"Lada Kalina" is a very common car in Russia. It is in great demand due to its low cost and maintainability. Many people service this car with their own hands. Typically, car owners pay attention to the engine, changing its oil, filters, spark plugs and other parts. But many people forget about the checkpoint. Changing the oil in the Lada Kalina gearbox is a mandatory maintenance measure. Everyone should know about it. So, let's look at how this procedure is performed and what kind of oil to fill in the gearbox.
Characteristic
The Lada Kalina uses a classic five-speed manual transmission. This box takes its history back to the days of the “nines”. AvtoVAZ recently released a new VAZ-2180 gearbox with a cable drive. The transmission has undergone many changes, but the lubrication principle remains the same. So, several liters of transmission fluid are filled in the pan. It does not splash and is not inflated by a pump. Lubrication occurs naturally - when rotating, the gears of the intermediate and other shafts are dipped into this bath of oil. This ensures lubrication of the rubbing elements.
Many people don't know this, but this is not the only function of oil. In addition to lubrication, it also provides heat dissipation. This is why when the fluid level is low, the box quickly overheats. The gears themselves run dry, which causes a significant amount of wear. It then accumulates in the oil. Over time, its amount increases, and the liquid itself becomes darker. That is why you need to regularly monitor the oil level in the box. For this purpose, Kalina has a special probe. The manufacturer does not recommend operating the vehicle if the oil level is below the average mark.
How and where to store transmission fluid
Before use, make sure that the oil has not yet expired. To do this, refer to the label on the container. To keep your gearbox fluid in optimal condition, you will need to follow these instructions:
- Close the cap of the bottle or canister tightly. The product must be stored in airtight packaging.
- Do not leave containers in the sun or direct light. A suitable place for storage would be a cellar, attic, garage, etc.
- Check the expiration date.
- Do not store lubricant containers in a room with temperatures above 24 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the chemical elements of the oil may change and harm the box.
- Do not allow excess moisture to get inside the liquid container.
About the resource
The procedure for changing transmission oil differs significantly from engine oil. The manufacturer advises changing the transmission every 75 thousand kilometers. But experienced motorists recommend reducing this figure to 60, and if the car was new, then even to 30 thousand kilometers. Why is this so? New parts form small chips during the grinding process. Its presence in oil is undesirable. Therefore, such lubricant must be replaced as soon as possible.
Further, during operation, the oil will be subject to different temperature changes. Production will decrease, but this does not mean that after 30 thousand kilometers it will stop altogether. And the factory oil itself is not of good quality. Therefore, in order to keep the transmission intact, the oil in the Lada Kalina gearbox must be changed at least every 60 thousand kilometers.
Oil leaks and breakdowns
The first thing a novice motorist needs to remember is that it is very difficult to repair a gearbox on your own. This transmission unit has a rather complex design, and any mistake in repair can lead to an accident (and additional waste of money, time and nerves). But the main points regarding gearbox repair are still worth listing. At least in order not to pay at a car service center for incorrectly done repairs.
But it’s worth understanding the signs and causes of breakdowns in the Lada Kalina manual transmission, and the main methods for eliminating them :
- Noise and knocking heard from the gearbox. If a successful combination of circumstances occurs, the problem here will be the exhausted life of the lubricating fluid . A more unpleasant option is worn out bearings or gears . In the described case, only replacing parts will help. And it is not recommended to change it yourself - only with the help of a professional and under his direct supervision.
- Gears are switched with some difficulty . In the described case, the problem is incomplete disengagement of the clutch (the disc does not release completely), deformation of the gear shift drive rod, wear of the plastic parts of the shift mechanism, or loosening of the screw fastenings of the lever. The last two cases are the most common. Breakdowns are corrected as follows: if there are problems with the clutch disc, there is only one recommendation - contact a specialist (self-repair is impossible without special tools and skills);
- if the rods are deformed (their appearance is shown in the service book), they must either be straightened (leveled to the required level) or replaced entirely by purchasing spare parts in advance;
- Breakages of plastic parts are corrected by replacing them. But you should take into account that replacing certain parts takes a lot of time and is impossible without the help of an AvtoVAZ car repair specialist;
- loose fasteners can be corrected most easily - you need to screw in the screws and bolts that hold the mechanism in the desired position. Standard wrenches and screwdrivers are used here. But it is recommended to purchase the appropriate set in advance, since the fasteners in the mechanism are of different sizes and for different tools.
Separately, it is worth describing the problem with oil leakage in the manual transmission in the Lada Kalina. There are two likely sources of the problem: sealant damage or oil seal wear, or a crack in the transmission housing. The second case is less common, but in this case it is often necessary to change the entire manual transmission (and this is a considerable expense). And if the sealant is damaged or the seals are worn, the box is pulled out, disassembled (with certain technical knowledge, even a beginner can do this), and either the gaskets are changed or a new sealant is applied.
There is an additional reason for oil leakage - loosening of the gearbox mounts. It can be solved by simply tightening the bolts. And if resolved in a timely manner, it can be eliminated easily and without any problems.
Tools and materials
In order for the oil change in the 2nd and 1st generation Kalina gearbox to be successful, we need to prepare:
- Open-end wrench 17 (or ratchet with a head).
- Jack.
- An empty canister or any other container for draining waste. It is important that it is wide and flat, otherwise it will not fit under the bottom. You can cut the side of a motor oil can and place it under the drain hole. The Kalina's clearance allows this to be done.
- Watering can. It is advisable to lengthen it, since the box with the filler hole is very deep. For convenient filling, use a hose of the appropriate diameter. It is important that its length is at least 30 centimeters.
Let's sum it up
Taking into account the above information, it becomes clear that selecting and replacing Lada Kalina gearbox oil is not a complicated process. The main thing is to choose the right oil viscosity. It is also better to use more expensive synthetic oils as an analogue for replacement. In this case, in winter, the gearbox will operate more quietly and the gears will shift more clearly and smoothly.
Finally, we note that constant monitoring of the level and quality of the lubricating fluid allows you to promptly identify problems, as well as assess the condition of the gearbox oil in order to decide on the need to replace it.
Source
Let's get started
So, how is the oil changed in the Kalina gearbox? Before starting work, it is necessary to warm up the gearbox. This especially needs to be done if it is frosty outside. Transmission oil is very viscous, and at sub-zero temperatures it will even take on a jelly-like form. In addition, on a heated box, all the waste fluid will drain faster.
Next, take a jack and lift part of the car. Since our Kalina is front-wheel drive, we place a jack at the left front wheel (the gearbox goes exactly in this direction). Then, using a 17mm wrench, unscrew the drain plug. It is very easy to find - it is located at the bottom of the edge of the checkpoint. There is a separate hatch for it in the protection. Then we substitute an empty container and wait until all the oil is drained from the gearbox. But even with a heated box, you have to wait a very long time - at least 20 minutes. How do you then change the oil in the box in Kalina?
After this, tighten the plug with a wrench using hand force (do not overdo it, otherwise you won’t be able to unscrew it next time). Open the hood and find the filler hole. There is no neck as such on the Kalina - you will have to fill it through the dipstick. Therefore, the hose with which we extended the watering can must be thin. To prevent oil from leaking, you can quickly wrap the joints with electrical tape or a foam pad. Then fill in the liquid in full. Place the dipstick in place. This completes the oil change in the Kalina gearbox. Now you can begin daily use. There are no filters in the manual transmission, so its maintenance is limited only to changing the oil.
Volume by gearbox type
4 liter canister - for the checkpoint in Kalina-1.
3 bottles of 1 liter each - for the Kalina-2 gearbox.
The oil volume in the gearbox is different. For example, if 2.2 liters need to be filled 2181 , then up to 3.5 liters 1118 and 1119 .
Kalina cars left the factory with transmission oil from the Ryazan refinery TNK TRANS KP.
TNK Trans KP Super 75W90 gear oil is approved by AvtoVAZ. Mineral water, not for cold winter.
But you can use any other suitable oil. The main thing is that the liquid performs basic functions:
- Reduced shock loads.
- Reduced gear noise and vibration.
- Reducing energy losses due to friction.
- Protection rubbing surfaces from the wedge and excessive wear.
Taking into account the Russian frosts, it is better to fill the gearbox with semi-synthetics - domestic or imported, depending on the money.
- About the author:
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I am the editor-in-chief of the site. In our editorial office: Hyundai Accent, Hyundai Solaris, Hyundai Santa FE (turbo-diesel 2015). I now have a Lada Kalina LUX (98 horses). A car fanatic, he has owned both left and right hand drive cars. Robots, CVTs, mechanics. The only thing missing was DSG. But it will be soon.
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Helpful advice
As we have already noted, gear oil is very viscous. Even when hot, it hardly comes out of the box. Therefore, some of the liquid remains on the walls of the pan and on the shaft gears themselves. Experts recommend spilling a little fluid before replacing. To do this, pour 100-150 grams of oil into the box without tightening the plug, and wait until it comes out of the hole. Many are surprised by the result: clean transmission fluid was poured into the box, and after a couple of seconds black slurry came out. This way we will clean the gearbox as much as possible of old lubricant. This is especially useful when switching to a product from a different manufacturer and with a different viscosity.
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.
Checking the oil level
We place the car on a pit or a lift.
- Open the hood .
- Remove the air filter.
- Find the gearbox housing the dipstick from it to check the oil level. To get to it, you will have to stick your hand between the battery and pipe , which goes down from the air filter.
- Clean the dipstick rod from oil, then put it back in place until it stops.
- Take out the dipstick and check the level; it should be in the middle of the Min and Max , which are located on the rod.
- If the level is normal, put the dipstick back and replace the air filter.
Methods that are not recommended
Liquid can be poured into the crankcase of box 2181 through a separate hole, which is closed by the reverse switch. The part in question will be clearly visible if you open the hood and remove the filter box:
Dismantling this part is not easy. First, disconnect the connector, and to loosen the fastening, you will need a special socket wrench with a high head. The key size is 22mm hex.
You can gain access to the internal volume of the gearbox in another way, which is not discussed here. Together with engines 21126 and 21127, a speed sensor is used, mounted on the top of the box casing. It will be easy to dismantle this unit, but after reinstallation the tightness is broken.
The oil level in the gearbox is controlled as follows: the standard filler plug must be unscrewed, and as soon as the liquid begins to leak out onto the casing, topping up is stopped. It is advisable that the car be installed on a level surface. And it’s even better if the body is tilted to the right - excess transmission fluid has never hurt anyone.
Replacement Regulations
The official schedule for changing the oil in the Lada Kalina gearbox is 75 thousand kilometers, which is completely typical for the entire modern Lada model line. In some cases, more frequent replacement will be necessary.
For example, with the following “risk factors”:
- Frequent driving on bad and dusty roads, including off-road
- Operation in harsh climatic zones - with sudden changes in temperature (precipitation, cold snap - warming, dirt and slush, high humidity)
- Regular driving at cruising speeds, high engine speeds, engine overheating
- The driver makes mistakes when shifting gears, the transmission overheats
The above factors help to shorten the replacement interval, since the oil becomes unusable before the scheduled time. As a result, it turns out that the optimal frequency in such conditions is about 30 thousand kilometers. In any case, it is still advisable to regularly monitor the volume and condition of the oil.
What oil was filled in from the factory and which one to choose for replacement
From the factory, the Kalina gearbox is filled with mineral oil TNK TRANS KP, TU 38.301-41-191-01, which is produced by the Ryazan Oil Refinery (formerly called ROLS T). One thing many car owners prefer to fill with oils of other brands, including imported ones. Some car owners, having switched to oils of other brands, note a decrease in the overall noise of the gearbox, as well as a longer service life and reduced fuel consumption.
Choosing gearbox oil
- Lukoil GL-4 75W90 TM-4 front. priv. (4l.) p/synth price from 950 rub.
- Lukoil GL-4 80W90 TM-4 front. priv. (4l.) min price from 550 rub.
- Lukoil GL-5 75W90 TM-5 rear. priv. (4l.) p/synth price from 1100 rub.
- Rosneft GL-4/5 75W90 (4l.) synthetic price from 1150 rub.
- Rosneft GL-5 80W90 rear. priv. (4l.) min. price from 450 rub.
- TNK Trans KR Super GL-4 75W90 front. priv. (4l.) p/synth. from 1000 rub
- TNK Trans Gipoid Super GL-5 75W90 rear. priv. (4l.) p/synth. price from 1150 rub.
- XADO Atomic Oil 80W-90 GL 3/4/5 (1l.) syn. price from 750 rub.
You can also choose oils from other manufacturers, for example Shell, ZIC. The opinions of car owners are divided regarding the quality of oil from some manufacturers; I prefer to buy domestic products. Others, on the contrary, trust only imported oils.
Required oil volume for gearbox
Lada Kalina (VAZ 1117, 1118 and 1119) requires 3.5 liters of oil. When purchasing oil, you should purchase a 4-liter canister, of which about 0.5 liters will be left for refilling. If you buy 4 liters, it will be more expensive.
Choosing the best gearbox oil
First, you need to take note and understand that for Lada Kalina, as for any other car, it is better to purchase original lubricant - it is more reliable and safer. Particular attention should be paid to this. The fact is that there are now a lot of manufacturers on the market producing counterfeit products. Therefore, it is necessary to approach the issue of changing the oil with special care.
Experienced motorists who are familiar with the Lada Kalina device recommend using THK Trans KP Super lubricant. Indeed, the Lada Kalina gearbox with this oil is noticeably quieter and produces less vibration. You should also use a dipstick and regularly check the fluid level.
