Often, Lada Priora drivers encounter many unpleasant problems that they consider AvtoVAZ’s shortcomings. In fact, all problems are directly related to transmission oil, which loses its original properties with mileage.
But for some reason, many people believe that it is not necessary to change it at all. This is far from true. Regularly changing the transmission fluid helps prevent many known problems and prolong the normal operation of the transmission and gearbox. Moreover, this is useful in order to delay the period of major car repairs by at least two times.
This raises several questions. What kind of oil to pour into the Lada Priora gearbox is the most important of them. Let's figure out further how to make the right choice.
What to look for when choosing
The choice of lubricant for gearboxes is very important. There are several basic criteria that you need to rely on when purchasing:
- viscosity;
- manufacturer;
- chemical composition.
These are the three most important criteria for choosing transmission oil for the Lada Priora. We also draw your attention to the fact that when purchasing, you must check the packaging for compliance with GOST. It is desirable to have production certificates confirmed by independent government organizations. This will help you choose a truly high-quality lubricant and not get even more problems.
You should not save on buying oil, since the replacement process is already aimed at this. A high-quality product can double the normal operation of a car. Thus, you will no longer need major repairs at least for the duration of the new gear oil. And repairing any gearbox will cost many times more at absolutely any car service center.
Rating of the best motor and transmission oils for Lada Priora
| Category | Place | Name | Rating | Price |
| The best synthetic motor oil for Priora | 1 | Motul 8100 X-cess 5W40 | 9.5 / 10 | 3 248 |
| 2 | LUKOIL Genesis Armortech 5W-40 | 9.4 / 10 | 1 487 | |
| 3 | ZIC X9 5W-40 | 9.3 / 10 | 1 657 | |
| The best semi-synthetic motor oil for Priora | 1 | LUKOIL Lux 10W-40 | 9.7 / 10 | 833 |
| 2 | MOBIL Super 2000 X1 10W-40 | 9.6 / 10 | 1 410 | |
| 3 | TOTAL Quartz 7000 10W40 | 9.4 / 10 | 1 137 | |
| The best mineral motor oil for Priora | 1 | Mannol Universal 15W-40 | 9.4 / 10 | 735 |
| The best synthetic gear oil for Priora | 1 | ELF Tranself NFJ 75W-80 | 9.7 / 10 | 460 |
| The best semi-synthetic gear oil for Priora | 1 | LUKOIL TM-4 75W-90 GL-4 | 9.5 / 10 | 300 |
| The best mineral gear oil for Priora | 1 | TOTAL Transmission Gear 8 75W80 | 9.6 / 10 | 460 |
Selecting viscosity
When choosing oil for the Lada Priora gearbox, it is important to pay attention to the viscosity of the purchased product. The following table will help with this:
| Viscosity grade | Minimum temperature | Maximum temperature |
| 75-80W | -40 | +35 |
| 75-85W | -40 | +35 |
| 75-90W | -40 | +45 |
| 80-85W | -26 | +35 |
| 80-90W | -26 | +45 |
| 85-90W | -12 | +45 or more |
We hope that, depending on the viscosity, you will be able to most accurately choose for yourself which oil is best to pour into the Lada Priora gearbox. The table shows that in winter it is best to buy lubricant in the viscosity range of 75-90W. In warmer regions and for the summer season, options with a viscosity of 80-90W are best suited.
When to change (signs)
The need for oil renewal is determined by the following signs:
- presence of dirt and deposits;
- the smell of burning;
- difficulties arise when changing gears;
- When the gear is engaged, the gearbox lever is knocked out ;
- When the unit operates, the noise increases ;
- increased vibrations are observed .
Each of the above signs indicates that the transmission fluid has lost its properties. Also, similar signs can appear when using low quality oil.
Selection by manufacturer
Another important criterion for choosing oil for the Lada Priora gearbox is the manufacturer’s brand. On the modern market you can easily find a lubricant for any occasion. But in reality, the real choice of quality products is not so great. Moreover, most cheap and unknown manufacturers are simply trying to make an analogue of a higher quality and popular brand. This does not always end in success.
The best choice among Lada Priora owners are synthetic oils and semi-synthetics from the following manufacturers:
- Castrol;
- Mobil;
- Lukoil;
- Liqui Moly;
- ZIC.
It is impossible to say for sure which of them is best to fill into the gearbox. All represented companies produce truly high-quality oil, which has been tested by time and a large number of drivers.
How much lubrication is required
Any motorist needs to understand what kind of oil is recommended to use in his Priora and exactly how much of it should be filled. To do this, the driver must read the maintenance book for his car and follow the instructions in it. But it still happens that this document cannot be found. In such a situation, it is better to take the advice of repairmen.
The amount of liquid that you fill during replacement is on average about 3 liters. Experienced specialists will tell you a more accurate parameter. But at the beginning it is recommended to fill in approximately 3.2 liters of the substance. After this, the Priora is started and turned on for a few minutes, then it is worth measuring the amount of lubricant.
How to do it? All measurements should be carried out using a probe. The average and most suitable for the operation of a Priora car with a 16-valve engine is the indicator at which this mark is located between the highest and lowest parameters. If this mark does not reach the normal value, it is worth adding more liquid. It is also recommended to take into account that the amount of lubricant poured into a Priora car should not exceed the maximum value.
You need to buy oil in a 3-4 liter container, which will make it possible to add additional lubricating fluid if necessary.
AvtoVAZ recommendations
Initially, when purchasing a new Lada Priora, you receive a car with oil poured into the transmission from TNK. This is a Russian manufacturer located in the Ryazan region. The company is not widely popular for several reasons, despite recommendations from AvtoVAZ. The most important thing is the focus of production on mineral lubricating fluids. They are not popular among the majority of motorists because they have poor efficiency during active use of the car.
According to numerous reviews from Lada Priora owners, it is best to use synthetic oils. They have high performance compared to mineral liquids. They are also suitable for most motorists because the car is used every day, and the mileage increases at a significant rate. Mineral oils cannot cope with such loads.
How often to change
The factory's recommendations for changing the oil in the Priora gearbox are clearly indicated: once every five years, or every 75 thousand km. The parameter that occurs first is taken into account. This lubricant service life is assumed when the car is operated under normal conditions.
It is recommended to shorten the period between subsequent replacements if there is one of the factors complicating operation:
- more than 50% of car use occurs in urban mode, where frequent gear changes occur;
- driving on sandy or snowy terrain;
- towing trailers or another factor that requires the Priora transmission to operate under increased load;
- using the vehicle in a climate zone with extremely low or high temperatures.
How much to reduce the oil change period in the Priora gearbox if the above factors exist? There is no exact answer. The best option would be to periodically check the condition of the lubricant.
How often to check the oil level in the box and after how long to change it - video recommendations
There are several methods. One of the simplest and most widely available is the drip test method. There is a lot of information on this topic on the Internet, so we will not separately analyze the methodology within the framework of this article.
Some drivers don’t bother, but simply update the lubricant in the box more often. Moreover, the service life is reduced to 30-40 thousand mileage between subsequent replacements.
It is also necessary to take into account the quality of the lubricant used. If it is ordinary mineral oil, then it is better not to delay it beyond the scheduled time.
Attention! As practice has shown, after 75 thousand kilometers, mineral-based lubricants decompose quite strongly and turn into useless slurry. Semi-synthetics and synthetics have a much longer service life. Especially if negative operational factors impacted with minimal intensity.
How to buy original oil
Surely many have encountered suspiciously high discounts on any products from well-known brands that are associated with almost nothing. As a rule, such discounts operate almost constantly and this is due to the fact that the oil is not original. This can be easily checked at the purchase stage.
When purchasing a product at a surprisingly low price, be sure to look at the GOST and certificate. If you are not completely sure, then simply enter the numbers printed on the packaging into a search engine. There you will find detailed information about the product. For any well-known and trusted brand, searching for information will not take more than a minute.
If you ignore this basic thing, then there is a risk of purchasing low-quality oil, which not only will not help correct problems with the transmission and gearbox, but will also worsen the existing situation. You should especially not miss this rule when contacting a previously unknown auto shop.
Selecting gearbox oil
The manufacturer recommends using semi-synthetic or synthetic oils with a viscosity grade of SAE 75W-90 . This liquid is all-season and can withstand temperatures down to -40 degrees . 75W-80 , 80W-85 is also allowed . If in winter the temperature in the region does not drop below 12 degrees, then it is possible to use 80W-90 .
In addition, the oil used must be API GL-4 .
- LUKOIL TM-4 (GL-4) 75W-90 . Semi-synthetic oil for manual transmissions. It has increased anti-foam, anti-corrosion and anti-wear properties. Works great in sub-zero temperatures. This oil is filled at the factory. The cheapest option. If you change the oil yourself and plan to change it after 40,000 -50,000 km , then this option is for you. Our bunker is filled with exactly this type of oil.
- Castrol Syntrax Universal 75W-90 . Multi-purpose synthetic oil, which is characterized by excellent fluidity characteristics, protecting transmission elements from wear. Also noteworthy is the long service life and compatibility with conventional mineral oils. Great reviews, but the price tag is steep. There is also evidence that this brand is often counterfeited. You need to buy carefully from trusted stores. We buy from large retail chains.
- SHELL SPIRAX S4 G 75W-90 . Used in manual transmissions of cars and small trucks. Ensures smooth operation of the box, protecting internal elements from wear, corrosion and shock loads. Has an extended service life. Good reviews, relatively inexpensive .
- Rosneft Kinetic MT 75W-90 - semi-synthetic.
- ZIC GFT 75W-90 is a fully synthetic oil. It's expensive, the reviews are excellent.
Other Important Points
Other parameters listed below are also important:
- The temperature of the oil being poured must be within certain limits: -40°C+30°C. This rule cannot be violated, even if you live in Siberia or Tashkent;
- Experts highly recommend not using various additives or other means of improving the performance of the engine and gearbox, no matter how advertised they are. If you use modern and highly efficient types of oils, there is no need for additives.
Video comparison of semi-synthetics and synthetics from the same manufacturer of motor oils
The video review below compared two cars that had the same mileage on different oils:
- the first copy was operated on semi-synthetic ZIC
- The engine of the second car was filled with exclusively synthetic oil for the last 30 thousand km.
Well, see for yourself what came out of this experiment.
I hope that the information provided in this article will be useful to many. Well, if you have something substantive to add, feel free to comment below, which is welcome.
Oil drain
If everything is in order, then drain the oil through the drain hole. Located at the bottom of the crankcase. It is advisable to drain the oil after the car has been in operation. Let the oil warm up. And it was less viscous.
When draining, remove the dipstick. So that a vacuum is not created and the oil flows out of the crankcase completely.
