Gearbox oil for VAZ 2109: making a choice

What is the best gearbox oil for VAZ 21093?

Any unit with rotating parts requires lubrication. And in the case of a variable gearbox, the lubricant must also be of proper quality. Which oil is better to buy for the transmission of a VAZ 2109? Light on this issue is shed by these instructions for choosing oil for a VAZ 2109 gearbox. Study this article carefully - here you can learn about the choice between engine and transmission oil, synthetic and semi-synthetic, as well as the choice between different manufacturers of transmission oils. Photos and videos will help you understand this difficult issue more thoroughly. So, let's begin.

Oil options for VAZ 2109 gearbox
The choice of oil for each car is different
Transmission oil
Manufacturer's choice
Foreign manufacturers
Some tips for filling oil
Conclusion

Oil options for VAZ 2109 gearbox

Gearbox oil for the VAZ 2109 requires careful selection. So what are the options - what to choose from? So:

When front-wheel drive cars appeared, owners tried two options. The first was the same as for the “classics”, that is, transmission oil TAD-17, but experience has shown that such oil is not suitable for the nine. And all because the main pair in the nine gearbox is helical, and not hypoid, as on the classic.
The second option is regular motor oil. That's where we stopped at that time. This option will be discussed in more detail later.
Now there are many other options for oil for filling in the VAZ 2109 gearbox.
Foreign oils
Various classifications (GL-4, GL-5 and TM-4, TM-5)
Various viscosities (SAE 80, SAE 90)
Mineral, semi- and synthetic oils

Advice! As you can see, the choice is large, and the correct choice is usually one or two. Take your time, but carefully study the theory before you start changing the VAZ 2109 oil.

About viscosity grade

If we talk about models such as VAZ-2106, 2107, then for these cars they most often choose a lubricant with a viscosity of 75w90. This is a synthetic or semi-synthetic base. This gear oil is excellent for use in harsh weather conditions. The temperature range at which this lubricant can be used is from -40 to +35 degrees Celsius.

In addition, oils with viscosity 75w85 and 80w85 are widely used. These are all-season lubricants that are also excellent for use in low temperatures. It is worth noting that the manufacturer recommends using these viscosity grades. In general, oils such as TNK or Lukoil of the corresponding group and class can be poured into domestic classics.

The choice of oil for each car is different

This applies not only to different car brands. Even for different VAZ 2109 vehicles, completely different transmission oil options may be suitable. Let's figure out which oil is best to use in which case.

Engine oil

M6z12G1 is used for the VAZ 2109 gearbox

So:

What are the benefits of using motor oil in transmissions? The first thing that comes to mind is its price, which is within acceptable limits.
Analyzing reviews from owners of 2109, you can notice some features. For example, there are a number of cases when a car drove 300-400 thousand kilometers on motor oil poured into the gearbox without the slightest claim for repairs.
On the other hand, other cases show that the use of engine oil is undesirable, since it leads to rapid wear of gearbox parts, such as synchronizers or gears.
So how can you determine whether the engine oil is suitable for the gearbox of a VAZ 2109? Again, analyzing the overall picture of the use of such oil, we draw a simple and very important conclusion.

Conclusion! Motor oil can be poured into the VAZ 2109 gearbox only if the car was manufactured before 1993-1995. For cars produced in later years, the use of engine oil in the transmission is highly discouraged.

Transmission oil

There are a great variety of such oils and there is not enough time and patience to consider all specific oils. Therefore, we will consider only categories of oils, and in some cases we will give examples. Go:

Let us mention the TAD-17 in a little more detail. If anyone doubts that it cannot be used in the VAZ 2109, read below the reasons for this.

Extremely undesirable oil for the VAZ 2109 gearbox

The viscosity or thickness of TAD-17 oil is very high, which leads to the following problems: the car will not start in winter; extreme pressure additives (which in themselves give a good effect) are contained in very large quantities in the oil.
A large amount of extreme pressure additives contributes to intensive wear of synchronizers.
Synthetic oil, it would seem, should be better than others. It is better in thickness, has positive qualities, and has additives. But there is one thing! The use of synthetic gear oil (designated GL-5 or TM-5) is encouraged in sports gearboxes, where the quality of the parts is better, the temperature is higher, and (in some cases) there are no synchronizers.

By the way! By carefully reading the instructions for the transmission oil, you can determine whether it is suitable for your car or not.

So, in the instructions for GL-5 class synthetic oil it is directly written: “used for unsynchronized manual transmissions.”
And one more point not in favor of synthetics is its price. The cost of such oil is high, and practicality is not very good - therefore, the use of synthetic oil in VAZ 2109 gearboxes does not make sense.
And the last option is semi-synthetic gear oil. It is perfectly suited for use in this car.
The designation of this oil is GL-4.

By the way! The service book for the car indicates the type of oil recommended by the manufacturer. This is exactly GL-4 or TM-4.

In terms of density, it is better to take the designation 75 or 85. The composition of this oil and its properties are optimal for both gearbox gears and its synchronizers.
As for the winter period, semi-synthetics will not freeze as much as mineral water, for example. In frosty weather of -25 degrees the car will start, just like in summer.

Criteria for evaluating transmission oils for manual transmissions

Standard oils for manual transmissions have two main indicators, which determine their ability to work in certain transmission components: API oil class and viscosity. These are the most common parameters in the classification of gear oils.

A mechanical transmission is essentially a set of highly loaded gears whose shafts rotate in rolling bearings. The control mechanisms, the rocker and the forks, are much less loaded. Therefore, no special emphasis is placed on their lubrication, since any transmission lubricant is usually sufficient for the normal operation of these mechanisms.

Also in manual transmissions, the design of synchronizers plays an important role. The essence of the synchronizer is to equalize the rotation speed of the mating gears before engagement. If the gears rotate at different speeds, creating mesh on the move is problematic. Typically, failure of synchronizers is characterized by tight gear engagement with a characteristic metallic grinding noise.

The synchronizer works simply. Before mating the gears, when changing gears, the synchronizer surface first comes into contact with the side surface of one of the gears and, due to friction forces, equalizes the rotation frequency of both gears. After this, the gears engage easily and without any extraneous sounds. But if there are too many anti-friction additives in the oil, the synchronizer will begin to slide along the side surface of the gear. The rotation speed will not be equalized. The box will start to malfunction.

It turns out that gear oils must satisfy the following criteria to the maximum extent:

protect loaded gears from wear and scuffing;
effectively lubricate rolling bearings;
do not interfere with the operation of synchronizers and other control units;
perform its functions for a long time.

The higher the quality of the combination of these evaluation criteria, the better the gear oil.

Manufacturer's choice

We have already listed the brief characteristics, and now you can delve into the choice of oil manufacturer for the Samara gearbox. So, who makes the best gearbox oil for the VAZ 2109?

Domestic manufacturers

So:

The gearbox oil declared by the plant is TM-4-12. Ideally, you should use it, of course. This oil was specially developed for the gearbox of this particular vehicle.
Using logic, we come to the conclusion that since it was specially developed, it must be the best. The manufacturer may be different - for example, Rexol.
For example, the M6z12G1 engine oil used in the VAZ 2109 gearbox falls slightly short of the TM indicators.
LukOil SAE 15W-40 is also a good competitor to specially developed oil, TM-4-12. The gap from it is only 4%.

Foreign manufacturers

We analyze the oil for the foreign-made VAZ 2109 gearbox:

The Castrol brand, and more specifically EP-80 and EP-90 oil, which according to the GL-4 class is undesirable for use in Samara gearboxes. Its properties are more suitable for sports gearboxes.
But the foreign company Valvoline, which produced DuraBlend SAE 75W-90 oil, distinguished itself with good performance for our car. This semi-synthetic oil is in second place, after the recommended domestic oil TM-4-12.
On the other hand, the same Valvoline, but no longer GL-4, and GL-4/5 is not suitable for high-quality operation of the VAZ 2109 gearbox.

We remember that the presence of extreme pressure additives has a positive effect on the overall performance of the gearbox. However, too much of them contributes to rapid corrosion of metals. This is because extreme pressure additives include sulfur, which corrodes gears.

From this point of view, motor oils are the best contenders (but we also remember about their other qualities).
And again, semi-synthetic Valvoline turns out to be close to the standard - TM-4-12. But synthetic, on the contrary, turns out to be the most destructive in this regard.

As for other manufacturers, it is worth paying attention to some points and studying the composition of the oil in detail. Pay attention to:

Viscosity
Oil operating temperature – pour point
Number of additives and their type
Reviews of other drivers on this oil.

For example, according to reviews from VAZ 2109 owners, the following have good qualities:

TNK semi-synthetics
ZIC 75W85 G-FF GL-4

Gearbox oil for VAZ 2109

Mannol semi-synthetic

Some tips for adding oil:

Although the stated characteristics of the VAZ 2109 car indicate that the amount of oil in the box is 3 liters, it is necessary to fill in a little more.
For a 4-speed gearbox you need to fill in 3.3 liters, and for a 5-speed gearbox all 3.5 or even 3.6. This is done so that driving in fifth gear does not strain the car so much.
A very interesting point is the use of special XADO miracle additives, which are supposedly capable of ridding the gearbox of whining. Observing the reviews of 2109 drivers, you can notice some features.
XADO additives do not give the desired effect, and at the same time they have an exorbitant price. It will be much cheaper to repair the gearbox yourself or at a service station with replacement of failed parts.
Check the oil level in the gearbox regularly so that it serves you longer and change the oil on time (70-75 thousand km or earlier if necessary).

Some more useful information

We have already decided what kind of oil to pour into the VAZ-2109 box and how much is needed. Now I would like to say a few words about what high-quality gear oil should be like. Since lubrication in the gearbox is extremely important and work is simply impossible without it, you need to use only a high-quality product that has already proven itself in the market.

Synthetic-based oils are more preferable for severe winters, when the temperature drops to -30 at night. Synthetics do not thicken as much, which allows you to start the car the first time even under such conditions. Mineral oils are less expensive, but do not perform well at sub-zero temperatures.

An important point is the number of additives. In most cases, these are sulfur compounds that reduce the likelihood of gear scuffing. This type of connection completely eliminates metal scuffing, forming a film that simply wears out during operation. But this has its drawbacks - the metal literally corrodes, but this still minimizes wear. The conclusion is that the VAZ-2109 gearbox, for which the oil was purchased wisely, will serve for a long time and properly.

Conclusion

What can you briefly say about the choice of oil for the VAZ 2109 transmission? The use of motor oil in modern cars is undesirable. In addition, it preserves the synchronizers, but corrodes the gears. Using a special gear oil developed for the VAZ 2109 - TM-4-12 - is the best option. Using other gear oils is quite possible, but the choice must be made wisely. Transmission oil should be taken only of class GL-4 or TM-4 and a viscosity of approximately 75W-90. You should choose the manufacturer for yourself - based on your budget, but not forgetting what is written a little higher. But the bottom line is this: there is simply no ideal oil, such that a car will run on it forever! The engine ruins the gears, the transmission ruins the synchronizers. And yet the special oil TM-4-12 remains the best. When choosing it, the main thing is not to fall for a counterfeit product! Happy shopping and may your VAZ 2109 drive for a long time and not break down!

Viscosity characteristics 75w and 90

According to SAE, TMs are divided into types and, accordingly, their purpose depending on viscosity. Since we will be talking about 75W-90 gear oil, we will first of all look at its characteristics.

75W – this indicator is known as “winter”, it shows the degree of fluidity at low temperatures. The lower the value in front of the letter “w”, the more fluid the transmission is in the cold. For this type of oil, the threshold should be at -40 °C.

The second indicator of the viscosity range is 90 , also called “summer”, indicating the maximum tolerated positive outdoor temperature at a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius. The parameter itself also does not reflect the true value, you just need to know that according to reference data, this threshold will be up to +35 °C.

It would seem that why 75W90 oil is the most suitable for our latitudes , why not create a universal one with an even wider temperature spectrum? But it's not that simple. Protection against friction between gear surfaces directly depends on the lubricity of the gear oil. Although this indicator significantly improves with increasing viscosity, the law of resistance comes into force, and transmission power losses increase due to the waste of energy squeezing it out from under the gear teeth. Also, viscous oil thickens very much in the cold. Less viscous, it feels good at sub-zero temperatures, but has a less durable protective film and worse lubricating properties. To balance these two indicators, special additive packages are also used.

Transmission fluid must perform the following functions:

exclude friction, jamming, scuffing, pitting (deep metal corrosion) and other damage;
reduce energy loss and increase efficiency;
remove heat from friction surfaces;
reduce noise and vibration during gear operation.

Therefore, TM 75W90 from different manufacturers, of course, is somewhat different in its properties and, naturally, in its price tag. In addition, 75W90 gear oil is often synthetic, although in some cases, a number of manufacturers may indicate it on the label as semi-synthetic. But in fact, it differs from synthetics only in the content of synthetic substances of 20% - 40% and the amount of additive from 2 to 15%.

In addition to the fact that these fluids are classified according to the SAE system, there is a division of transmission oils according to the API system with the index “GL” (in the Russian version - the index “TM”).

What can you put into the “nine” today?

With the development of the automotive market in Russia, the number of transmission oil manufacturers increases every year. What kind of oil can be poured into the “nine” box now? Experts recommend purchasing substances for the VAZ 2109 gearbox that correspond to API group GL-4. According to GOST, these can be TM-4 and TM 5-9P oils. Based on viscosity characteristics, it is better to focus on choosing products with the following SAE marking:

This is the kind of oil that experts recommend pouring into the “nine” gearbox. It is these fluids that are most suitable for gearboxes of VAZ 2109 and VAZ 2108 cars. They have a very long service life and ensure smooth operation of gearbox parts over several tens of thousands of kilometers.