Stopping gearbox leaks, noise and improving overall feel and performance

When you consider the sheer amount of loading that manual gearboxes have to deal with, it is astounding how smoothly they perform under all sorts of driving conditions. The transmission system has to handle constant load changes. The gearbox has to transmit power from the engine to the wheels when driving and then transfer the load from the wheels back through the gearbox to the engine on overrun, sending immense forces through the shafts and bearings each and every time.

Constant load changes, running at high speeds and high temperatures on the motorway and low speeds and low temperatures in stop-start traffic just goes to show what a gearbox has to handle.

Driving in congested traffic places additional stress on the transmission system. The result of repeated pulling away subjects the differential and first, second and third gears to overproportionate loading and wear and degrades the gear oil faster.

The demands placed on the transmission system are numerous, wide-ranging and force design compromises to be made. The gearbox must be efficient but not noisy and sturdy enough to handle the high-power outputs of modern engines but not heavy. Modern transmission systems have to square the circle, i.e., be ultra-smooth in operation whilst being able to handle power outputs of 150 horsepower and above with ease but still be lightweight in design.

Despite the long list of requirements, modern transmission systems deliver what is required of them. Under real-world operating conditions this means that, even if the vehicle is not driven hard, something has to give. The longer a gearbox is in use, the greater the chance that the bearings and synchro-hubs will wear and seals etc will start to leak or internal components will fail.

Despite the gearbox being a masterpiece of mechanical engineering, it can be turned into a pile of scrap metal without a gear oil that is also formulated to the same standard. Effective lubrication is essential and the gear oil has to work reliably under all sorts of conditions. The gear oil has to provide consistent lubrication and be able to withstand the extreme pressures at work in the gearbox, the effects of metal particle contamination and many other stresses. The oil must also function as intended under differing climatic conditions, i.e., maintaining the prescribed viscosity at temperature extremes.

Some manufacturers insist that the gearbox is sealed for life and therefore do not even specify an oil change interval. No doubt this is done to keep maintenance costs low, but not replacing the oil simply stores up trouble for the future. Over time, gear oil ages and loses its ability to provide a reliable lubrication film. Not replacing the gear oil equates to prematurely and unnecessarily shortening the life of the gearbox in an attempt to keep the maintenance costs low on paper.

But what can you do before the tell-tale signs appear or, at higher mileages, before minor leaks or noises develop into major component failures? Nobody strips down a gearbox of their own free will, just because of a minor transmission rumble or when a small leak develops.

Fortunately, BIZOL has come to the rescue and developed a product to solve these problems, which can even be used preventatively. The solution does not involve several days in the workshop and vast sums for parts and labour. What it does involve is adding BIZOL Pro Gear Oil Protect and Leak Stop+ p92 to the gear oil.

At the first signs of a leak or difficult gear selection add Pro Gear Oil Protect and Leak Stop+ p92. Better still, drain the gear oil to remove the old metal filings and ‘tired’ oil, pour in a tin of Pro Gear Oil Protect and Leak Stop+ p92 and fill the gearbox with fresh gear oil.

Pro Gear Oil Protect and Leak Stop+ p92 is a gear oil additive which was developed to prolong the oil change interval, improve gear selection, reduce noise and eliminate leaks in manual transmissions. The active ingredients seal porous gaskets and rubber seals reliably and help to prevent leaks from developing.

Highly-effective MoS₂ has been added to improve gear selection, reduce friction and wear and ensure quieter running by coating worn contact surfaces on gear teeth and all moving components in the gearbox. Antioxidants have been added to improve the efficiency of the gear oil and extend the oil change interval by slowing down the oil aging process.

So, before taking the plunge and removing and stripping down the gearbox or replacing the entire unit, try Pro Gear Oil Protect and Leak Stop+ p92 first. Adding Pro Gear Oil Protect and Leak Stop+ p92 in good time, can breathe new life into the gearbox and save a lot of time and money.