Change transmission oil - Tips and tricks
Oil changes may also be necessary for automotive transmissions. Depending on the manufacturer, so-called lifetime fillings are designed for an average service life of the vehicle of around 80,000 to 150,000 km. Certain transmission types require shorter intervals (e.g. 60,000 km for dual clutch transmissions). However, passenger cars often achieve the double or the triple of this mileage. Especially for trucks with change intervals of 150,000 to 750,000 km for transmission oils, several oil changes will be necessary during the lifetime of the vehicle. Even for cars that do not reach such mileages so quickly, it is advisable to change the transmission oil every six to eight years, since base oils and additives can be subject to ageing effects due to regularly changing ambient conditions. The transmission oil may change its viscosity after a long period of use and will then no longer build up the required lubricating film. It no longer dissipates heat sufficiently or can no longer build up required pressures. Thermal stress or condensation can lead to additive degradation, which in turn can cause unpleasant shifting behaviour. Just have the oil level in the transmission checked regularly, especially for older cars. A rough guide value for the change interval of a transmission oil is about 80,000 kilometres. Follow the instructions in your operating manual.
Of course, it is possible to change the transmission oil yourself. However, this is much more expensive than changing the engine oil. The process requires appropriate tools (oil change device and lifting platform), specialist knowledge and craftsmanship. Some gearboxes, for example, have to be removed for a change. We therefore recommend that you have the transmission oil change carried out in a garage. There are two possibilities:
- Drain the transmission oil and fill in the fresh oil. The disadvantage is that waste oil remains in the nested structure of the gearbox and pollutants remain in the gearbox. However, the variant is less complex and less expensive.
- The complete dismantling of the gearbox including the complete removal of the waste oil by flushing. The variant is expensive because it is time-consuming, but much more thorough.
Dispose of transmission oil
If you carry out a transmission oil change yourself, you will also have to take care of the professional disposal of the waste oil. The same regulations apply to transmission oils as to engine oils. Collect the waste oil in a shatterproof container. Bring it back to the seller free of charge (make sure you keep the receipt for it). The seller is legally obliged to accept the waste oil in the same quantity as sold. Although this regulation also applies to online trading, the customers usually bear the costs of returning the waste oil. Parcel service providers usually classify oil as dangerous goods, which makes shipping cumbersome and expensive. Smaller quantities of waste oil can also be disposed of at the local recycling centres or at some petrol stations. Check with the operator to see if there are any costs. Under no circumstances should you dump the old transmission oil into the household waste or the environment. If oil gets into the groundwater, thousands of litres of clean drinking water will be contaminated. There is a risk of damage to human and animal health. Anyone who is caught disposing of waste oil improperly must also expect high fines. If you have the transmission oil changed by a garage, you will not have to worry about disposing. The garage is responsable to collect the waste oil for professional disposal.
