Complete oil change for VAZ 21213 in all units

Serial production of the first Soviet SUV, belonging to the small class, started in 1977. Since then, the VAZ-2121 Niva and its numerous modifications have held the lead as the most widespread and popular representative of all-wheel drive vehicles. And for all such vehicles, it is necessary to promptly replace transmission fluids in the gearbox, transfer case and drive axles. How to change the oil in the front and rear axles of the Niva is the topic of this article.

How to change the oil in the front and rear axles of a VAZ Niva.

When to replace

All transmission units (manual transmission, transfer case, both axles) are serviced simultaneously.
The first time, according to the service book, this must be done after driving 45 thousand kilometers, the next replacement of transmission fluids is carried out when the speedometer shows an indicator of 105 thousand kilometers, then every 60 thousand km. mileage To avoid them for as long as possible (driving 300,000 km on a Niva with regular scheduled maintenance is not a problem), it is recommended to change the oil in Niva axles 2121, 21213, 21214 and other modifications every 50 - 60 thousand kilometers, and when operating the car mainly in difficult conditions - after 30 - 40 thousand.

Transfer case

This is another important transmission unit of the Chevrolet Niva. It includes a range multiplier and a lockable center differential. The transfer case also changes the amount of torque, but not in the same way as the gearbox. In addition, it distributes it between the axles, front and rear, maintaining a 50:50 ratio. The differential is locked to improve maneuverability if road conditions are very difficult.

The transfer case (in the picture its lever is 2) can be switched similarly to a gearbox, only the purpose of the lever shifts is completely different. There is a neutral position (NII–V). There is a high gear (HI) used for normal road conditions, with the differential unlocked. If it needs to be blocked, transmission (HIV) is activated. In difficult areas, the lever switches to LIII if the differential does not yet need to be locked. If it’s really difficult to drive, you need to switch to LIV, blocking the bridges between them. The wheels then rotate at the same speed.

You can switch from the Low position (L - low gear) to the High position (H - high gear) while driving. In this case, you should squeeze the clutch twice, because the transfer case does not have synchronizers. Switching from H to L positions is only possible after the vehicle has stopped. In addition, you cannot lock the differential at high speeds, as you can lose control of the car when cornering. The transfer case uses the same gear oil that is used for the gearbox.

Niva 2131 how to fill oil into the rear axle housing video

Home » Articles » 21214 Niva oil change in transfer case

For any vehicle, the importance of timely replacement of lubricants cannot be overestimated. Oils used in components and assemblies subject to friction at high speeds significantly reduce their overheating and wear, helping to extend their service life.

Among such components, one cannot fail to note the transfer case, which is equipped with all-wheel drive vehicles.

note

Both old Niva cars and models under the Chevrolet brand, produced since 2002, need no introduction - these are one of the most popular all-wheel drive vehicles in our country, which have earned the love of motorists for their unpretentiousness, ease of maintenance and low cost.

What is especially pleasing is that the vast majority of maintenance operations on a domestic SUV can be performed independently, without turning to the help of specialists or a car service center. In particular, this also applies to changing the oil in the Niva transfer case - a procedure that does not require special professional skills or special tools.

Also interesting: Rating of the best off-road SUVs in 2020

The oil in the Niva transfer case should be checked every 10 thousand km.

07.12.2017

The Niva 21214 car is distinguished by its increased cross-country ability on roads. The car has an engine that has a volume of 1.7 liters, which complies with Euro-4 standards.

The transmission system includes a transfer case with a crankcase ventilation system. All components on the VAZ 21214, just like on the VAZ 21213, are characterized by a long service life.

It is important to take proper care of the automotive system and select high-quality oil for the Niva.

The Niva SUV (VAZ 2121), which has all-wheel drive and is equipped with a manual transmission, is capable of producing 75 horsepower.

HomeVAZ 2110 Niva 2131 how to fill oil into the rear axle housing video

Results

In most cases, the Niva is used for off-road driving, which puts a lot of stress on the transmission. Therefore, it is optimal to change the oil after a mileage of 15–20 thousand kilometers. Do not save where it is fraught with bad consequences. When performing vehicle maintenance, evaluate the condition of all engine components, and also change filters and spark plugs at least once every two oil changes.

The transmission on a Chevrolet Niva requires careful care and oil changes according to the manufacturer's regulations. But we’ll try to figure it out in this article about which oil is best to fill.

Transmission oil tolerances

To begin with, you need to indicate what tolerances and viscosity the manufacturer recommends. So, in order:

• Manual transmission
  – SAE 75W90, 80W85, 80W90.
• Transfer case
  - SAE 75W90, 80W85, 80W90.
• Front and rear differential
  –75W90, 80W90, 85W90.

For front and rear axle gearboxes according to API GL5, or GL4/GL5 (simply GL4 is not allowed).

It should be remembered that by observing these tolerances and changing the oil on time, you can extend the service life of the units

, as well as reduce the noise of their operation. Unfortunately, the noise of the gearbox and the howling of the bridges are a typical case for a domestic car.

Transmission oil

Here are some brands of oils that have proven themselves to be proven and well proven.

Eneos 80W90 Gear GL5

Transmission oil ENEOS 75W90 GEAR GL-5, 4 l

From positive reviews and advantages: stable retention of fluidity in harsh conditions of low temperatures (-30 C). The disadvantages include the presence of only 4-liter containers.

Castrol Syntrax Universal Plus 75W90 GL4/GL5

Castrol Syntrax Universal Plus 75W90 GL4/GL5

Perhaps the main advantages include the replacement interval, about 300,000 km in the gearbox. Provides smoother operation of the transmission and reduces operating noise. Disadvantage: relatively high price.

Mobil Mobilube HD 75W90 GL5

Mobil Mobilube HD 75W90 GL5

Relatively low cost with good quality from a famous brand, no special comments on the oil, quite a popular product.

Shell Spirax S5 ATE 75W90 GL4/GL5

Shell Spirax S5 ATE 75W90 GL4/GL5

Oil for sports cars, also suitable for Chevrolet Niva. It has helped out more than once when complaining about noise from the gearbox/transfer case. Designed for heavily loaded transmissions, recommended for off-road use.

Mobil Mobilube GX 80W90 GL4

Mobil Mobilube GX 80W90 GL4

High-quality oil based on paraffin oils, a modern package of anti-wear additives. No major deficiencies were found.

Motul Gear 300 75W90 GL4/GL5

Perhaps one of the leaders. Copes well with loads throughout the entire rev range. However, you have to pay for quality; the price is quite high.

Owners of domestic VAZ 2121 and 2131 cars should know what gear oil to fill and how to do it correctly with their own hands in a garage? This requires a suitable lubricant and a certain set of tools, and we will talk about this in detail in today's material.

The physical and mechanical properties of various Niva gearbox oils affect their performance properties. Not every car owner understands the intricacies, and determines the oil only by the range of use of a particular product. Experts recommend following a number of criteria when choosing gear oil for Niva:

• the oil must be suitable taking into account the current condition of the gearbox;
• the product must meet the requirements of the car manufacturer;
• suitable for the season of operation of the car;
• gear oil for VAZ 21214 or 21213 must be real.

Choosing the right gear oil

All Niva transmission components are filled with the same mineral oil at the factory. During maintenance, they usually fill in the same oil, and not always of good quality. This fluid is really good, but only for the break-in period of a new car. When driving 10 - 15 thousand km.

It is recommended to replace mineral water with semi-synthetic water, which has better performance characteristics. Synthetic lubricants for Niva axles are not the best choice, since in hot weather their viscosity is so low that the chances of oil seal leakage increase. In severe frosts, the mineral water thickens so much that both changing gears and moving the car becomes very difficult until it warms up.

The viscosity of transmission oil for Niva 2121, 21213, 21214 is 75W90. You can fill in any mineral or semi-synthetic transmission fluid with the appropriate characteristics. At the same time, 1.3 liters of oil is poured into the rear axle of the Niva of all modifications, and 1.15 liters into the front axle. The oil volume in the Niva's rear axle is slightly larger, since this is, by definition, the main drive axle, and the load on it is generally slightly higher.

And also interesting: Do-it-yourself Niva tuning is accessible even to a beginner

How to choose

Two types of fluid are poured into the transfer case: transmission oil or ATF fluid. On cars with an automatic transmission, ATF is usually filled into the transfer case, and on cars with a manual transmission, the transmission is filled. In this case, often the liquids must match or be completely compatible.

This is due to the fact that usually the connection between the transfer case and the gearbox is made by a single shaft, or one is attached to the body of the other. When mixing liquids, this will avoid the formation of emulsions, foaming and other side effects.

The viscosity characteristics of oils play an important role. Let's look at the meaning of the numbers using 80W90 oil as an example:

• 80 – viscosity at low temperatures
• W – all-season
• 90 – viscosity at high temperatures

If ATF is used, it is better to fill in the original fluid recommended by the manufacturer, or an analogue that has the appropriate approvals.

VAZ 21213: oil change in all units

Filling with oil

Many car owners are faced with the task of having to perform maintenance on their car.

At the same time, some perform the maintenance with their own hands and enjoy the repairs, and at the same time save their money, some prefer to spend money (so as not to get dirty and mess around) and take the car to a car service center, blindly trusting their iron horse to strangers.

And, by the way, changing the oil of the VAZ 21213, as in other models, is a responsible process and the service life of all components of the car directly depends on its correct and timely implementation! The replacement process is simply elementary, it doesn’t take much time, and anyone can do it themselves.

Functioning of the checkpoint

The Niva Chevrolet gearshift mechanism is five-speed mechanical. Its main function is to change the torque transmitted from the engine to the wheels. The manual transmission has a three-shaft design. Unfortunately, the Niva Chevrolet gearbox, having a complex design, often fails. It should be noted that its repair is quite expensive.

Therefore, it is important to periodically check the lubricant level and change the oil in the gearbox on time.

For this purpose, transmission fluid of API GL-4 standard with viscosity of 75W-90 and 80W-90 is used. They are produced by both domestic manufacturers (TNK and Lukoil) and foreign ones - Shell, Mobil, Castrol, Total, ZIC, Motul. Of all the above, the French lubricant Motul Gear 300 75W-90 showed the best performance in terms of protection against scuffing, film stability on contacting surfaces, and anti-wear characteristics.

In second place was Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W-90 transmission fluid, third was Mobil Mobilube 75W-90 oil. All of them can operate at temperatures from -35 to +35°C, ensuring easy gear shifting and stable operation of the manual transmission

The price of these products is quite high, so it is worth paying attention to the domestic semi-synthetic transmission made by Lukoil - TM-4 75W-90. It is not much inferior to foreign competitors, but at the same time it is much cheaper and better adapted to low temperatures

The manufacturer also allows the use of transmission fluids of viscosity 80W-90 and 80W-85.

It should be remembered that you cannot fill the gearbox with API GL-5 standard transmission oil. In terms of its performance, it seems to be better - it can operate at high speeds and loads, as well as high temperatures. But it contains sulfur-phosphorus extreme pressure additives, a large amount of which can simply “kill” the gearbox synchronizers. They contain bronze, not durable steel. A large number of such additives are contraindicated for her. Therefore, compositions of the GL-5 standard should be poured into axles and gearboxes.

Sequence of actions for changing the oil

Draining the old oil and filling in new oil in the front and rear axles of the Niva is a generally similar procedure, but differences still exist due to the design features of the domestic SUV. Changing the oil in the Niva's front axle is carried out simultaneously with changing the fluid in the gearbox; in any case, you will not need other tools and materials, including:

• a special technical syringe (or a funnel of suitable size and geometry);
• hex wrench 12;
• 17 mm spanner (working with a socket wrench will be extremely inconvenient and ineffective);
• rags, container for draining waste.

The drain hole can be found on the lower plane of the front axle, the filler hole is located on its side wall.

The procedure for changing the oil in the Niva's front gearbox:

1. Place a container prepared in advance under the drain hole.
2. When the filler plug is unscrewed, the draining process occurs noticeably faster, so first unscrew it.
3. Unscrew the drain plug with a hexagon.
4. We wait until the old lubricant flows out (this takes an average of 15 minutes).
5. We screw the drain plug into place, having previously cleaned it and the seat from dirt and old oil.
6. Fill in fresh transmission fluid in a volume equal to the amount of waste (this is a little more than a liter).

7. We tighten the filler plug.

Also interesting: Chevrolet Niva central locking diagram: what to do if the lock from the key does not work, where the control unit and relay are located

To change the oil in the rear axle of a Niva, you will need the same tool, since both the drain and filler plugs are the same. However, the procedure itself is practically no different, with the exception of the location of the gearboxes:

• place a suitable container under the drain hole;
• use a hexagon to unscrew the drain plug located at the bottom of the rear gearbox;
• drain the old lubricant (this will take a total of 10 - 15 minutes);
• thoroughly clean the plug itself and the area around the drain hole with a rag;
• we screw the plug into its regular place, but without fanaticism;
• Unscrew the filler plug located in the middle of the rear axle using a 12mm wrench;
• fill in fresh lubricant in a volume equal to the collected one, use for this either a technical syringe or a funnel with a connected hose;

• if the liquid does not reach the lower edge of the filler hole, add it until it begins to spill;
• clean the filler plug together with the seat from drips and dirt, tighten the plug;
• Usually, when changing the oil in the rear gearbox, they unscrew and clean the breather, put it in place, replacing the gasket if necessary.

As you can see, pouring new oil into both the front and rear axles of the Niva is a simple procedure. And, as already noted, it is carried out together with the replacement of lubricant in the gearbox and transfer case during TO-4, TO-8 and so on.

Read news about the new Niva

• Changing the oil in the Niva Chevrolet transfer case: which transmission oil is better to pour into the box and axles, volume in the gearbox, do-it-yourself replacement
• Front axle. VAZ 21213, 21214 (Niva)
• Replacing the drive gear oil seal of the front axle VAZ 2121 Niva 2131
• Quantity of oils and fuel liquids VAZ 4×4 2121 Niva
• How to remove a brake drum on a Chevrolet Niva
• Hard or soft brake pedal. What is the reason and what to do
• How to bleed the brakes of a Niva Chevrolet
• Rear disc brakes

Used (operating) fluids and filling volumes

FILLING CAPACITIES

* For VAZ-2131 cars and its modifications.

*For vehicles with fuel injection system equipped with an exhaust gas converter

There are several different types of transfer cases, and depending on the type of mechanism, the frequency of replacement can vary significantly. Usually this information is contained in the technical documentation for the car and varies in the range from 50 to 100 thousand kilometers.

You will need:

1. A special syringe for pumping out technical fluids (cost 500-800 rubles). You can use a medical one, but due to its small volume, the replacement process will be significantly delayed. It’s up to you to decide what’s more valuable – time or money.
2. Transfer case oil (transmission/ATF) recommended by the manufacturer or having the appropriate specification.
3. Gasket sealant, degreasing liquid.

It is recommended to change the oil after a trip, when it is warm and has greater fluidity.

To prevent dirt from getting inside the transfer case, you should clean the surfaces before unscrewing the plugs.

The use of lubricants plays an important role in the operation of any vehicle. Changing the oil is one of the most common and necessary jobs on a car and does not necessarily require the help of a qualified mechanic. You can change the oil yourself in the famous Chevrolet Niva, thereby saving your budget.

FILLING CAPACITIES