Lada Granta: checking the oil level in manual and automatic transmissions

1. We find the drain hole on the gearbox housing from the bottom of the car and unscrew it using a “17” wrench.
2. We drain the old gear oil into an empty container, which we place under the drain hole.
3. We fill in new transmission oil through a hose that we insert (depending on the type of manual transmission): instead of a dipstick (for convenience, the air filter housing can be unscrewed and moved to the side), or instead of the reverse switch, which we unscrew with a “22” key.

Attention! If the oil drained from the gearbox is dark in color and metal particles are visible in it, the gearbox should be washed. Pour 1-1.5 liters of special flushing oil into the box crankcase. With one of the front wheels hanging, start the engine and shift into gear. After 5-7 minutes, drain the flushing oil and fill with clean transmission oil.

Video on changing the oil in a Renault manual transmission

on a Lada Vesta car:
»
Depending on the type of manual transmission, checking the oil level in the gearbox is carried out:

• using the dipstick (the oil level should be between the MIN and MAX marks).
• through the inspection plug (the oil level should be at the lower edge of the inspection hole).

Changing the automatic transmission oil

The working fluid in the automatic transmission is filled by the manufacturer for the entire service life of the vehicle. That is, we change the oil in the automatic transmission of a Lada Kalina 2 or Grant only when repairing the gearbox, replacing oil seals and gaskets, removing wheel drives, etc. It is recommended to check the level and change the oil in the automatic transmission (if necessary) at a manufacturer-certified PSSS. If you decide to change the automatic transmission oil yourself, then follow these instructions:

1. Unscrew the drain plug (No. 2) and the overflow tube (No. 3) using a “19” wrench and a “5” hexagon.
2. Drain the transmission oil into an empty container, install the overflow plug in place, and then tighten the drain plug and install a new O-ring on it.
3. Pour about 1 liter of new oil into the dipstick hole.

VAZ cars: repair, maintenance, tuning

AvtoVAZ designers were faced with the task of finding an automatic transmission for the Lada Grant that would be reliable, inexpensive to operate and fit into the budget of the cheapest VAZ car. The Japanese automatic hydromechanical transmission Jatco JF414E became such an automatic transmission. We will deal with it now.

Automatic transmission Jatco JF414E for Lada Granta. Features and resource

Many believe that engineers found an old and unclaimed automatic transmission for Granta, which is completely contrary to reality. Yes, this is not a state-of-the-art automatic, but the gearbox went into production only in 2010 and has already shown itself to be excellent on the Nissan Micra, Almera, Geely MK, Datsun ON-Do, ME-Do, as well as on the VAZ Grant and Kalina. Jatco JF414E was developed in principle for the domestic Asian market, where it works on many small cars to this day.

Automatic transmission Lada Granta Jatco JF414E

Aisin's AW60-40 gearbox was considered as a competitor to the Jatco JF414E 4-speed automatic transmission, but due to its relative high cost, the engineers chose Jatco. The box is designed for front-wheel drive and to work with engines up to 1.6 liters. Features an electronic shift control that controls the valve body and torque converter, electric control solenoids for smooth operation and seamless torque transmission. The service life of an automatic transmission before complete overhaul is 300-400 thousand km . And this is a very good indicator for a machine in the mini and micro segment.

Old box

Gear shift knob for this gearbox

The dipstick is located under the air filter. It’s inconvenient to get it out, you’ll have to get a little creative. I personally take out the dipstick only after I move the air filter housing to the side.

Video about where the dipstick is located on a cableless manual transmission

Breakdowns and problems with the Jatco JF414E automatic transmission. When to change the oil

Thanks to its well-thought-out design and simplicity, the Jatco JF414E automatic transmission on the Lada Granta requires virtually no maintenance and, if the operating rules are followed, will not cause any problems. However, this automatic machine really does not like sudden starts and is sensitive to the quality of oils (ATF), and does not react well to overheating and driving at high speeds.

A number of problems associated with the design features were also noted:

1. The automatic transmission is sensitive to voltage drops in the on-board network; the valve body control board can fail, for example, if the engine is not lit correctly.
2. At the beginning of production, the first machines suffered from the failure of one of the needle bearings between the hydraulic pump hub and the High package, but by 2013 the Japanese had overcome this problem.
3. If you do not install an external fine filter, after 180-220 thousand mileage, friction wear products can affect the life of the solenoids. Installing such a filter on Grants with high mileage will significantly increase the service life of the automatic transmission, since it is installed outside the box, is always accessible and can be quickly cleaned or the filter element replaced.

External fine filter automatic transmission Jatco JF414E

When to change ATF on a Lada Granta with automatic transmission, how much to fill

Despite AvtoVAZ’s instructions that the oil in the gearbox lasts forever, this should not be taken as an axiom.

The manufacturer of the box, Jatco, clearly states that a complete oil change is necessary already at 80-85 thousand km, and a partial replacement must be performed twice as often, after 30-40 thousand km.

The oil change schedule depends on the operating conditions, and if it is not possible to carry out a complete change, then partial ones can greatly increase the service life of the gearbox. The oil volume in the Jatco JF414E automatic transmission on the Lada Granta is 5.4 liters , and with a partial replacement it is possible to drain no more than 3 liters of fluid.

Possible problems

On some cars, the oil level dipstick in the gearbox may wear off. This may happen due to its incorrect installation. It wears down on the engine, and quite quickly.

Gearbox dipstick worn off

The dipstick must always be installed strictly parallel to the engine. Therefore, even if you do not have problems with the gearbox, we recommend checking the oil level and the condition of the dipstick itself.

How to check the oil level in a Granta automatic transmission

To check the oil level, a dipstick is used and the easiest way to get to it is to move the air filter housing to the side. Using the dipstick you can check not only the level, but also the condition of the oil. It is recommended to check every two to three months or more often. The procedure for checking the oil level in a Jatco JF414E machine is as follows:

1. We start and warm up the engine.
2. Press the brake all the way.
3. We turn on each mode alternately with the selector.
4. We put the selector in neutral position.
5. With the engine running at idle, check the oil level with a dipstick.

Checking the oil level with a dipstick
In the case when the engine is not warmed up to operating temperature, we focus on the COOL ; if the engine is hot, we look at the HOT . The level should be between the maximum and minimum marks for each ATF condition. If necessary, add oil according to the manufacturer's instructions.

What kind of oil can be poured into the automatic transmission Jatco JF414E Lada Granta

According to Jatco's instructions, Nissan ATF Matic-S 999MP-MTS00-P . In addition to it, the use of the following synthetic fluids is allowed:

• Genuine EJ-1 ATF;
• Petro-Canada ATF D3M;
• DURADRIVE MV SYNTHETIC ATF;
• and other analogues with Dexron VI approval.

It should be noted that the use of Matic-D mineral oils is not allowed, only analogues of Matic-S or Matic-J .

How to change the lubricant in a manual transmission with your own hands?

You can change the oil in a manual transmission with a cable yourself.

How often does it change?

The service life of lubricating fluid in mechanical units is also 5 years or 75 thousand kilometers. If the car has passed this interval, the oil must be changed.

What oil is better to use?

The manufacturer recommends pouring exclusively Lukoil TM-4 oil. This lubricant passed all studies and tests in AvtoVAZ laboratories and was recognized by the manufacturer. Lukoil TM-4 lubricants with various types of viscosity are supplied to the market. Depending on the region in which the machine will be used, the consumer is given a choice of liquids of the standard 75W-80, 75W-85, 75W-90, 80W-85 or 80W-90.

Checking the oil level and required amount

On older mechanical transmissions with a cable drive, the oil meter is located in the same place, in the engine compartment under the plastic housing of the air purifier. If the gearbox is equipped with a dipstick, then you can check the level of the substance in the unit in the same way as on an automatic transmission. But if your car is equipped with transmission number 2181, then such gearboxes are not equipped with meters. To check the fluid volume, you will have to unscrew the control screw on the transmission unit. Ideally, the lubricant should be near the bottom edge of the hole.

The oil volume depends on the type of gearbox. Mechanical units with number 2180 contain about 3.1 liters of lubricant. Manual transmission 2181 can hold about 2.2 liters of lubricant.

User Oleg Zuyeff in his video showed how to change the oil in a Granta gearbox with a cable drive.

Preparing for replacement

What to prepare for changing the lubricant:

• wrench size 17, it is more convenient to use a socket with a tip;
• fresh gearbox lubricant;
• watering can or funnel;
• a hose with a syringe if your transmission is not equipped with a filler hole;
• a container in which used lubricant will be collected;
• rags.

Stages of work

How to change the oil yourself:

1. Drive the car into a garage with a pit or onto an overpass. The process of changing the fluid must be carried out on a warm, but not hot, engine. The machine must be on a level surface.
2. Raise the parking brake lever inside the car. Open the hood and loosen the screw on the negative terminal of the battery, then disconnect it. We recommend placing wheel chocks under the wheels of the Lada Granta.
3. Reach under the bottom of the car and find the drain plug on the transmission housing and assess its condition. If the area around the lid is dirty, clean it with a cloth to remove dirt. This will prevent them from entering the vehicle's gearbox lubrication system.
4. Place a bucket or basin under the drain plug; a cut bottle will also work. Use a wrench to unscrew the cap and set it aside. When dismantling, keep in mind that oil may splash out after unscrewing, so use gloves. The process of draining the working fluid will begin.
5. Once all the grease has been drained, replace the drain bolt. If the seal on it is worn out, it must be replaced.
6. After this, new fluid is filled in. For greater convenience, we recommend removing not only the body of the cleaning device, but also disconnecting the clamps securing the expansion tank pipe. The air filter housing must be removed or moved to the side.
7. Remove the dipstick from the filler neck. Place a watering can in it. If there is no hole for the meter in your car, then install a hose into the control neck, to which connect a watering can or syringe. Fill in fresh fluid, constantly monitoring its volume. Start the car and do a test drive, after which check the oil level again. The substance level should normally be between the MIN and MAX marks on the dipstick.