How to Replenish Gearbox Oil for Cars

Gear oil has the function of lubricating the transmission process of the vehicle. To buy the right transmission oil, you need to know the make and model of your vehicle, automatic or manual. You should refer to the owner’s manual and follow the instructions for checking the oil level and filling procedure. Some manufacturers do not offer a regular test dipstick. Below are the most common oiling and checking procedures for car transmissions.

Table of Contents

How to check transmission oil

Start the car. For accurate transmission oil level readings, you need to check the oil while the transmission is running and the oil is warm. Park the car and pull the handbrake while you check the transmission fluid. Note that some vehicles need to be checked in N. Refer to your owner’s manual for the position of the shift lever when checking the oil.

If you’ve been driving for 30 minutes or so, it’s a good idea to turn off the engine for a few minutes before checking the transmission oil ^{[1] X Source of research} to reduce oil temperature.
Note that the dipstick to check the oil in some vehicles allows reading results in the “cold” state. Even if your car is in this situation, you should still start the engine and let the transmission oil warm up before reading the results.

Start the engine but do not run, release the brake and shift the gear lever through all positions, including forward and reverse. If you test the transmission fluid in a cold state – that is, without starting the car and without changing the shift lever through all positions – the dipstick will give incorrect results. The results will show that the transmission oil in the vehicle is too much. To avoid this situation, you should set the gear lever in all positions to help circulate the transmission fluid evenly.

Park the vehicle on a flat, horizontal surface to ensure that the dipstick gives accurate results.

Open the bonnet and locate the dipstick. Remember to apply the handbrake, especially if you leave the car in N when getting off. In some cars, it is easy to confuse the crankcase oil check with the transmission oil check, so you need to know the position of the gearbox.

Look at the back of the engine, near the firewall. This is where the transmission is located in most rear-wheel drive vehicles. ^{[2] X Research Source}
On front-wheel drive vehicles, the transmission oil check is usually located near the front of the engine, connected to the transmission. However, this is not true for all vehicles, so you will need to check the user manual or look for the stickers on the dipstick to determine the correct rod to use. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with a rag to ensure accurate results.

Dip the rod into the transmission oil chamber and pull it out again to see the result. Now you will see how high the oil level in the transmission is. Remember to compare the actual oil level with the “hot” oil level indicator on the dipstick.

How to add oil

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Let the engine continue to run with the shift lever in N and pull the handbrake. You should let the car engine run while the oil is in the transmission, but remember to put the car in N and pull the handbrake to ensure safety.

Check your owner’s manual for the gear oil to buy. The manual will tell you what gear oil your vehicle uses and if there are any special instructions on how to fill it.

The dipstick itself can also tell you what gear oil to use. Note that there are many different types of gear oil, each with specific specifications for each vehicle.
Find instructions on how often to change the transmission oil. Although you can refuel when the oil level is low, many manufacturers recommend changing the oil every 48,000-160,000 km depending on the make and model of the vehicle.

Thread the funnel into the dipstick hole of the gearbox. Most vehicles require a long oil filler hopper.

Pour the oil into the funnel slowly. Pour in small amounts of oil to avoid spills. How much oil do you need to put in the car? This number depends on what you’re doing:

Are you adding more oil? If you see the transmission oil level is slightly below the dipstick line, start adding 1/2-1 liter of oil. Check the actual oil level again and add 1/4 liter (or less) at a time until the oil reaches the highest level.
Are you going to remove the bottom of the gearbox crankcase and replace the filter funnel? This maintenance usually requires about 4-5 liters of oil to replace the lost oil.
Are you going to change the entire transmission oil? You need about 9-13 liters of oil to replace the entire transmission oil.

Advice

Ask your mechanic to check the transmission oil whenever you take your vehicle in for service. If you’re not familiar with oiling your transmission, have your mechanic do it.
Some gearboxes do not have dipsticks for checking and refueling. Manufacturers often call this design anti-fingerprint. They want the transmission oil to be checked and changed only during major maintenance. Some manufacturers don’t want you to change the transmission oil at all. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for transmission inspection and maintenance.
Follow the transmission oil change recommendations in the user’s manual.

Warning

Be careful not to buy the wrong transmission oil for your vehicle. Using the wrong oil can damage the vehicle and insurance will not cover this repair.
Consider having your transmission checked by a mechanic if you often need to re-oil it. If the amount of oil is regularly consumed, the gearbox may be leaking.
If you do not clean the gearbox at the recommended time, the gearbox will wear out faster. If the transmission of your car has to work a lot or the vehicle often carries heavy loads, you should change the transmission oil more often.

Things you need

Rag
Train oil
User Manual
Oil hopper

Steps

How to check transmission oil

How to add oil

Advice

Warning

Things you need

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