Selecting gear oil for the Lada Kalina gearbox

Reasons for changing gear oil in the LADA KALINA gearbox

The gearbox is a unit with a lot of rubbing parts. The frictional force particularly intensely affects the gear teeth in the box, so they become very hot. If the impact of the friction force is not reduced in time, the teeth will begin to collapse, and the service life of the box will be very short.

To reduce friction force, special gear oil is used. But it also has its own service life, after which the oil loses its properties and ceases to perform its functions. The only solution to this problem is to fill the box with a new portion of lubricant.

Types of gearboxes installed on Lada Kalina

Long gone are the days when only manual gearboxes were installed on Ladas. Recently, AvtoVAZ products, including the Lada Kalina, have been equipped with automatic and even robotic gearboxes. In the first case, we mean the classic JATCO hydromechanical four-speed automatic transmission. It should be noted that the owners have almost no complaints about this unit, both in terms of reliability and maintainability. In addition, the Lada Kalina can be equipped with a five-speed “robot”. For reference, a robotic gearbox operates on the mechanical principle, but with the difference that the gears are switched not by a person, but by special actuators.

Transmission oil change intervals

The manufacturer has determined that oil changes in the Kalina gearbox are required at intervals of 75 thousand km. This is a fairly large gap, designed for the fact that synthetic-based oil will be poured into the box.

The conditions in which the vehicle is operated often dictate a reduction in this interval. For example, the car constantly “walks under a trailer” or with increased loads on the transmission. Then it is better to remove the oil level dipstick as often as possible and monitor not only the lubricant level, but also the technical condition: contamination and fluidity, especially if the service mileage is more than 50 thousand km.

Another reason for early replacement of the lubricant in the box can be buying a car second-hand without marks in the service book. The answer to the question of what kind of oil to pour into Kalina’s transmission should be sought first of all in the car’s operating instructions.

About the types of transmission oils for Kalina

Traditionally, AvtoVAZ recommends products for use. Lubricant produced by the same company is poured into the gearbox of new VAZ cars; it acts as a break-in and flushing lubricant until the first maintenance; after replacing it, you can select a product from another company.

Brand and volume of oil for LADA KALINA gearbox

The manufacturer specifies that the new oil must be synthetic or semi-synthetic and meet viscosity grade SAE 75W-90. This is an all-season liquid that works at ambient temperatures from -40 °C to +35 °C. 75W-80 and 80W-85 oils are also suitable. 80W-90 liquids can be used in regions where winter temperatures do not drop below -10...-12 °C.

In addition to viscosity, the oil must comply with API GL-4 class. This includes transmission fluids that are designed to operate in medium-loaded gears: hypoid, bevel and spiral-bevel, operating at oil temperatures up to +150 °C and contact pressure up to 3000 MPa.

Let's consider which oils are most popular in the LADA KALINA gearbox.

LUKOIL TM-4 (GL-4) 75W-90. This is a semi-synthetic transmission fluid used in manual transmissions, differentials and transfer cases of cars and trucks. It is made from highly purified mineral base oil, synthetic components and a multifunctional additive package. The oil has high anti-corrosion, anti-foam, anti-wear and viscosity-temperature properties. It reliably protects transmission elements under high loads, ensures smooth operation of the gearbox at low temperatures and has high oxidative and thermal stability.
SHELL SPIRAX S4 G 75W-90 . Semi-synthetic gear oil API GL-4 for manual gearboxes of cars and small trucks. Used in VAG cars as a first fill fluid. The oil does not destroy synchronizers, ensures smooth operation of the gearbox, and protects transmission elements from shock loads, corrosion and wear. It has an extended service life and improves the performance of the gearbox.
ZIC GF TOP 75W-90. Synthetic transmission oil for manual transmissions and drive axles. Compatible with synchronized boxes. In Hyuindai and Kia cars it is used as a first fill fluid. Belongs to material class GL-4/5. Meets the requirements of 75W-85 GL-4 oils. The fluid ensures reliable lubrication of all transmission elements at high speeds and heavy loads, cleans the gearbox and axles, increases the service replacement interval, reduces wear, protects against corrosion and has excellent thermal-oxidative characteristics.
Castrol Syntrax Universal 75W-90. Synthetic multi-purpose gear oil for gearboxes and manual transmissions. Suitable for use in synchronized manual transmissions of cars and trucks, as well as final drives and differentials of trucks and construction equipment. The fluid has excellent fluidity at low temperatures and effectively protects against wear under high loads. It has an extended service life and is compatible with conventional mineral oils and sealing materials.
LIQUI MOLY Hochleistungs-Getriebeoil GL4+ (GL 4/GL 5) 75W-90. Synthetic transmission oil for manual transmissions and drive axles. It is compatible with synchronizers and is resistant to aging. Thanks to a special additive package, the fluid reliably protects transmission elements. The oil prevents wear and corrosion, works well under high loads and maintains its characteristics at high temperatures. Can be used in gearboxes that require GL-4 oils and manual transmissions that are combined with a hypoid transmission.

Transmission oils recommended by AvtoVAZ

Experts recommend using oil with a viscosity of 70W80 to 80W85.

Manufacturers:

Rosneft
Shell
Liqui Moly
Lukoil
Castrol
Mobile

It is also worth mentioning that the ZIC company has also succeeded in the production of transmission fluids and is gaining a lot of positive reviews.

recommends using the following brands of oil:

Lukoil TM4 with viscosity grade: 75W-80, 75W-85, 75W-90, 80W-85 and 80W-90
NOVOIL TRANS KP with viscosity grade: 80W-85
Rosneft KINETIC with viscosity grade: 80W-85
TNK Trans KP with viscosity grade: 80W-85
TNK Trans KP SUPER with viscosity class: 75W-90
Trans KP-2 with viscosity class: 80W-85
Shell Transaxle Oil 75W-90

The use of oil from TNK is justified in cases where the car has a low annual mileage (no more than 20 thousand kilometers).

Checking the oil level in the LADA KALINA box

According to the maintenance regulations, it is necessary to check the oil level in the gearbox every 15 thousand kilometers, as well as when oil leaks are detected on the gearbox housing

We check the oil level with the gearbox cooled down, placing the car on a flat horizontal surface.
The oil level indicator (dipstick) is installed in a hole located in the upper rear part of the transmission housing (for clarity, the air filter and air duct have been removed). Remove the oil level indicator from the hole in the gearbox housing. We wipe the pointer with a rag, insert it into the crankcase hole until it stops and then take it out again.
It is better to maintain the oil level in the gearbox near the “MAX” mark on the indicator.
If necessary, add oil to the gearbox through the hole for the level indicator. To do this, you can use a funnel with a hose attached to it.
Inserting the end of the hose into the hole in the gearbox, add oil in small portions.
We control the oil level using the dipstick.

Procedure for performing actions when changing the oil in the Kalina gearbox

First, I’ll tell you about the tools and devices that will be needed when doing this work:

Wrench 17, open-end or socket.
Ratchet with a 17mm head for more convenient unscrewing of the plug (optional)
Watering can with hose (about 30 cm) for convenient pouring

The first step is to drive into a hole or lift the front of the car on a jack to crawl under the car. And then remove the dipstick from the box. To get to it, you need to stick your hand between the battery and the injector pipe, which comes from the air filter, and 30 centimeters down. The picture below shows its location:

After this, we will need a 17 mm spanner to unscrew the gearbox drain plug, the location of which can be seen in the photo below:

We place some unnecessary container under the drain, you can use any old canister, and wait at least 15 minutes until the old oil drains from the gearbox.

We screw the plug back in with medium force and you can begin the final procedure.
We take a watering can with a hose and connect them. I did everything in a hurry, wrapping it with electrical tape at the joint so that the oil would not leak.

Now we take this simple device and lower the hose into the filler hole, after which we can replace it. The volume of transmission oil in the Lada Kalina gearbox should be between the upper and lower levels on the dipstick, which is equal to 3.1 liters. It is recommended to fill 200 grams more so that the fifth gear gears are better lubricated and there is no extraneous noise or characteristic hum during operation of the mechanism.

After all the oil has been filled in and the level has been checked, you can insert the dipstick into place and consider the procedure complete. Do not forget to check the level periodically and replace it, as mentioned above, at least every 75,000 km, and if you have available funds, you can reduce this interval to 50,000 km. It certainly won't get any worse.

LADA Kalina is one of the 10 most popular cars in Russia. This is due to the fairly good quality of the vehicle, its maintainability, the presence of a large number of configurations and an affordable price. One of the units of this model, which raises certain questions among motorists, is the gearbox.

In this article we will look at what types of gearboxes were installed, how to service them and what kind of oil should be poured into the LADA Kalina gearbox.

Step-by-step instructions for changing the oil in the Lada Kalina gearbox

In order to change the oil in the gearbox of a Lada Kalina car, we perform the following steps:

The car is driven into a garage with a pit, onto a lift or onto an overpass. This is important because you will have to gain access to the underside of the car.
Depending on the fasteners, use a screwdriver or wrench to unscrew the engine mudguard fastenings. Set the splash guard aside.
Locate the drain hole on the vehicle's transmission. Place a container under it. Unscrew the plug of the control or filler hole, if there is one, or remove the dipstick from the neck, this will reduce the pressure in the lubrication system when draining the “working off”. If access to the dipstick is difficult, remove the air filter housing and move it to the side.
Using a wrench, unscrew the drain cover. Be careful when unscrewing. At first, the oil will come out of the system in a thin stream, but after the plug is completely unscrewed, it will begin to flow under great pressure. Use gloves. It is advisable that when draining the fluid the engine is not cold, due to this the substance will be more viscous and will drain out of the transmission faster.
While the oil is draining, visually assess the condition of the drain plug. If it is too dirty, clean it of debris and wear and tear. Check the condition of the seal; if it is badly worn, it is recommended to replace the part. Otherwise, you may encounter a problem with lubricant leakage.
When the liquid has drained, assess its condition. If the gearbox is functioning properly, it should be free of metal dust and other impurities. The presence of deposits indicates contamination of the unit, so it is recommended to wash it. To clean the transmission, the filler hole must be closed and flushing is performed using a special product. There is a large selection of such liquids; the product is purchased at a car store. To flush, pour about 1.3 liters of cleaner into the gearbox housing. Then the front part of the car must be hung, for this the wheels are placed on a jack. Start the engine and engage first gear, press the gas. Due to the fact that the front of the car is raised, you can drive in first gear for several minutes. After this, the procedure for draining the waste fluid from the system is repeated. If the flushing oil is too dirty after cleaning the unit, the procedure must be repeated. After this, wipe the drain and fill plug again.
Remove the dipstick from the inspection neck to check the level.
Now you can fill it, it is done through the control hole. You must pour fresh oil into the transmission using a syringe with a connected pipe, otherwise you will not be able to refuel the unit. One end of the hose is inserted into the control hole, on the other side the liquid is supplied into the system using a syringe. About 3.1 liters of oil is poured into the gearbox, the volume of the substance is controlled by the dipstick.
When the filling procedure is completed, install the meter in place. Reinstall all previously removed components in reverse order. When the process is complete, take a test drive of the machine and check the lubricant level again.

How much oil is in the Lada Kalina box, what kind to fill and how to change

Almost all manufacturers unanimously insist that the gearbox oil does not require replacement throughout its entire service life. Although research shows a completely different picture. For the Lada Kalina, as for most cars, the fluid in the gearbox simply needs to be replaced. This is due to the loss of physicochemical properties.

Changing the transmission oil

Plug unscrewing tool

Every car enthusiast should know that timely oil changes in the Kalina gearbox affect the service life of the car and the entire power unit. In this regard, replacing the fluid at the checkpoint of a domestic vehicle is the most important step in maintaining the device in normal operating mode.

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