2003 Chevy Cavalier Gear Whine?

Whenever I drive my car, I can hear a howling noise coming from my front end. At first I thought it was my tires, but its much louder than a tire should be. When i pull up to a stop, regardless of gear or whether or not I am depressing the clutch, it makes a noise almost like a creaking. I cannot imagine that it is a good thing. Also, it is a problem that Automatic transmission fluid has been in my car since before I bought it? I thought manual transmissions required gear lube...