Thanks to the optimal set of consumer qualities, the Russian budget segment small car Lada Kalina has become an enviable success among buyers. This car is quite common, which is facilitated by its low cost and maintainability. The vast majority of owners of a practical “Russian car” service this car independently. Such common maintenance and repair activities as:
- changing the gearbox oil;
- changing filters and spark plugs;
- replacement of other technological fluids and much more,
- Today, almost no one raises questions or difficulties.
Sometimes you may encounter this fact when owners pay little attention to the Lada Kalina transmission unit, neglecting to change the oil in a timely manner. This measure is one of the mandatory procedures of the maintenance regulations and neglect of it creates a threat of premature failure of the specified structurally complex unit.
Today we will look at the features of such a procedure as changing the oil in the gearbox in a Lada Kalina. The procedure itself is not particularly complicated, and any caring owner should be aware of the algorithm for its implementation. We will also answer the questions: what kind of oil should I use? how much oil is in the gearbox?
Characteristics of the Kalina gearbox
For its Lada Kalina model, the manufacturer used a classic mechanical unit. In its arsenal there are five stages, not counting the “reverse” gear. This box’s roots go back to the 80s, when the owners of its “ancestors” were the “nines” that were fashionable at that time.
Then the developers significantly modernized the unit, after which the VAZ-2180 gearbox, equipped with a cable drive, was released. Many components of this transmission have undergone significant changes, but the principle of its lubrication remains almost identical to its progenitor. In the pan of the unit there is a certain amount of lubricant, the process of supplying which to the units of the unit occurs in a natural way. This means that the oil is not supplied by a pump or other forced lubrication mechanism, but is captured by shafts and gears and distributed along the internal perimeter of the unit. By the way, some owners are not familiar with this principle.
In addition to providing a lubrication effect, the working fluid has another and quite important function - it is the removal of heat generated during operation of the box. It is here that if the oil level is insufficient, the unit overheats. Gears are subject to increased wear due to dry operation. Then the chips accumulate in the working fluid and subsequently settle on the magnets, and the oil itself acquires a dark shade with the presence of a characteristic odor. These factors require periodic and timely monitoring of the lubricant level in the transmission. For these purposes, the manufacturer purposefully provided for the presence of a special probe. When the level is below the middle mark of the dipstick, operation of the unit is contraindicated.
Useful tips
Before starting to operate the vehicle, it is recommended to carry out a visual inspection of the vehicle and the parking area. If drips and oil stains are found on the floor under the bottom, you need to check the oil level in the manual transmission. Even a small decrease in oil volume can lead to intense wear of the gears, followed by serious repairs to the transmission and the vehicle as a whole.
One of the basic rules for changing oils and operating manual transmissions is that timely installation of new gaskets and oil seals instead of worn ones can help eliminate oil loss, and also prevent breakdowns and wear of gears.
Each car shows different results for the oil filled. For some, only synthetics are needed, while others work fine with cheap mineral water. Most often, drivers choose the golden mean: semi-synthetics. The most important condition is maintaining stability of operation, as well as the technical and operational characteristics of the vehicle over a long period.
Resource of transmission lubricant and engine oil
According to the regulations, the frequency of changing transmission lubricant is significantly different from the interval for changing engine oil in Lada Kalina. The manufacturer recommends that owners follow this procedure at least every 75 thousand km. Experienced professionals advise reducing the replacement period to 60 thousand km. The initial oil change in the gearbox in a new car should generally be carried out after 30 thousand km.
New parts during the joint lapping process form small chips, which are subsequently suspended in the lubricant, which is extremely undesirable. Further operation involves inevitable exposure of the oil to various temperature changes. Although after a 30,000-mile run the production intensity decreases significantly, this does not indicate that this phenomenon will completely cease. The quality of factory lubricant leaves much to be desired, so it is recommended to give preference to products from trusted brands during initial and subsequent replacements.
Checking the level
Now that you know everything about oil, now let's talk about checking the level. This type of Kalina 2 automatic transmission is equipped with a dipstick for checking the oil level. This simplifies the procedure for checking the lubricant in the Lada Kalina 2 automatic transmission.
The steps in the automatic transmission level check process are as follows:
- Warm up the automatic transmission to 60 degrees Celsius.
- Press the brake pedal and move the gear selector through all modes of the Kalina 2 automatic transmission. Stop in the “Parking” position.
- Place the Lada Kalina 2 on level ground.
- Turn off the engine. Open the hood.
- Unscrew the dipstick and wipe the tip with a dry, lint-free cloth.
- Push the dipstick back in and rotate it 180 degrees.
- Take it out and look at the sting. If the oil on the dipstick is at the “Max” level, then there is no need to add.
- If it is lower, then add about 1 liter.
ReadDo-it-yourself repair and replacement of automatic transmission valve body
Pay attention to color and quality. If the lubricant of the Kalina 2 automatic transmission has darkened or is burning, or has metal impurities, then the transmission fluid should be replaced.
What to buy as oil for the Kalina engine?
A reasonable question: what kind of oil should I use? The sales network today can offer a wide range of transmission oils recommended for the Lada Kalina box. Experts have put forward a recommendation to use a lubricant with the following temperature and viscosity parameters: from “70-W80” to “80-W85”. Regarding manufacturers, we note the products of the following companies:
- Rosneft and Lukoil (domestic);
- “Shell” (famous imported analogue);
- “Zic” (growing popular Korean oil).
Well, everyone will decide for themselves what kind of oil to pour.
Choosing the best
At the factory, TNK TRANS KP oil is poured into the car's gearbox , but the overwhelming number of car owners prefer to fill in fluids from other brands , most often foreign-made. Usually, when switching to oils from other brands, the noise coming from the gearbox is reduced service life , and even fuel consumption .
To select oil for the Lada Kalina gearbox, you need to focus on viscosity . The following list will help you here:
- Viscosity grade: 75W80 withstands temperatures from -40 to +35
- Viscosity grade: 75W85 can withstand temperatures from -40 to +35 (but in terms of characteristics it is slightly ahead of the competitor)
- Viscosity grade: 75W90 withstands temperatures from -40 to +45
- Viscosity grade: 80W85 withstands temperatures from -26 to +35
- Viscosity grade: 80W90 withstands temperatures from -26 to +45
- Viscosity grade: 85W90 withstands temperatures from -12 to +45 and above
Oil change tools and accessories
Changing the gearbox oil, what you will need:
- container;
- key to "17";
- jack;
- rags;
- thin hose and watering can.
Let's start changing the engine oil
- Before the actual procedure, we warm up the LADA Kalina transmission unit. This requires a trip.
- Raise the left front side of the car using the designated jack. Don't forget to install safety stands and wheel chocks.
- We approach the drain plug of the unit and use the key set to “17” to unscrew it (not yet completely).
- Place a container under the drain hole.
- We unscrew the plug and drain the waste. You will have to spend about 20 minutes on this process so that almost the entire volume of oil leaves the crankcase.
- Immediately tighten the plug and use a rag to remove any remaining grease on the unit body.
- Open the hood and look for the filler hole. It is not included in the Kalina box, so we will fill it through the dipstick hole.
- We connect the watering can with the hose, remove the dipstick and immerse the newly invented “filling device” into the indicated hole.
- We slowly fill in the lubricant, after which we immerse the dipstick in its original place.
This completes the gearbox oil change.
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The engine air filter should not interfere
The air filter box in Granta and Kalina-2 cars is secured with three rubber stops. It will not be difficult to dismantle them, but first you will need to disconnect all the connectors attached to the box from the outside. You will also need to remove the adsorber valve. And only then, without fear of damaging anything, the plastic box is taken to the side.
The cylinder to which the corrugation is attached is the mass air flow sensor module. This module has one connector. Disconnect it, and it is better to leave the clamp holding the corrugation in its original form.
The result of all the work done looks like this:
The filter box is simply folded back
The steps mentioned above are listed here in order:
- Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery;
- Disconnect the clip “1” that holds the power wire and disconnect the connector “2” of the mass air flow sensor (Fig. 1);
- Dismantle the canister purge valve. Disconnect the connector with the wires, then use a flat screwdriver to press the spring on the side and remove the module itself from the grooves (Fig. 2);
- All stops holding the box can be easily removed from the slots (Fig. 3).
The connector that needs to be disconnected in “step 2” will not be available in configurations with motor 21127.
Advice for changing the oil in a car
Transmission oil has a high viscosity, and even in a heated state during draining, it leaves the crankcase reluctantly. Some waste inevitably remains on the internal walls of the unit. Here, the owners of LADA Kalina recommend “spilling” some of the lubricant.
The procedure looks like this:
- Before changing the gearbox oil, you need to make sure that the drain plug should not be installed.
- We pour about 150 grams of new lubricant into the unit and wait for it to completely drain from the drain hole. First, we observe the release of a blackened liquid, and then a lighter-colored substance.
- Having completed this manipulation, tighten the plug and perform the replacement procedure discussed above.
This action is also very useful when filling a new product from another manufacturer.
Complete replacement of transmission fluid in automatic transmission
A complete replacement of the burnout in the Lada Kalina 2 machine gun is identical to a partial one. Only at the end, after you have poured in new lubricant, do you not start the engine, but do the following:
ReadIdemitsu ATF transmission oil in automatic transmission: approvals, part numbers and characteristics
- Remove the hose from the cooling system return.
- Put it in a five liter bottle.
- Call your partner and ask them to start the engine.
- Black waste will pour into the bottle. Wait until a liter has drained.
- Then shout to your partner to stop the engine. Add oil.
- Repeat the procedure.
- Do this until light oil flows out.
After this, you can put the hose in place and close the hood. Start the car and drive it for about 10 minutes. Check the level again. If necessary, add more.
Attention! If you have a high-pressure apparatus, then changing the fluid in the Lada Kalina 2 automatic transmission can be done faster and easier. The main thing is to connect the hoses to the drain and fill holes, pour fresh oil into the canister and turn on the device. The technology will do everything for the person.
Oils used
If you took the Lada Kalina from the factory and did not change the transmission oil yourself, then Magnum 300 lubricant from TNK was probably filled inside it. This is a standard liquid poured into the box at Kalina production. And in Kalina 2 they already use Kinetic SAE from the Rosneft company. Therefore, make sure what kind of car you have and what was initially filled there if you are just going to add fluid.
is mineral, which can hardly be called high-quality and effective. In terms of characteristics, it is significantly inferior to many competitors. The reason for its use has a lot to do with its cheapness. It is optimal to change it to a semi-synthetic one, which will allow the box to feel comfortable under any operating conditions. According to car recommendations, it is better to use the following oils:
- TM4 produced by Lukoil;
- Kinetic company Rosneft;
- Trans KP from Novoil;
- Translux TM4-12 from Tatneft;
- Trans KP and LZ Super produced by TNK;
- Transaxle from Shell.
Or you can select their analogues in accordance with their physical and chemical characteristics. All of them belong to API group GL4 and have viscosity classes from 75W-80 to 80W-90.
