Does Opel Astra need an automatic transmission oil change? This issue causes a lot of controversy among car enthusiasts. The manufacturer claims that it is not necessary to change the oil in the gearbox, but the German ferry rarely expects that the car will be used for more than four years, and it will be used in difficult road conditions inherent in the Russian Federation. Therefore, changing the oil in the Opel Astra N gearbox and other modifications is vital for the car. By draining the waste liquid, you rid the box of slag, metal shavings and other debris that appears as a result of the operation of the mechanism. The more often you change your fluids, the longer your vehicle's moving parts will last. On average, this procedure should be done once every 30 thousand kilometers. Some motorists wait until 60 thousand, others try to change it at 15 thousand. The optimal figure is approximately in the middle of these values.
What kind of oil should I fill in the manual transmission of the Opel Astra N?
An oil with a viscosity of 75W-80(90) is suitable for a manual transmission. It is possible to use products from manufacturers API GL-4 or GL-5, CASTROL, Mobilube 1, SHC, Liqui Moly. Any synthetic or semi-synthetic oil with the specified viscosity will do. You will need to purchase 4 liters of product. The same fluid is always filled, regardless of the mileage of the car.
Before starting the replacement procedure, it is recommended to stock up on tools and an oil filter, which is installed after each replacement.
The original GM brand filter has article number 0650172 and is applicable to most modifications of the Opel Astra. Suitable for cars of this series and a filter from another manufacturer, Hengst. Article – 5650359.
Replacement or repair
If an automatic or manual transmission breaks down, the best option is to contact a car service station. Professional technicians will not only deal with the problem that has arisen quickly enough, but will also conduct a full diagnostic of the performance of the gearbox and identify the cause of the malfunction.
Yes, many will find this solution unprofitable, but if you take on repairing an automatic or manual transmission yourself, without understanding how each of these units works, you can accidentally worsen the situation, which will lead to more expensive repairs in the future. For example, not everyone even knows how to remove the handle from the gearbox.
Thus, contacting specialized centers will save money. In addition, it will be much more efficient and faster to carry out repairs by the hands of professionals.
Replacement and cost of manual transmission
If it is necessary to completely replace a manual transmission, the main issue becomes the cost of this unit. It should be noted that a new box costs on average about 50-70 thousand rubles. And during its installation, it is recommended to immediately check the noise of the unit and the serviceability of each element.
If we talk about purchasing a used manual transmission, then it can cost the car owner about 20 thousand rubles.
As for the amount that will need to be paid for repairs, its initial amount will be 10 thousand rubles. Depending on the complexity of the services performed, the price may increase. At the same time, there are no restrictions on increasing the cost of repair work, so car owners should pay attention to this fact and take it into account when visiting a service station.
Automatic transmission replacement and cost
An automatic transmission will cost the car owner less, its cost will be 90 thousand rubles if purchasing a new one, and about 40 thousand rubles if we talk about buying a used unit.
Repairing or replacing an automatic transmission is practically no different in cost from repairing or replacing a manual transmission; the starting price will also be 10 thousand rubles.
Changing the oil in the Opel Astra G gearbox and other modifications
The instructions for various modifications of the car are the same, since there is not much difference in the process, and it can be described in a universal way.
Before changing the oil, you need to check its level. You can check the level every 15 thousand km. This will ensure that fluid is not leaking and that the transmission is operating correctly. If the box has been overheated (this applies to both automatic and manual transmissions), then the oil needs to be changed out of turn. You cannot mix different varieties. If you don’t know which one was initially filled, and its level is low, then it is better to drain the fluid and replace it completely.
Changing the oil in a manual transmission Opel Astra N occurs differently than in cars with an automatic transmission. Before starting work, you need to drive the car a short distance so that the box warms up and the oil becomes more liquid. It will be extremely difficult to drain the cold liquid, it will take a lot of time and not all of it will go away, leaving a large amount of debris inside the mechanism. The heated oil will wash all the parts of the box and come out along with metal shavings, if any.
Changing the Opel Astra manual transmission oil allows you to carry out unscheduled diagnostics of the gearbox. If the oil has an unnatural color or contains large particles of metal or clearly visible particles of gears, then the gearbox requires repair, and there is no point in changing consumables until the faults are resolved.
If you are in doubt about what oil to pour into the Opel Astra N manual transmission, check the service book. If there is none, you can safely fill in API GL4 SAE 80W-90. A similar liquid with a viscosity of SAE 75W-90 is acceptable, but its use is recommended in those areas of the country where cold temperatures prevail and frost reaches -30 degrees.
Before starting work, prepare an oil filter, a wrench or a socket for 13 and 17; the second will be more convenient, since the key cannot always get to the right place. A rag, a syringe and a container to drain the waste liquid may come in handy.
According to the maintenance schedule, the transmission oil in the Opel Astra J automatic transmission is changed every 60,000 km. In a manual transmission, according to the plan, the fluid does not change at all, and it is filled for the entire service life, but in case of replacement, API GL-4/GL-5 75W-80, 75W-90 oils are suitable for manual transmissions. The volume for replacing fluid is 2.4 liters. Owners, in addition to original oils, also use Mobilube 1 SHC 75W-90, Liqui Moly 75W-90, CASTROL Syntrax Universal 75W-90 and others. For automatic transmission, the manufacturer recommends branded oil ATF DEXRON VI GM/Opel - 19 40 184. Volume - 4 liters.
Design and features of a manual transmission
The Astra H car has a manual transmission modification F23 with 5 or 6 steps, or a 5-speed robotic manual transmission F17 Easytronic. In addition to these transmissions, a 4- and 6-speed AF17 automatic transmission is also installed.
The design of the F23 model is made of 2 shafts - drive and driven. In addition to the fact that the manual transmission and main gear, as well as the differential, are united by a common crankcase, the manual transmission has its own, additional, crankcase and a separate cover.
In a manual gearbox there are five forward speeds; There is another reverse speed. In addition to the gears, there are also synchronizer couplings on the secondary shaft. When changing speeds, they move along the axis of the shaft, including one or another gear. At this moment, their task is to equalize the angular velocities of the driving and driven gears so that their engagement occurs quickly and silently.
The robotic F17 Easytronic is a combination of:
The mechanical gearbox design is the same as the F23. The self-adjusting clutch works in the same way as if the driver presses the clutch pedal, as happens with a manual transmission. The role of the pedal is played here by a small electric motor together with a worm gearbox. The force is transmitted to the clutch master cylinder. Gears are switched automatically, controlled by an electronic control unit.
As a result, the robotic gearbox combines all the advantages of a manual transmission with the ease of driving that a classic automatic transmission provides. To make driving with such a transmission comfortable, you need to follow a few simple rules.
How is the Opel Astra J gearbox oil changed?
For all modifications of the car, this procedure is performed the same way. Preliminary work:
- First, the plug is loosened, which allows you to control the oil level. This plug is located on the gearbox housing and needs to be unscrewed.
- Checking the level. If the liquid is on or near the edge, then there is enough oil. When the level is normal, the liquid can be easily reached with your finger. At a lower level this will not be possible. In this case, you will need to loosen the plug covering the fill hole and unscrew it. The plug is located in the upper part of the gear shift housing.
Tip: Please note that this plug has special holes. If they are clogged, they need to be cleaned, since this part is assigned the function of a breather. Don't forget to replace the protective cap of the plug. You cannot drive a car without it, as dirt from the road surface will get into the gearbox.
It is more convenient to fill in oil for manual transmission Opel Astra N with a syringe. This will need to be done through the hole located on the box body until oil begins to ooze out of the hole to control the level.
Cunning. To ensure that metal shavings collect in one place and are easy to get out, a special magnet is installed in the plug at the factory. For more efficient operation, the magnet should be cleaned of any adhering metal particles before replacing the plug.
After checking the oil level on your Opel Astra is completed, the plug can be replaced. More information about changing the oil in an Opel Astra automatic transmission
Practical advice on choosing oil in an automatic transmission Opel Astra H
The original oil differs from the fake one in that it has viscosity and other technical properties that are necessary for the Opel Astra automatic transmission. If you fill it with counterfeit, there is a chance that the machine will fail within the first 1000 kilometers.
For example, it may not be noticeable to the eye, but the counterfeit product has a lower viscosity than the original. As a result, a thick protective layer will not be able to form on mechanical parts. Metal elements will be subject to rapid wear.
Due to insufficient viscosity, the automatic transmission will overheat, since the liquid substance will not be able to cool quickly when passing through the radiator. Oxidation of parts made of non-ferrous metals is possible. Therefore, I recommend buying Opel Astra automatic transmission oil only in specialized stores.
Original oil
The original oil for the automatic transmission of the Opel Astra is Toyota ATF Type T IV. This oil has all the necessary technical parameters. The lubricant freezes at temperatures below 42 degrees Celsius, and fire occurs no earlier than the thermometer shows 200 plus.
Manual Transmission
In order to drain the fluid, you will need to unscrew the bolts holding the lower gearbox cover. The fact is that the factory does not provide any other way to drain the oil, and there is no special hole for this.
Please note: with this method, the oil will flow uncontrollably, so you must work carefully as the liquid is hot. Under the checkpoint, it is worth placing a basin or other container in advance into which the waste material will be drained.
Transmission oil for Opel Astra J manual transmission is easier to fill than to drain. To do this, you need to unscrew the cover and remove the gasket. This part must be replaced with a new element after the procedure is completed.
Before starting work, the lower gearbox cover should be screwed into place. You will have to fill the oil with a syringe in the same way as when checking its level.
In an Opel Astra, changing manual transmission oil is quite inconvenient. This is a labor-intensive process that takes considerable time due to the fact that lubricant cannot be poured into the box in the usual way for other cars. However, it is possible to try using not a syringe, but a hose and a small pump. In a garage, this method is not always applicable.
After completing the procedure, start the car and try changing gears. If this is done easily, there is no extraneous noise or crunching, then you did everything right. Don't forget to replace the oil filter and reinstall all caps.
Fuel consumption for automatic and manual transmissions
Fuel consumption is a fairly important indicator of the performance of a car engine, which many car enthusiasts pay attention to when choosing a suitable vehicle.
Below is a table showing actual fuel consumption when using automatic and manual transmissions.
| Gearbox and fuel type | Fuel consumption, l |
| Automatic transmission, diesel | 6 |
| Automatic transmission, petrol | 6,8-7,2 |
| Manual transmission, diesel | 6.1 |
| Manual transmission, petrol | 6.4 |
Thus, it becomes clear that cars equipped with a manual transmission are also more profitable in terms of fuel consumption - they save significantly compared to an automatic transmission.
Reviews
Alexander, Lipetsk region. Overall I’m happy with the car, despite the stiff suspension and discomfort in the cabin when driving over speed bumps or over tram tracks. These knocks in the chassis are really annoying, especially if you go too far with the speed. Although the automatic somehow improves the smoothness of the ride, but only with a gradual increase in speed, and without any sudden pressure on the accelerator.
Andrey, Sverdlovsk. I have a two-liter version of the Astra H with an automatic transmission, which I would like to tell you more about. The box does not pretend to be aggressive due to its thoughtful transitions between gears, and is rather more tuned to a quiet ride. That is, one can only dream of sharp overtaking. But on the other hand, when driving slowly, the car has a good ride thanks to the smooth operation of the gearbox.
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