VAZ 2121: oil change - how to do it right

The heart of the VAZ 2121 car is the engine. For its proper and long-term operation, good lubrication is required. Typically this is a synthetic or mineral-based motor oil with varying viscosities and a variety of additives that reduce friction between parts and restore rubbing surfaces. In units where lubricating fluid is used, extreme temperature conditions arise, which leads to the appearance of wear products of rubbing parts. They contaminate the base, because of this, over time the liquid may lose its properties, and the unit will need to replace the VAZ 2121 oil.

How much oil to fill in Niva 21214 transmission

How often do you change the gearbox oil? — According to the car’s service book, the gearbox oil needs to be changed every 40 thousand km.
If the car is new, then the first replacement must be made after 2 thousand km, and the next replacement after 40 thousand km. How much oil should be poured into the gearbox? — 1.6 l.

What kind of oil should I put in the gearbox? — Gear oil with API GL-5 and viscosity 75W-90 Use the table to determine the oil of the appropriate viscosity. See recommended oil brands here .

Recommended temperature ranges for use of transmission oils.

Is it necessary to flush the gearbox when changing the oil? — If the oil is excessively contaminated or has foreign impurities, the gearbox can be washed by pouring 1 liter into it. flushing oil. — Close the filler plug, set the transfer case lever to the neutral position, engage 1st gear in the gearbox and run the engine for 2-3 minutes; — drain the flushing oil completely; — wipe the oil drain plug and put it in place.

We carry out the work on an inspection ditch or a lift. Before changing the oil, you need to warm it up by driving the car for at least 10 km. and immediately begin replacing before it cools down.

Use a 12mm hex to unscrew the drain plug...

...and drain the oil into a substitute container. (prepare a container with a volume of at least 2 liters)

Cleaning the drain plug magnet...

Using a 17 key, unscrew the filler plug. We perform flushing (if necessary) as described at the beginning.

Using a syringe, fill in new oil to the level of the lower edge of the filler hole (in the photo the front driveshaft has been removed for clarity).

The oil level should reach the edge of the filler hole, or millimeters below.

We wrap the filler plug.

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:

Another important rule should be mentioned: never choose oil based on the principle that the more expensive the better. Often it turns out to be completely wrong.

Main indicator of liquid

The most important characteristic that you need to pay attention to when choosing a lubricant is its viscosity. If we are talking about oil, the composition must meet the requirements of international quality standards SAE J306. This type of certification was developed in the USA and is generally accepted today. Therefore, first of all, you need to make sure that the selected oil is accompanied by all the necessary documentation or that all the necessary information is indicated on the packaging.

When deciding which oil to pour into Niva axles and other components, you need to evaluate the viscosity of the composition. According to the standards, the letter “W” corresponds to this indicator. As a rule, such a symbol is indicated on seasonal compositions. If there is a letter “W” on the package, this indicates that the liquid can be used in winter. In the absence of this symbol, oil may only be used in positive ambient temperatures.

Based on this, many believe that seasonal lubricants are much better. However, this is not quite true. The fact is that when operating any car, you need to change the oil even before it has exhausted its service life. Therefore, you should not be happy if the composition does not change its characteristics throughout the year.

All-season formulations are also on sale. These are the so-called thickened oils. They have the characteristics of both summer and winter lubricants.

It is equally important to pay attention to the performance properties of oils. In this case there are also certain standards (APIs). Also, when deciding what kind of oil to pour into the Niva, it is worth considering its composition.

Manufacturer's requirements

The car manufacturer, taking into account the design features of a particular transmission, puts forward requirements that the oil used by car owners must satisfy. These requirements are always indicated in the service book. On the packaging of any oil, in addition to the product name, there is always a marking with the following information:

The gearboxes of VAZ 2121 all-wheel drive vehicles have a hypoid main pair, which operates at high speeds at low torques and shock loads on the gears. Oils for these domestic machines must belong to the following operational groups:

After studying the service book for the car, you will find the automaker's recommendations for a specific group. Using lower groups of oils in hypoid axles will lead to unpleasant consequences. For example, scuffs may form on the rubbing elements, and this will cause expensive major repairs or replacement of the entire gearbox. First of all, this is due to the fact that oils of low performance groups have lower welding load and scuffing index, that is, they cannot withstand the necessary loads.

Another important indicator that is present in the marking of gear oils is the viscosity class. All oils, including transmission oils, are divided into all-season and seasonal.

Read about changing engine oil in Niva on our website at the following link.

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.

What kind of oil should I put in the NIVA box?

Since gearbox lubricants are not so expensive, you don’t have to skimp on quality. If you pour frankly cheap fluid of dubious origin, the gear will not engage at the right time. And repairing the box will cost more than the money saved. Just like for an engine, there are temperature tolerances for viscosity.

Parameters in the table.

The box is more sensitive to the quality of fluids, since it operates under increased loads in off-road modes. Despite the fact that when you buy a NIVA, mineral water is poured into the transmission, at the first replacement it is recommended to flush the gearbox and fill it with synthetic

. This does not contradict the warranty, but the box will last longer.

Which oil is better: mineral water or synthetic

We will leave environmental issues to Greenpeace; for NIVA owners, the main thing is reliability. The point is in the base from which the technical fluid is made. Mineral water or semi-synthetic is cheaper to produce, but the resistance to delamination is much lower.

On the other hand, replacing transmission fluid on NIVA SUVs occurs quite often; even the most unstable base simply does not have time to lose its factory properties.

The waste consumption of synthetics is higher, since the penetrating ability of such a base is better.

All-season oils

Due to their thickened nature, these lubricating compositions are non-Newtonian fluids, and their viscosity depends not only on temperature, but also on the shear rate gradient. The indicator is determined by the ratio of the speed of movement of the friction surfaces relative to each other to the gap between them, which is filled with oil. Consequently, the properties of multigrade oils depend on the condition of the thickeners contained. Their viscosity decreases as a result of the destruction of thickening additives. Regardless of the content of the latter, the kinematic viscosity of oils is similar to the viscosity of seasonal oils in the optimal temperature range. As the temperature decreases, thickened oils become thinner.

The first number in the oil viscosity designation indicates the viscosity of a cold liquid, and the second number indicates the viscosity of a hot liquid. Theoretically, this means that the larger the second and smaller the first digit, the better, since with a low first digit, the transmission will be easier to operate at negative air temperatures, and with a higher second digit, the strength of the oil film will be higher. Consequently, obtaining optimal consumer performance is associated with several difficulties that manufacturers face. They work to make the oil more viscous at high temperatures by using thickeners that make the lubricant more viscous at low temperatures.

Gear shift mechanism

This component consists mainly of a plate with cutouts that are rectangular in shape. All this is enclosed in the main body and is controlled by a lever.

The speed control mechanism is mounted on studs at the rear of the box. The neutral position is located between the third and fourth speeds and is adjusted by bars with spring guides. The plates are located in the guides to provide mechanical movement of the lower part of the lever.

The drive is based on three rods that connect to forks. Forward gears are engaged as a result of the forks entering special holes in the couplings. The rear entry is activated when the fork enters a special hole.

How to choose real oil?

The older generation of motorists remembers the times when TAD-17I transmission oil dominated the market, but even this was not enough for everyone and they had to look for analogues. Modern car enthusiasts do not have this problem, but have another one related to choosing the right oil from dozens of products offered by different stores. For example, today you can easily run into a fake of unknown origin, sold under the brand of high-quality gearbox oil Niva 21214.

To avoid problems, you need to buy transmission oils in trusted stores with a good reputation. In such places, consultants will help you choose the right oil for your needs and provide the necessary technical documentation that will confirm the fluid’s compliance with the requirements of classifications and standards.

You can understand this issue by consulting with employees of auto repair shops that specialize in transmissions. They know well which gear oil for Niva 21213 or 21214 is best suited. Such specialists constantly eliminate the consequences of natural wear and tear of units during operation or their breakdown due to the use of inappropriate lubricants.

Lubrication

On previous versions, drivers encountered problems with the lever's operation. It was possible to accidentally engage reverse gear instead of fifth. This issue has now been fixed. The solution was found in the form of installing a blocker, which is located at the end of the traction fork.

Now, to engage reverse gear, you need to squeeze the clutch and only then move the lever to position R. In this case, the locking stop drops below the special lining. In order for the mechanism to work properly inside, when the speed is turned on, constant lubrication occurs due to the splashing of oil. Therefore, to prevent oil leakage from the transfer case and dirt and dust not to get inside, the landing spots of the primary and secondary shafts are sealed with oil seals.

The best semi-synthetic motor oil for Chevrolet Niva

First, let's look at synthetic motor oils for the Chevrolet Niva, which are recommended by the manufacturer and have received positive reviews from SUV owners from GM-AvtoVAZ. When compiling this review, our experts also took into account the product characteristics.

For Niva Chevrolet SUVs, you can also use semi-synthetic compounds, which are slightly cheaper than synthetics, but perfectly protect the engine from wear. Here are the best products in this category.

One of the most popular SUVs in the post-Soviet space is the Chevrolet Niva. Motorists appreciate this model for its accessibility, modern appearance, simple design and maintainability.

Many owners maintain their cars themselves, changing engine oil, filters and belts. Therefore, you only have to buy consumables. Lubricants are responsible for the durability of the engine, gearbox and axles. The condition of the rubbing parts depends on their quality.

Also interesting: Pump for Chevrolet Niva - Auto magazine Akord-Auto

For a domestic SUV, experts recommend purchasing technical fluids with the following set of parameters.

Our review includes the best oils for the Chevrolet Niva. When selecting a lubricant, the following criteria were taken into account:

Price plays a major role when purchasing motor oil for poor car owners. However, in the budget segment you can find high-quality lubricants that will provide reliable protection of all engine parts from negative influences.

Gear diagram

Shifting gears is the same as on most cars. This was done with the goal of unifying vehicles so that drivers, when changing to another car, experience as few problems as possible.

But, at the same time, there are some differences in the design of this car. The transmission on the Niva Chevrolet is equipped with two levers. The first is necessary to select the optimal gear. The second is necessary to activate the differential lock.

The choice of the desired gear is determined by the speed of the Niva 21214 car. The recommended parameters can be seen in the table below:

It indicates the maximum speed specific to each specific gear. When it is reached, you need to switch to a higher one.

What kind of oil should I pour into the Chevrolet Niva transmission?

The choice of oil for the transmission of a Chevrolet Niva car is carried out on the principle of inadmissibility of mixing oils whose compositions are different. Regarding the viscosity characteristics of oils, it is better to give preference to the use of the following oils:

Oils intended for distribution in SUVs are designated by the API GL-4 index. To replace, you will need a small amount of oil: approximately 0.8 liters. When you first fill the Niva transfer case with oil, you should remember how much oil is used. This will allow subsequent oil changes to be carried out without difficulty.

Based on the experience of auto repairmen and car enthusiasts, good transmission oil for Chevrolet Niva is produced by the following manufacturers:

To change the oil in a Chevrolet Niva gearbox, you will need the following tools:

The sequence of actions for changing the oil in the Niva gearbox is as follows:

Recommended gear 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.

Gazpromneft GL5 80W90

Domestic manufacturer, low price. It is difficult to engage gears, but, in principle, it is suitable for bridges.

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.

How to change the oil?

Changing the oil in the Niva 21214 gearbox is not a difficult task, but in order to cope with it you need to know certain subtleties. For convenience, we recommend using an inspection hole rather than a regular jack. With its help, you can conveniently reach the drain plug.

First, you should crawl under the car and place all the tools that you will need for the job close to you. When everything is ready, start unscrewing the drain plug and place a container of suitable volume under it. If the bolt falls into it, it's okay, but in this case you will have to get dirty to find it.

Please note that the drain bolt often sticks and rusts, which makes it very difficult to unscrew it. In this case, use WD-40 or try heating the drain plug with a torch (the metal will expand and the rust will fall off). After this, you can easily unscrew the bolt.

Work progress

First you need to warm up the engine, and then place the car on a pit or overpass. You can also do this immediately after the trip, while the oil is still hot.

Changing the oil in a Chevrolet Niva begins with unscrewing the filler neck.

Next, you need to clean the dirt from the oil pan by cleaning the drain plug.

Using a wrench, an extension and a 17 socket, you need to loosen the drain plug.

Next, a pre-prepared container for draining is placed under the plug.

If you do not want to remove the crankcase protection, you should be aware that when draining, the likelihood of oil splashing increases.

Then the plug must be completely unscrewed and the oil drained.

The work must be performed with extreme caution due to the high temperature of the oil.

All you have to do is wait until it drains completely - this takes 10-15 minutes. When everything is done, you need to thoroughly wipe the removed elements, then screw in the plug and tighten it.

Next, the process of changing the oil in the Chevrolet Niva engine involves installing a new oil filter.

To do this, place a drain container under the oil filter and unscrew it counterclockwise. If it is too tight, you need to use a puller. At the same time, the owners note the very good location of the filter itself - it is located in the direction of travel of the car.

How to change the oil in a VAZ 2121 engine

Tip: To change the oil, the quantity you purchase must be greater than the engine size.

To work you will need:

Operation procedure:

Advice: Before carrying out work, you need to warm up the car. Drive it for about 20 kilometers. The oil thins out and flows out of the unit more easily.

Location of the VAZ 2121 engine drain plug

Removing the oil filter

Choice.

The oil in the Niva Chevrolet box must have certain parameters. They show the freezing level and viscosity of the oil.

In this case, W stands for winter or winter type, which is used at subzero temperatures. SAE is an international classification of oils, according to which every car owner can select the type of product according to specific conditions of use.

Changing the oil in the Niva gearbox, transfer case and axles

The topic of the article is oil for the field, for the engine and transmission. Arriving in Finland to the warehouse of a dealer in Scandinavia, I saw a lot of interesting things. In particular, the choice of oil, unlike our stores, is from more than 20 manufacturers. Some of them I have never even heard of. But by communicating, and most importantly by listening and carefully reading catalogs and looking at jars of oils, you can learn a lot of interesting things. As in many areas, someone invents, and someone trades. Manufacturers who make their own additives, that is, in technical language - lubricants, are generally held in high esteem. And there are already only 4-5 such companies, and if they are known, there are only 1-2. If I name the company Teboil, not many will say what it is known for. Meanwhile, this is a leading Finnish petrochemical company that makes additives for the whole of Scandinavia (for Neste and our Lukoil in particular).

Malfunctions

Problems with the gearbox can be identified by several signs. The most common ones are:

• transmission noise
• Difficulty shifting gears
• spontaneous shutdown
• oil leaks on the body

Also on restyled models, a knock appears in the transmission after 5-10 thousand kilometers. In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to the conditions under which the knocking appears.

In rare cases, the link fails. This is the unit that is responsible for the interaction between the Niva 21214 transmission and the rod. There are 3 main signs that the malfunction is associated with this particular unit:

1. Large lever play
2. Problems when selecting gear
3. Inability to adjust the mechanism

All problems arising with the Chevrolet transmission require immediate elimination, since this directly affects not only the serviceability of the vehicle but also traffic safety.

Do-it-yourself oil change for VAZ 21214

They say: “If you don’t grease, you won’t go...”. And this is an “iron” truth, with which it is very difficult to disagree. The design parameters of the engine lubrication system are very clearly limited. The slightest violation of the established requirements can lead to quite serious problems. In order to “get around” these problems, you need to have at least a basic understanding of the engine lubrication system and gearbox, and the need to change the automobile oil. In this article, based on the VAZ 21214 car, these issues will be presented and illustrated with the help of photos.

Engine lubrication system VAZ 21214

The lubrication system is of a combined nature. Forced lubrication of engine parts is carried out under pressure and by spraying lubricant. This system ensures lubrication of all rubbing surfaces of engine parts and thereby creates all the prerequisites for the uninterrupted and correct operation of the unit as a whole.

Stages of replacing lubricant VAZ 21214

Changing the engine oil is a regulated maintenance procedure, which is prescribed in the operating instructions. There is nothing complicated about it if you clearly and carefully follow the described action plan.

The replacement operation will be the same for different modifications of the Niva car:

• VAZ 21214
• VAZ 21213
• VAZ 2121
• VAZ 2131

Our most popular engines are injection and carburetor engines, with a volume of 1.7 and 1.6 liters. The replacement process on these engines, as well as other modifications, will be the same.

Draining waste fluid

It is necessary to drain the used engine fluid when the engine is warm. This is due to the fact that heated oil is more liquid. This makes it easier for it to leak out of the thin channels of the lubrication system.

To drain old engine oil, it is advisable to drive the VAZ 21214 (Niva) onto a pit or overpass, since the drainage is done from below. If this is not possible, then the most inconvenient step will be unscrewing the drain plug. Especially if there is protection installed that will need to be removed.

When everything is ready, we proceed to the draining operation:

Raise the hood, then find the filler neck on the engine and unscrew the cap (Fig. 1).