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Manual Gearbox Oil Change
Typical Cost: Low - Medium
Mobile Repair? Yes in most cases
Typical Lead Time: 48 - 72 hours due to part lead time
What does a manual gearbox do?
Gearbox’s convert the rotation of the engine through various sized cogs to turn the road wheels.
How does a manual gearbox work and what are the components?
The cogs within the gearbox are of varying sizes, which can turn the road wheels at various speeds in relation to the engine speed. Typical manual gearboxes contain 5 or 6 gears with different ratios to allow for ease of pulling away from a standstill through to a ratio that will allow the road wheels to turn at considerable speed whilst reducing the need of the engine to operate at high revs.
Gear selection is done by the driver, who moves the gearshift to the required cog for the engine to operate at the most efficient speed. 1st gear for example would be used for pulling away from a standstill and then 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc until the car is cruising at the required speed of the driver.
Typical symptoms that require a manual gearbox oil change.
Manual gearboxes are closed units and their operation is dependent on the quality of the oil contained within them, much like an engine requires good oil.
Unfortunately, before issues become apparent to the driver, the damage is already done, but if you are finding that your transmission tunnel on a rear wheel drive car is getting hotter than normal, then it could be that the oil is not at its best.
Under most conditions, gearbox oil can last for many miles, but we would recommend changing it every 75,000 miles at least, as a precaution against wear and tear.
What happens during a manual gearbox oil change?
There are many different processes required depending on the manufacturer, some of which may include all the following or just some
The mechanic will
* Raise the vehicle and get the gearbox up to temperature if required by the procedures.
* Remove the gearbox drain plug, or insert a syphon pump down the filler tube.
* Fill the gearbox with the correct gearbox oil (also known as MTF) for the gearbox and application in accordance with the manufacturer's procedure.
* Run through the gearbox selection routine
* Road test the vehicle.
Please note that the large majority of manual gearboxes do not contain an oil filter. Therefore it is a simple case of draining the refilling the oil.
What to search for on the ClickMechanic site?
Manual gearbox oil drain & refill
How much does it cost to have a manual gearbox oil change carried out?
The cost of a manual gearbox change depends on your car and what parts your car's manufacturer recommends.
Find out what you could save by having your manual gearbox change carried out by ClickMechanic, by selecting your vehicle
https://www.clickmechanic.com/bookings/car
FAQ’s
What type of oil is used?
Manual Transmission Fluid (MTF) is of paramount importance to the operation of the gearbox. Each manufacturer will have specific requirements and these are adhered to during the service.
Is the filter changed during the manual gearbox oil change?
There are very few manual gearboxes that contain filters, but we will advise you if this is the case.
Why is a manual gearbox oil change more expensive than an engine oil change?
MTF is a specially formulated oil for the purpose. Some of the recommended long life oils are incredibly costly per litre and some gearboxes can take 5+ litres!
Can I supply my own parts?
No, we will not fit customer supplied parts unless they are a brand new item, purchased from a dealership with the receipt as proof of purchase. There is no flexibility over this due to insurance and warranty issues.
What happens if the mechanic finds that the manual gearbox oil doesn’t require changing and the problem is due to another issue?
In this scenario, the mechanic will provide a no obligation quote for the correct repair. Should you accept this, the mechanic can alter the booking accordingly. If you decide not to go ahead with the alternative repair, the mechanic can change the booking to a call out and diagnostic booking and charge according to the time spent with the vehicle and call out.