Changing the oil in a Lada Granta gearbox with a cable drive with your own hands

December 18, 2020 Lada.Online 158 499 28

Lada Granta, Lada Priora and Lada Kalina 2nd generation cars are equipped with the same type of gearbox. If we are talking about “mechanics” (manual transmission 2180 and 2181). An automated transmission (AMT or “robot”) is also built on this basis. Let's look at the process of changing gearbox oil in detail.

When do you need to change the oil in a Lada Granta gearbox?

The answer to this question is a frequent subject of debate. The car manufacturer claims that the transmission oil is filled for the entire service life of the car. This period means 5 years of operation. Converting to mileage, it turns out to be about 100,000 kilometers.

But this period is too long, especially for gear oil. Let's try to figure out when it would be better to change the lubricant in the gearbox

First, let's remember where the Lada Granta gearbox originates. This car itself is a relative of the first Soviet front-wheel drive car - the VAZ 2108, and it was from the G8 with minor upgrades that it got this gearbox.

According to the regulations, at TO-5, with a mileage of 75 thousand kilometers, the gearbox of a VAZ 2108-2115 must be replaced with gear oil. Therefore, this regulation is also applicable to Lada Granta.

In fact, in order to extend the life of the gearbox, it is necessary to replace it a little earlier - after a mileage of 60 thousand kilometers. This is exactly what most car owners do.

Replacement frequency

The AvtoVAZ company has established clear oil change regulations that all Lada Granta owners must follow, regardless of the year of manufacture of the car. So, the replacement period is 70 thousand kilometers, and can only differ downwards. If the replacement is postponed until a later date, then you are guaranteed to encounter transmission failures. As for more frequent oil changes (before 70 thousand km), in this case it all depends on the operating conditions. There are so-called risk factors in which the oil will definitely have to be changed more often. Let's highlight some of them:

• Frequent driving on bad and dusty roads, including off-road, which is not provided for by the vehicle’s capabilities
• Regular driving at high speeds, sudden maneuvers, non-compliance with traffic regulations, including aggressive driving style
• Constant temperature changes, rapid climate change, dirt and slush on the roads
• The driver makes mistakes in shifting gears, and as a result, it overheats

This is not to say that the Lada Granta is not at all suitable for such conditions. Russian owners sometimes have to subject their car to high loads, given difficult climatic conditions. But it must be borne in mind that this will negatively affect the beneficial properties of the oils. As stated above, it will become unusable ahead of schedule. Therefore, it would be advisable to reduce the replacement frequency by two or three times - for example, change the oil every 50 or 40 thousand kilometers.

In addition, it would be a good idea to check the level and condition of the fluid in a timely manner so that you can make a timely replacement.

What kind of oil can be poured into the Grants gearbox?

The most important parameter that determines the oil in a gearbox is its class. In this case, the Grants gearbox allows the use of GL4 class oils. At the same time, semi-synthetics are poured from the factory:

• For gearbox 2190 – Lukoil TM4 80W85.
• For gearbox 2181 – RosNeft Kinetic 75W85.

The last numbers with the letter (75W85) determine the viscosity of the transmission oil and its ability to operate in low temperature conditions. The viscosity of 75W85 is sufficient for proper operation of the box at temperatures from -40 to +40 degrees Celsius. Therefore, this viscosity is well suited for almost all regions of Russia.

By and large, it doesn’t matter which brand is chosen among the manufacturers, the most important thing is that the oil is not fake. It is this factor that determines the long service life of transmission oil.

Feedback from grantmakers

By the way: the Lada Grant has various engines. On the most inexpensive trim levels there are eight-type ones, and the drain plugs are unscrewed with a hexagon. In non-budget configurations and a cable box - key 17. This must be kept in mind! Alexander Vasilievich

It’s unlikely that you can change the oil in a quarter of an hour! The dirt and oil must be allowed to drain thoroughly: you remove the filter, then wait for half an hour and let all the dirt go away...

It took quite a long time to choose from oils. At first there was a long digging through a large number of reviews on forums, information on websites for Grant, but I finally settled on Liqui Moly 5W-40. This is one hundred percent synthetic. The company has also been verified by reviews; many have been using it for a long time and recommend it.

Many people do not have the habit of paying attention, when changing engine oil, to the oil filter and also to its manufacturer. in vain! Even when you have the most expensive oil, your car can suffer because of this filter. In non-original ones (as an option: in general, it’s not clear whose production) the reduction valve may get stuck, and there will be a constant oil starvation of the engine. Therefore, carefully buy filters, take proven brands, from a spare parts supplier that has been tested by time and reviews. Basil

How much oil should be poured into a Granta box?

The answer to this question depends on what gearbox is installed in the car. The Grant uses two types of manual transmission:

• Old-style grants with a VAZ-2180 gearbox have a 3.1-liter crankcase.
• New model grants with gearbox 2190 (2181) have an oil volume of 2.3 liters.

To distinguish the old box from the new one, just look at the control drive. The latest gearboxes have a Japanese cable control drive. And on old boxes, rods (links) were used to select gears.

How to change the oil in a Lada Granta gearbox

Conventionally, the oil change operation involves the following actions:

• draining old oil;
• refilling with new fluid;

But preparation is also an important part. After all, first you need to acquire everything you need. First of all, you need a garage with an inspection hole or a lift. The second is a standard set of tools for car repair - sockets, ratchets, open-end and box-end wrenches, as well as screwdrivers.

In addition, you will also need auxiliary materials, for example, a filler funnel with a hose and a container for draining used oil.

Draining the old oil on the Lada Granta and filling it with new one

First, warm up the car to operating temperature and after 5 kilometers, return to the repair site. The oil in the gearbox will be warmed up and reach the required fluidity. Follow this procedure:

1. Place the car on the pit and jack up its right side. This is necessary to completely drain the old oil, but this method can be neglected.
2. Place an empty container under the drain hole and unscrew the plug using a 17 key. If there is protection under the engine compartment, it will have to be removed.
3. To completely drain the used oil, you need to wait about 15-20 minutes. During this time, you can free up access to fill in new oil. First of all, dismantle the air filter housing or simply move it to the side, having first disconnected the mass air flow sensor connector.
4. Remove the dipstick to check the oil level.
5. Screw on the drain plug and insert a hose with a funnel through the hole under the dipstick.
6. Pour the required amount of oil into the funnel.
7. Make sure there are no leaks from the drain plug.
8. Reassemble all elements in reverse order. Don't forget to check the oil level.

Standards and factors

How much lubricant will be used depends on its quality, viscosity, operating conditions and driving style. On average, according to the manufacturer’s documentation, the consumption per 1000 km for the Grant will be as follows:

• 8 valves, engine capacity 1.6 l, power 87 hp: consumes 50 g;
• 16 valves, motor models of all varieties: consumption 300 g.

Engine oil can be consumed more intensively - a whole list of factors affects:

1. Overflow of lubricant;
2. Clogged or faulty filter;
3. Oil viscosity. The seasonal variety is used up faster than the all-season variety. But the last one is more likely
4. loses viscosity;
5. Malfunction or high degree of wear of engine components: pistons, cylinders, pumps;
6. In a new or overhauled engine, the increased oil consumption is explained by the grinding of the elements. When it ends, consumption should return to normal.

In some cases, the reason for high expenses may be difficult to determine. But eliminating the problem is an urgent and extremely important task. Delaying it usually ends in the need for expensive and major repairs.

Is it worth it to flush the gearbox?

Many car owners are supporters of flushing the engine or gearbox of the Lada Grant and not only. They believe that in order to get rid of old oil residues, contaminants and to avoid mixing incompatible oils, the unit must first be washed with a full-fledged flushing oil or for five minutes.

In fact, it’s definitely not worth doing anything like that. The best flush is the most common oil.

It already contains all the necessary additives. In addition, you can completely drain the oil from the system by simply waiting a little. And after flushing, in any case, traces of the flushing fluid will remain in the crankcase, and they may be incompatible with conventional lubricant.

Problem of choice

So, what kind of oil is better to fill in the Lada Granta? The manufacturer of the line advises using semi-synthetic lubricants produced by Russian manufacturers. The most common are Lukoil and Rosneft 5W-30. They are the ones that are poured at dealership centers during maintenance. However, some grant makers are in no hurry to follow AvtoVAZ’s recommendations. Therefore, they use analog lubricants.

How to check the level and condition of the oil in the gearbox in Grant

Lada Granta gearboxes have a dipstick for checking the oil level. To check this parameter, place the machine on a flat surface, wait 3-5 minutes and remove the dipstick.

The oil should be between Min and Max. Maximum level allowed. The most important thing is that it is not minimal or lower.

On the dipstick, you can assess the condition of the lubricant. A brownish tint to the oil is acceptable, the most important thing is that it is not dark gray or black. In this case, the TM is seriously worn out and dirty. This means it needs urgent replacement.