bolt becomes totally seized, and heating it will not work. Alternatively, the filler bolt may get stripped. If this occurs to you, you do not want it to occur with an empty transmission.

Loosen the filler by using the appropriate wrench (not a flexible one!) and turning it counterclockwise. If the bolt won’t budge, spray it with WD-40 and let it set for an hour. Don’t overwork it or it will break. Heat the housing surrounding the bolt with a propane or MPS gas torch before carefully applying pressure to dislodge it.

If the bolt still refuses to budge. Stop. Lower the vehicle and take it to a mechanic. In some circumstances, the transmission must be disassembled and sent to a machining shop.

If you are successful in removing the bolt, then unscrew but do not completely remove it. You can read about How hard is it to swap an engine?

Step 3: Remove the Drain Bolt.

Remove the drain bolt using the same method you did to remove the filling bolt. The drain bolt on any autos is a great match for a 3/4-inch drive ratchet.

Allow the oil to flow by loosening the drain bolt, now inserting the drain pan beneath the transmission, and then removing the drain bolt. You also check our guide for How long can a car run without transmission fluid?

Step 4: Remove the Filler Bolt and Clean the Magnet.

A magnet is generally attached to the drain bolt to gather the metal shavings. Clear them well. This truck was dirty, as you can see. This car has probably covered more than 50,000 kilometers.

Remove the filling bolt at this point. Don’t forget to check the How does a high-pressure fuel pump work?

Step 5: Tighten the Drain Bolt.

To confirm that you haven’t cross-threaded the drain bolt, replace it by hand for at least three complete revolutions. Then, using the ratchet, tighten it. Finally, tighten it to the manufacturer’s requirements with a torque wrench. If you are unsure about the settings, contact your dealer and they will inform you.

Step 6: Filling the Oil

Filler Bolt should be tightened.

Using the oil pump, replenish the gear oil in the gearbox. Fill the oil till it reaches the filler’s level. Replace the filler bolt and crank it a few more times by hand. Then, using a torque wrench, tighten and torque it.

Step 7: Drive the bus.

Clean up and take a test drive in your car.

Try bringing your old oil to a recycling center. It is available for free in many regions. Old oil, for example, may be converted into diesel fuel or plastics.

FAQ- Frequently Asked Questions

1. When should I change the gearbox oil?

To know the answer you have to consult your driver’s manual first. Gear oil should be exchanged by every 50,000km to 80,000km when you drive your cars normally and 96,000 to 160,000km for automatic transmission.

It can also be applied for an automated gearbox system. If you often subject your cars to extreme conditions, such as towing or driving in mud, your gear oil may need to be changed as frequently as every 24,000 kilometers (15,000 miles).

2. What happens if you don’t change the gear oil?

If you do not change your gear oil as per the manufacturer’s recommended timetable, you risk causing significant damage to your car’s gearbox and other gear systems. This might imply needing to replace parts and fix your transmission at a significant expense.

3. How do I decide which gear oil to use?

You can read your owner’s handbook. The specs of the gear system differ from vehicle to vehicle. Using the incorrect gear oil produces poor performance or even damage to internal mechanisms of your car, so only use the gear oil recommended by the manufacturer of your engines.

Final Words

Your gear oil is making efforts to decrease the strains produced on your gearbox and keep it running at top performance.

However, it may ultimately need to be replaced, since the gradual accumulation of deposits can block your oil gearbox filter and potentially damage its components, leading to pricey repairs. We hope this article will help you in guiding how to change oil in a gearbox.

With this little technical knowledge, you can replace your own gearbox oil and also save money.