What Type of Oil is Used for Transmission Fluid?
4 Answers
Transmission fluid is gear oil, also known as transmission oil. Below is an introduction to the functions of gear oil: 1. It is a type of transmission lubricating oil used for lubricating various gears in transmissions, reducers, and differentials. 2. It helps prevent phenomena such as gear surface wear and sintering. 3. It extends service life and improves power transmission efficiency. Below is an introduction to the differences between gear oil and engine oil: 1. Different environments: Gear oil is a transmission lubricating oil used for lubricating various gears in transmissions, reducers, and differentials, operating in relatively low-temperature environments; engine oil is used inside the engine to lubricate internal components, enduring long-term high-temperature and high-pressure conditions, with higher oxidation resistance and stronger shear resistance. 2. Different functions: Gear oil prevents gear surface wear and sintering, extends service life, and improves transmission efficiency; engine oil cleans, lubricates, and cools the engine interior. 3. Both have lubricating properties, with engine oil being weakly alkaline and gear oil being strongly alkaline.
My car is a manual transmission, and the transmission oil is actually a specialized gear oil. It's completely different from the cooking oil you use at home—it's a specially formulated lubricant with a color like transparent amber. When driving, the oil flows between the gears to prevent direct metal-to-metal friction and also helps dissipate heat. If you use regular engine oil or mix different types, it can cause gear shifting issues or even damage components. My car's manual recommends changing it every 60,000 kilometers, but last time I went over by 20,000 kilometers without changing it, and the second gear started making a clunking noise. I immediately went and replaced it with a bottle of GL-5 grade oil, and the problem was fixed right away. Remember, never try to save money by using cheap, low-quality oil!
Last time at the repair shop, I heard the master mechanic say that transmission fluid actually comes in several types. Manual transmissions generally use thicker gear oil, such as GL-4/GL-5 grades; automatic transmission cars are more particular and require ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid), which has a thin viscosity like fruit juice and mainly serves hydraulic transmission functions. Especially with newer cars now, CVT transmissions need specialized fluid, and dual-clutch transmissions have new formulations—different types absolutely cannot be mixed. My neighbor recently used ATF fluid in a manual transmission car, and the clutch completely slipped, costing over 3,000 yuan to fix.
Many people confuse transmission fluid with engine oil. Simply put, transmission fluid is a specialized lubricant for gears, containing anti-wear additives and anti-foaming agents. Manual transmission fluid is as thick as honey to protect gears, while automatic transmission fluid is much thinner but must handle hydraulic power transfer. Temperature adaptability is also crucial - I drive in snowy winters, and good transmission fluid won't solidify even at -20°C. When changing it, always check your vehicle manual for certification standards first. For example, Honda uses DW-1, while German cars often require ATF 134-certified fluid. Using the wrong type can easily damage solenoid valves.
