What happens if you don't change transmission oil for 300,000 kilometers?
2 Answers
The effects of not changing transmission oil for 300,000 kilometers are as follows: 1. If transmission oil is not replaced for a long time, metal shavings inside the transmission will accumulate more and more. When they reach a certain level, they will affect the physical properties of the transmission oil, thereby impacting the engagement of clutch plates and the operation of gears, leading to a significant reduction in clutch pressure and increased metal wear between gears. 2. The ultimate result will be a severe drop in power, to the point where the car may not move even in D gear. At this stage, the drained transmission oil will definitely contain a large amount of metal shavings. 3. It will cause the transmission to overheat. Besides lubrication, transmission oil also functions to cool the transmission. Long-term failure to replace old oil will cause the transmission to continuously overheat, which will further weaken the viscosity and lubricity of the transmission oil, creating additional friction. Components of automatic transmissions such as O-rings, gaskets, rubber rings, and sealing parts may also deform or melt due to overheating.
As a seasoned car enthusiast with decades of driving experience, going 300,000 kilometers without changing transmission fluid is no trivial matter. I once encountered an old car where the transmission started acting up halfway through a trip—shifting became extremely jerky, and there was an awful grinding noise during acceleration. After taking it to the shop, the mechanic said the fluid had long turned into a thick, black sludge full of metal shavings, which had severely damaged the gears. The repair cost nearly 10,000 yuan and almost totaled the car. Looking back now, transmission fluid is like the lifeblood of a car. When it deteriorates, lubrication fails, parts wear out quickly under high temperatures, and the driving experience deteriorates entirely. The general recommendation is to change it every 50,000 to 100,000 kilometers. Early inspections can prevent these headaches—don’t let laziness compromise safe driving.
