Is Transmission Oil the Same as Gear Oil?
2 Answers
Transmission oil and gear oil are the same. Below are the specific details about gear oil: 1. Gear oil is primarily composed of petroleum-based lubricating base oil or synthetic lubricating oil, blended with extreme pressure anti-wear agents and oiliness agents to form an essential lubricant. 2. It is used in various gear transmission devices to prevent tooth surface wear, scuffing, sintering, etc., thereby extending their service life and improving power transmission efficiency. 3. Gear oil should possess excellent anti-wear and load-bearing properties, along with suitable viscosity. Additionally, it should have good thermal oxidation stability, anti-foaming characteristics, water separation performance, and rust prevention capabilities.
Transmission fluid and gear oil are not exactly the same. Having worked in an auto repair shop for many years, I've seen many car owners confuse the two. Transmission fluid typically refers to automatic transmission fluid (ATF), specifically designed for internal lubrication and hydraulic control in automatic transmissions, containing special additives to prevent foaming and corrosion. Gear oil, on the other hand, is more generalized and suitable for manual transmissions, differentials, or other gear systems, usually with higher viscosity. If manual transmissions use transmission fluid, it may lead to insufficient lubrication and increased gear wear; conversely, using gear oil in an automatic transmission might interfere with hydraulic control and cause shifting issues. During maintenance, always refer to the vehicle manual to choose the appropriate fluid and follow the recommended replacement intervals—for example, transmission fluid should be changed every 40,000 kilometers, while gear oil should be replaced around every 60,000 kilometers. I recommend developing the habit of checking fluid levels yourself to ensure driving safety.
