News of the month November 2015:
Long life oil in automatic and manual gearboxes, should you leave it in or replace it?
Who doesn’t know the badge/sticker on the gearbox “LIFE TIME OIL, NO OIL CHANGE”? Were we needed to replace our gearbox oil every 2nd big inspection in the old days it isn’t necessary according to the owners manual nowadays. Why? Are nowadays oils ready to lubricate and protect your (expensive) gearbox for +100.000km (+70.000 mls)? Maybe they do, but most car manufacturers have a warranty until 2 years of 100.000km / 60.000 mls. After that repairs will be at your own expense.
We don’t think it is a good idea to run with the same gearbox oil (manual or automatic) for longer than 100.000km/70.000mls. Deposits and other harmfull components can harm the internals and for sure the dopes in oil would be at there lowest performance level by a time travel of 4 years or 100.000km/70.000mls.
During the last year we have replaced many automatic and manual transmission fluids with very good results. Owners are more than happy with the improved shift quality than before the oil change. Besides the owners of the car, we are still amazed by what fresh oil can do to the shift quality from an automatic gearbox and the improved gear engagement on manual gearboxes. Our explanation for this is mainly the addatives and dopes present in new oil. Besides additives and dopes oil can get thicker by age and mileage causing less lubrication to the already narrow gaps due to tolerances in gearbox designs. Currently we can only speak about the improvement but we are working to get numbers on for instance adaption values in automatix gearboxes to show you the improvement it can bring.
During the beginning of the new year 2016 we are about to present a work around on the replacement of seals, bearings and synchromesh rings on a manual gearbox from a BMW E30 320i. These cars are still a pleasure to drive but 2nd hand parts for these are getting rarer by the day. Therefore we have chosen to fix the current gearbox on this car instead of buying a second hand with possible similar damage/failure symptons by time than the current one. On one day there will be an end to only replace the gearbox for a second hand one and we rather be prepared to repair your gearbox by then instead of not helping you with the problem you have. It is better to gain knowledge about bearings, shaft seals and synchromesh rings replacment alternatives by now before it is to late.
So please check if your gearbox oil is replaced in the past even if you have a new car and check the future update on the repair of a manual gearbox in the future. Be aware that at KARREMAN Engineering the right oils and mechanic capability is present to do oil changes and repair to your gearbox.
NEDERLANDS / DUTCH
Long life olie in automatische en manuele versnellingsbakken, erin laten zitten of tijdig vervangen?
Wordt binnenkort toegevoegd.
