The gearbox in any car is no less important and responsible unit than the engine. As in the case of internal combustion engines, the box uses a special lubricating fluid - transmission oil.
Moreover, during operation, as well as in the case of gearbox repairs, such oil needs to be completely or partially replaced. Next, we will look at when to change the gearbox oil, what needs to be taken into account when selecting transmission oil, and also which oil is best to fill in the VAZ 2114 gearbox.
When to change the gearbox oil
Let's start with the fact that today there are several types of gearboxes. The most common are mechanical, automatic, robotic and CVT gearboxes. As for the VAZ 2114, this model is found exclusively with “mechanics”.
So, in the case of a manual transmission, some manufacturers determine the replacement period according to the regulations, while others indicate that the oil in the box is filled for the entire service life of the car. For the VAZ 2114, according to the maintenance regulations, it is necessary to change the lubricant in the gearbox every 60-80 thousand km. mileage or once every 4 years (whichever comes first).
It is important to understand that in practice, replacement times can be significantly reduced if the car and transmission are operated in difficult conditions.
- In turn, severe operating conditions for the transmission include: driving within the city with constant acceleration and stopping, towing trailers and transporting goods in cars, driving on washed-out dirt roads with frequent slipping, driving on the highway at high speed, constant loads on the transmission and etc.
In this case, the oil in the VAZ 2114 gearbox may become unusable by 40-45 thousand km, which will mean the need to completely replace the transmission fluid. In fact, the oil becomes contaminated with wear products from the box, and also loses its properties, both protective and detergent, anti-corrosion and others.
To sum it up, when the car has traveled, on average, about 50-60 km, the oil in the box needs to be changed. However, that's not all. The following signs and symptoms are also considered a reason to change the transmission oil (possibly prematurely):
- the box began to work noisier;
- gears are not switched on as softly and clearly as before;
- after idle time in the winter, the gears are switched on with great difficulty;
If no other causes or possible malfunctions are found, and the oil itself is clearly contaminated or darkened during inspection, then such a lubricant should be replaced. We should not exclude the possibility that the previously filled oil turned out to be a low-quality, cheap analogue, was not correctly selected for the car, or is a counterfeit product.
In any case, such lubricant should be replaced as soon as possible. Of course, if a replacement is necessary, the question arises of how much oil is in the VAZ 2114 box, as well as what kind of oil is best to fill. At the same time, choosing gearbox oil for a VAZ 2114 may not be as simple as it might seem at first glance. Let's figure it out.
Reviews
- Igor, 44 years old. I use motor lubricant from Castrol. A few words about myself: I am a car enthusiast with great experience. I have a special education: mechanic repairman. At the beginning of my work at the plant there was a VAZ-2104, then I bought a BMW 5-series, and later a second generation Toyota Supra. Now I have three cars in the garage: Peugeot 307 and Dodge 016. I use Castrol everywhere.
- Nikolai, 35 years old. In my 2114 I use only the product from Lukoil 75w90 and I would call this oil one of the best in its segment. There are practically no fakes on the market. I have used it since 2014 and have not noticed any complaints. I also pour it into Gazelle.
- Victor, 37 years old. For a long time I have been using only synthetics and mineral water from Shell. We did not notice any complaints. I would like to note the fast start-up in cold weather. I have been using this product for more than five years and recommend it to all my friends.
How to choose oil for gearbox 2114: what you need to know
So, the VAZ 2114 gearbox is simple and reliable. However, in many respects the resource and quality of operation of the unit will depend on the oil that is poured into the unit. First of all, the choice of oil for the VAZ 2114 gearbox can be started by studying those options recommended by the car manufacturer itself. This information is contained in the technical documentation, which separately contains a list of lubricants for components and assemblies of this vehicle.
It would seem that it is possible and necessary to pour what the manufacturer himself indicated. Unfortunately, the quality of the products offered by experienced car enthusiasts is often questioned, and not without reason. As practice shows, often after replacing the factory oil in the 2114 gearbox with an imported analogue, the gearbox began to work much more clearly and quietly.
The main thing is to choose such an oil, taking into account all tolerances and recommendations. The reason is that not all oils are suitable for the 2114 gearbox. Individual operating conditions should also be taken into account separately.
- So, among what AvtoVAZ recommends, we can highlight gear oil 75W90 GL-4 or 80W90 GL-4. As a rule, it is recommended to pour Lukoil gear oil separately. In fact, Lukoil 75W90 is a semi-synthetic oil with improved properties, which is recommended by the manufacturer itself. In principle, the oil is not bad, at an average price, it works well in both high and low temperatures.
As for the disadvantages, the domestic product is still not the most affordable in terms of price. Motorists also note an increased noise level on cars with mileages of more than 80 thousand km. compared to how this box works on mineral water and high-quality semi-synthetics.
If you use Lukoil 80W90 mineral oil, this oil is cheaper than synthetic oil, and the gearbox itself is less noisy. At the same time, you should be prepared for the fact that in winter, with such oil, the gears will be more difficult to engage until the oil warms up. Also, lubricant has worse protective properties.
In addition to Lukoil, it is quite possible to use other oils in the VAZ 2114-2115 gearbox. For example, Liqui Moly 75W90, Lada Trans KP, Castrol 75W90, Shell gearbox oil, TNK 75W90, etc. At the same time, car owners and transmission repair specialists for this car model recommend abandoning both expensive synthetics and cheap mineral water.
By the way, the total volume of the transmission in VAZ 2114 cars is 3.5 liters. However, when replacing, about 3.3 liters fit (when draining the waste, the old oil partially remains in the box).
- As practice shows, it is optimal to fill the VAZ 2114 gearbox with high-quality 75W90 GL-4 or GL-4/GL-5 semi-synthetic oils (you cannot pour exclusively GL-5 oil!). This solution allows you to use the car all year round with maximum comfort; the lubricant also reliably protects parts from wear, and the gearbox does not make noise when operating with this oil.
At the same time, the owner does not incur large expenses for the purchase of lubricant. The fact is that the VAZ 2114 simply does not need expensive synthetics (for example, Motul gearbox oil), since the transmission does not experience extreme loads.
Moreover, the service life of even the highest quality synthetics is still not much longer than semi-synthetic products. It turns out that it is more rational to buy a more affordable oil and change it more often than to drive an expensive synthetic all the way.
Types of oils
As you know, oil labeling was invented for a reason. There are three types of oil that are poured into the engine and gearbox. They all have different indicators, but the main one is viscosity. So, let's look at how automotive lubricants are classified:
Viscosity of different types of oil
- Mineral water . It is obtained by refining petroleum and has a high viscosity. Can be used in almost all nodes.
- Semi-synthetic . The most popular type of oil. Ideal for use in most regions. This liquid is a mixture of mineral water and synthetics, which is obtained by properly mixing the proportions. It has well absorbed all the positive qualities from both types of oil, therefore it is recommended for use on domestic cars.
- Synthetics. Artificially synthesized automotive lubricating fluid. Less sensitive to temperature changes. It has a flowing form and is used on most foreign-made cars.
Transmission mineral oil produced by ZIC
Which oil in the VAZ 2114 box is better in terms of viscosity
Having decided which oil to fill into the VAZ 2114 gearbox, synthetic or semi-synthetic, and also choosing the optimal product from a particular manufacturer, you should also separately take into account the viscosity of the transmission oil. It often happens that the line contains suitable solutions with both 75W90 and 80W90 viscosity. So, in this case, it is necessary to take into account the operating features of the vehicle.
Let us immediately note that if the machine is used in regions where in winter the average daily temperatures do not fall below -10 or -15 degrees Celsius, then it is quite possible to fill it with 80W90. If temperatures drop lower, it is better to stop at 75W90.
We also recommend reading the article about what features gear oil has. From this article you will learn how such gearbox oils differ from motor oils, as well as what to look for when choosing gearbox oil.
This viscosity will allow for clear and relatively easy shifting of gears into “cold” gears, as well as the necessary fluidity of cold oil to protect gearbox parts from oil starvation and premature active wear.
Taking into account these features, if the question is, 80W90 or 75W90, then the latter option is the most suitable “universal” VAZ 2114 gearbox oil for most regions. At the same time, it is recommended to fill 80W90 oil into the VAZ 2114 gearbox only where winters are relatively warm.
About the choice of viscosity and the term itself
The viscosity of the lubricant is determined at maximum temperatures and at high speeds of friction of surfaces, while being characterized by three main indicators - these are dynamic, kinematic indicators, as well as indicators of the oil viscosity level index.
In terms of viscosity characteristics, both all-season and summer/winter samples are used.
Universal oils for VAZ include:
- SAE 0W30, SAE 10W40, SAE 15W40 and SAE 20W40.
- With the values on the container of all-season lubricants, the following values should be present: the first is an indicator of oil viscosity at minimum temperatures, and the second - at maximum.
- The number after the SAE index indicates the viscosity level of the oil, and the larger this number, the higher the viscosity index of a particular lubricant.
What's the result?
As you can see, before choosing oil for the VAZ 2115-2114 gearbox, as well as other models, it is necessary to separately take into account a number of features. First of all, on the VAZ 2114 the gearbox is considered noisy, especially when driving in 5th gear.
We also recommend reading the article on how to change the oil in a Lada Granta automatic transmission. From this article you will learn how to change the Grant automatic transmission oil, as well as what needs to be taken into account as part of this procedure.
For this reason, some owners try to solve the problem with oil, pouring thick mineral water into the box. On the one hand, the noise level actually decreases, but on the other hand, in winter, the wear of the “cold” gearbox also increases, the gears are difficult to engage before the transmission warms up, etc.
In practice, the “golden mean” is 75W90 transmission oil. If we take into account the above-mentioned features of selecting such an oil, then we can fully count on acceptable operation of the box in any conditions without loss of unit life.
Main motor lubricant 10W-40 from Lukoil
For all owners of AvtoVAZ cars, and primarily for those who use the car in difficult conditions: the company’s oils are suitable for extreme temperatures and when constantly moving over short distances, the oil guarantees a cold start.
Engine oil of the 10W-40 series has the following advantages: 5w40 series lubricant guarantees instant starting and quiet operation of the 2114 engine in any weather. The lubricant also guarantees high gasoline savings and effectively prevents the appearance of sediment. These lubricants have won many prizes in competitions and are very popular.
Lukoil oils are distinguished by the best anti-wear properties in almost any conditions, as well as when starting in the cold. Oxidation resistance allows the longest intervals for changing this oil. The series oils fully comply with existing quality standards.
High-quality lubricant was created and developed specifically for 14 series cars and is used in other cars of the company. The oil has the best anti-wear properties and guarantees the highest level of protection in almost any conditions, including when the engine is running in the cold. Resistance to increased oxidation allows the longest intervals for changing this oil.
Step-by-step instruction
- Warm up the car, it is better to do this on a lift, but if there is none, then you need to drive the car for about 10 km, while switching all gears;
- Raise the right front part of the car using a jack;
Important to remember! Be sure to play it safe and place a safety bar under the car, which will save your life if the jack becomes warped or weakened.
- Taking a container for draining waste and a wrench No. 17, unscrew the plug on the lower flange on the left side of the gearbox;
- If the plug is not visible (this also happens), then you will have to remove the engine protection and find the plug under it;
- Substituting the drainage container, wait about 15 minutes until all the liquid has drained, and screw the plug back on;
- Next, remove the intake pipe and air filter that prevent the assembly from being removed;
- After removing the dipstick from the gearbox, insert a funnel or the cut-off neck of a bottle into it and begin pouring new oil. You should immediately pour no more than 2 liters of liquid;
- When the lubricant is filled, you should make sure that there are no leaks and only then return the motor protection to its place;
- Add oil to the required level, periodically checking it with a dipstick, return the air filter and pipe to their place.
- The lubricant in the VAZ 2115 gearbox has been replaced, and you can start running it in.
conclusions
As can be seen from the article, the choice of oil for the VAZ-2114 is quite simple. There is a list of recommended oils from which you can choose the most suitable option for the motorist.
Those who choose quality, despite the price, are recommended to use Castrol 75w90, but Lada Trans KP is considered a budget option.
Choosing oil is a responsible task that many take lightly. The quality of the oil determines how long the unit will last, in our case the gearbox.
Before choosing gear oil, you need to look at what the manufacturer recommends.
Synthetic or mineral water
There are no restrictions on the choice of base. From the point of view of characteristics, as well as operational properties, there seems to be no difference. However, using the example of the same motor oils, we know that stable properties are retained for a long time only by synthetic bases, or oils created on the basis of semi-synthetics.
Mineral water works well at medium loads and in temperate climates. In extreme heat, the base quickly “burns out”, ceasing to be a reliable link for additives.
Synthetics are devoid of these disadvantages, have a longer service life, but the cost is corresponding. VAZ owners often prefer cheaper oils and shorten their service life. The savings are negligible, but there is always fresh oil in the box.
As usual, the truth is in the middle. The best solution is a compromise semi-synthetic. The service life and wear resistance are almost like pure synthetics, and the price is close to mineral water. The same Lukoil TM 4 - 12SAE80W-85 is produced on a mixed basis.
And the price is reasonable, and the characteristics are normal. If you do not trust the domestic oil industry, purchase foreign analogues on the same basis. A little more expensive, and no negative emotions.
