4 Common Causes of Gearbox Noise
The transmission is one of the most important parts of your vehicle. Without it, it would be nearly impossible to get to your destination. In short, the transmission works by sending the engine’s power to the driveshaft, which turns the wheels of your car.
If you take care of your car and take it to the shop regularly for maintenance, you probably won’t have any major issues with your transmission over the long term. In fact, you should be able to get at least 100,000 miles out of your transmission before you experience any problems. Replacing a broken transmission can cost thousands of dollars, so it is important to maintain your transmission properly. Therefore, it is very important to resolve minor issues with your transmission before they become serious.
The first time your transmission breaks, you may hear some strange noises. When you shift into a different gear, the engine adjusts its speed and power to the new requirements. As the transmission redirects this new engine power to the driveshaft, the rotating components of the transmission accelerate during this process.
The 4 Most Common Reasons for Gearbox Noises
The best way to stop the noise is to find out exactly what is causing it. Here are the four most common causes of transmission noise:
1) Old Gear Oil
Look in the owner’s manual for most small cars and you’ll see that transmission fluid has a useful life of 50,000 to 100,000 miles. If the transmission fluid hasn’t been changed after many kilometers, it means the oil is too old and may be burning and needs to be changed.
Old gear oil leaves a varnish residue on the moving parts of the gears. These paint residues form when the fluid gets too old. Residue left on the components can cause these noises, especially if the filter is clogged.
2) Low Transmission Fluid Level
Just as proper motor oil is essential for the functioning of your engine, you should check your transmission fluid level to make sure it is within the correct range. The main purpose of gear oil is to lubricate all the metal components in the gearbox.
Lack of gear oil will cause metal to metal contact. Not only does it cause abnormal noise, but it also causes wear of the gears in the transmission.
3) Mineral oil-based gear oil
There are many types of gear oils on the market today. In the past, gear oils were only mineral oil-based, and they quickly became varnished. It only took a few years for the filter to become clogged and the transmission fluid to no longer flow normally. Continuing to use this type of transmission fluid will just create more heat and friction in your transmission’s moving parts, which means you’ll hear a lot of annoying noises.
4) Faulty Torque Converter
The transmission relies on the torque converter to shift gears properly. Torque converters use needle bearings that can become damaged or wear out after a while. When this condition occurs, the transmission will make strange noises when you put it in gear.
These are often harsh grinding noises. The noises will stop when you put it in neutral. This is a clear sign that your torque converter needs replacing.
