"Kalina": how to check the oil in a manual transmission

The design of the Kalina-2 family of cars uses a cable gearbox, produced by AvtoVAZ since 2013. A feature of the manual transmission, designated as VAZ-2181, is the following: a diagnostic probe is not provided in its design. The inspection and diagnostic hole is located on the side and not on the top side of the crankcase, which will not add convenience when changing the oil. How to perform this operation, that is, how to replace the manual transmission fluid, is discussed further.

Procedure for checking transmission oil in Lada Kalina

To accurately measure the fluid level, the car must be placed on a platform with a flat surface. Before checking the oil in the Kalina box, it is advisable to drive a few kilometers and wait about 15 minutes. This is necessary so that the lubricant is warmed up, but has time to drain from the parts of the assembly. Further, the scheme of work depends on the type of transmission.

First generation Kalina with manual transmission

Cars produced from 2004 to 2013 were equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission with index 1118. This transmission has a rigid traction drive and is designed for torque up to 145 Nm. It was installed by the VAZ plant on first-generation sedans, hatchbacks and station wagons with engines up to 1.6 liters.

To find out the amount of oil remaining in manual transmission 1118:

Open the hood and unscrew the air filter mounts.
Find the diagnostic dipstick - it is next to the battery.
Wipe the oil level indicator with a dry cloth.
Insert the dipstick all the way and pull it out again.
Look at the level: the norm is between the MIN and MAX values.
Insert the dipstick back and secure it well.

All this will not be difficult even for a beginner.

"Kalina 2" with an updated manual transmission

Since 2013, cars of this family have been equipped with a 5-speed manual transmission with cable control drive. Due to the design features, it will not be possible to check the oil level in the Kalina 2 box using the standard scheme.

Gearbox oil for Lada Kalina

This manual transmission is based on the VAZ 2170 transmission and has a factory index of 2181. Its main feature is the absence of a diagnostic dipstick and the location of the filler control hole on the side rather than on top of the crankcase. Accordingly, to check the oil level in the Kalina 2 box, another scheme is used:

Open the engine compartment and remove the air filter.
Locate the control plug in the area of the steering rack.
Unscrew it using a spanner of a suitable diameter.
Check the lubricant level - normally it should reach the bottom edge of the hole.
Insert the plug back and tighten it with the key.

The cable gearbox has modifications 2180 and 21806 with a reinforced secondary shaft package. They were installed on hatchbacks and station wagons, as well as Cross and Sports cars.

Second generation car with automatic transmission

Automatic transmission is used on Lada Kalina only in combination with gasoline engines with 16 valves and a volume of 1.6 liters. It can be found on hatchback, station wagon and Cross models. The transmission is a 4-speed automatic transmission from the Japanese manufacturer Jatco. Since 2014, the Kalina has also been equipped with a 5-speed “robot” 2182, developed by VAZ together with the German company ZF.

To find out the amount of oil in an automatic transmission, a standard scheme is used, as for boxes with a dipstick. But there is a nuance: if the box is warmed up, you need to focus on the HOT sign. When measuring oil on a cold box, look at the side of the dipstick with the COLD mark.

Changing transmission oil

The design of the cable transmission includes a drain plug, which is typical for all manual transmissions. The control and filler hole here is closed with a separate plug, but you can fill liquid into the crankcase not only through it.

A reverse switch is attached to the top of the unit body (see figure). And if this part can be unscrewed, then the replacement will be easier than according to the standard AvtoVAZ manual.

Cable gearbox VAZ

In the figure the numbers indicate:

Reverse switch;
Drain plug. It is accessible from the bottom. The screw is unscrewed with a 17 key;
Control filler plug. You need to unscrew it by placing the key on the battery side. A 17mm flat wrench will do if its handle is not too long.

In reality, the details listed here look like this:

Both of these screws are easy to unscrew

There is no need to unscrew the control plug trying to get to it from the bottom of the car. As a last resort, you can perform the operation together using additional lighting.

The procedure for changing gearbox oil will look standard:

First, the control plug is not completely unscrewed;
Unscrew the drain plug, placing a free container under it;
The used oil is drained and the plug is tightened;
After unscrewing the filler plug, replace the oil, then install all the parts in place.

According to reviews, the VAZ-2181 box holds 2300 ml of transmission fluid. C, and the recommended replacement interval is 75,000 km.

Advice: before replacing, it is recommended to warm up the old oil. It will be enough to drive the car for about 2-3 km, trying to vary the engine speed.

Step by step refilling process

If the transmission fluid level is equal to or below the MIN mark, it must be raised to normal. Oil is added to all types of gearboxes through the filler hole. To add lubricant you need:

Completely remove or move the air filter.
Unscrew the dipstick; in cable gearboxes, the control plug.
Insert the hose with the attached watering can into the hole.
Add the required amount of liquid.
Re-check the oil level in the Lada Kalina gearbox.
Wipe off the stains and install the dipstick/control plug in its original place.
Reinstall previously removed parts.

In case of a complete lubricant change, we recommend pre-warming the transmission - driving 10-20 km. Before adding new fluid, the car must be placed over a hole or placed on jacks, the drain hole must be opened and all waste oil must be drained.

How to check the oil level in the Lada Kalina gearbox

To check the condition and level in the gearbox, the manufacturer provides several methods depending on the type of gearbox:

Old manual transmissions use a classic plastic dipstick, which is located directly on the box body in the engine compartment. It contains risks that indicate the current level of the transmission. With its help, you can determine both the level of the liquid itself and its condition. There is also a special sensor installed on the instrument panel, which will provide information when the overall production level decreases.
On modern mechanical products and automatic transmissions there is no such dipstick; instead, there is a control plug, the state of which determines the current level. The disadvantage of such a plug is the inability to check the actual condition of the oil, its color and consistency. In addition, there is a low level indicator on the instrument panel, which, if it drops too low, will light up and emit an audible signal indicating a lack of product.

How to understand when it's time to change the transmission oil

You can determine the need to replace the lubricant in the gearbox by its condition. Reduced transparency, dark color, foam and bubbles, the presence of metal shavings are signs that the substance has already exhausted its service life. The condition of the fluid can be assessed by standard checking its level. Also, the need to check the oil in the Kalina box is indicated by various malfunctions in the operation of the unit:

gearbox hum at high speeds;
spontaneous switching off of gears;
noise and jerking when changing modes;
Difficulty switching gears;
characteristic burning smell from the box.

In the latter case, not only an oil change is required, but also transmission diagnostics.

What kind of oil to fill in manual transmission Lada Kalina

Many people rely on engine power when the question arises about what oil to pour into the box of the Lada Kalina. Whether you have 8 valves or 16 makes virtually no difference - it’s much more important to take into account your driving style. The sporty style requires a more viscous transmission, since increased operating temperatures significantly dilute the oil. Why are we doing all this? And to the fact that fans of fast driving, as a rule, opt for a manual gearbox.

The oil poured into the “mechanics” also has recommendations from the manufacturer. The main recommendation is the Lukoil TM-4 “transmission” with several viscosity options - 75W-80, 75W-85, 75W-90, 80W-85, 80W-90. In addition to Lukoil, the list of recommendations also includes brands such as Rosneft Kinetic, Tatneft Translux, Gazpromneft TM-4, Shell Spirax S5 ATE.

What to choose for Kalina

You should only buy an original lubricant product for Lada from the manufacturer. No matter how many advantages sellers attribute to cheaper crafts, there is nothing better than the original product. But speaking about the original little, this does not mean at all that it should cost very much. There are options for original gearbox oils that are quite inexpensive, but in practice they are of excellent quality. For Kalina, semi-synthetic from LUKOIL is perfect. According to the owners of Kalina, this car is capable of traveling more than 300,000 km without the need for major repairs.

The Magnum transmission TNK is well suited for gearboxes, the result will be immediate, the gearbox will operate much quieter. Various noises and unpleasant sounds will disappear, this is also an ideal option for winter. With this oil, the gearbox will turn on easier and faster in cold weather. In addition, oils from domestic producers would be an excellent option for Kalina. Many users make a serious mistake when buying oil, paying great attention to additives. In general, they should not be taken into account, since all modern oils and fluids, both motor and transmission, have all the necessary set of functions for productive operation, operation of units and system components. If you supplement the machine with an unnecessary amount of additives, then as a result you can destroy the structural consumption of the element. This fact applies to oil and other liquids, which will ultimately lead to the need to completely replace the liquids used.

Lubricant for TNK Magnum gearbox

Oil selection

For a Lada car, the lubricant in the gearbox is replaced every 76 thousand kilometers of the car, as specified in the manufacturer’s regulations, or it should be done at least once every 5 years. If the car is constantly on the move and is used daily, driving a large number of kilometers, then the product should be poured after 50 thousand kilometers.

The modern market of auto parts for cars provides car owners with a wide selection of oil options for Lada. In order to buy a truly high-quality and worthwhile product, you should use the following recommendations:

What kind of scratch remover is this?

We constantly receive questions in the comments about what kind of “liquid glass” products this is, and in general what a bunch of auto-related advertising is now on the market. As a result, we decided to test in practice how true this is. Let's just say we used 3 means. One product proved to be so-so; after application, a burnt spot remained in this place. The second product, when applied, showed no effect at all.

What oil to use

It is worth noting that the second generation of Kalina has modifications with manual and automatic transmissions. Lada Kalina 2 is equipped with a hydromechanical automatic transmission model JF414E with four gears. This means that each type of transmission requires different products.

New Lada: Maintenance schedule for Lada Granta and Kalina 2 » Lada.Online - all the most interesting and useful about LADA cars

If you refer to the instruction manual, you can find out what transmission fluids the Lada Kalina 2 supports.

The following oils are suitable for mechanical transmissions according to factory requirements:

Table of suitable oils for manual transmission Lada Kalina 2

For automatic transmissions, the manufacturer recommends using only Genuine EJ-1ATF oils (from the supplier JX Nippon Oil and Energy Corporation) and Nissan ATF Matic–S. When using other transmission lubricants, problems with the automatic transmission may occur, as well as reduced service life and malfunctions. Warranties do not cover the above problems.

In an automatic transmission, the content of working fluid above the maximum level is unacceptable. Excess lubricant leads to splashes through the breather. If the liquid comes into contact with hot engine parts, it will ignite.

How and where to store transmission fluid

Before use, make sure that the oil has not yet expired. To do this, refer to the label on the container. To keep your gearbox fluid in optimal condition, you will need to follow these instructions:

Close the cap of the bottle or canister tightly. The product must be stored in airtight packaging.
Do not leave containers in the sun or direct light. A suitable place for storage would be a cellar, attic, garage, etc.
Check the expiration date.
Do not store lubricant containers in a room with temperatures above 24 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the chemical elements of the oil may change and harm the box.
Do not allow excess moisture to get inside the liquid container.

We will tell you what kind of oil to fill into the Kalina gearbox later, and now we’ll look at where to store the canister of lubricant.

The ideal storage location is a heated basement, garage or shed with low humidity levels. In it you will protect the container from sunlight, sudden climate changes and other harmful factors.

Another useful tip - we do not recommend pouring the composition from the canister into other containers. The original packaging consists of durable plastic, which allows you to protect the liquid from poor storage conditions.

Do not use oil that is more than 12 months old. It will negatively affect the operation of the box. In the best case, you will need to replace it again; in the worst case, you will need to completely repair the gearbox or replace the unit. As you can see, it’s easier to check once than to overpay later.

In our store you will always find fresh transmission compounds from the Hessol brand. German lubricant is distinguished by its versatility, quality and cost. At Chirol you can purchase the composition at the lowest prices. If you need advice on selection, please contact us by phone or come to our office. Our manager will answer all your questions in detail.

We drain the waste

Drive onto a pit or overpass and use the handbrake or using improvised means to secure your car in place and pre -warm the engine .

We place a pre-prepared container under the drain hole, where the used oil will drain
Take a 17 key and unscrew the drain plug
Wait for the used oil to drain, this can take up to 40 minutes .
Then tighten plug .

Note: if the used fluid is dark in color , it means it contains metal dust , sediment and other gearbox wear products. washing liquid into it . Then you need to jack up one of the drive wheels and start the engine by engaging first gear . Wait about 10 minutes, turn off the engine and drain the filled flushing fluid.

The engine air filter should not interfere

The air filter box in Granta and Kalina-2 cars is secured with three rubber stops.
It will not be difficult to dismantle them, but first you will need to disconnect all the connectors attached to the box from the outside. You will also need to remove the adsorber valve. And only then, without fear of damaging anything, the plastic box is taken to the side. The cylinder to which the corrugation is attached is the mass air flow sensor module. This module has one connector. Disconnect it, and it is better to leave the clamp holding the corrugation in its original form.

The result of all the work done looks like this:

The filter box is simply folded back

The steps mentioned above are listed here in order:

Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery;
Disconnect the clip “1” that holds the power wire and disconnect the connector “2” of the mass air flow sensor (Fig. 1);
Dismantle the canister purge valve. Disconnect the connector with the wires, then use a flat screwdriver to press the spring on the side and remove the module itself from the grooves (Fig. 2);
All stops holding the box can be easily removed from the slots (Fig. 3).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4q7eqG9C8Q

The connector that needs to be disconnected in “step 2” will not be available in configurations with motor 21127.

Here you need to disconnect the connector and remove one clip. Use a flat-head screwdriver to press on the spring. Each stop must remain on the metal.

We wish you success.

Different ways to change the oil in the Kalina-2 manual transmission

Tools and materials

In order for the oil change in the 2nd and 1st generation Kalina gearbox to be successful, we need to prepare:

Open-end wrench 17 (or ratchet with a head).
Jack.
An empty canister or any other container for draining waste. It is important that it is wide and flat, otherwise it will not fit under the bottom. You can cut the side of a motor oil can and place it under the drain hole. The Kalina's clearance allows this to be done.
Watering can. It is advisable to lengthen it, since the box with the filler hole is very deep. For convenient filling, use a hose of the appropriate diameter. It is important that its length is at least 30 centimeters.