How to check the oil level in the gearbox on a Lada Kalina with your own hands

Timely replacement of transmission fluid in a car's gearbox will extend the life of your vehicle, improve performance and avoid a number of serious problems that can lead to serious damage or complete failure of the unit.

Over time, the oil in the box loses its original chemical and physical properties. Liquid used for a long time is not able to adequately cool the gears that heat up during friction, which leads to their rapid wear. In addition, driving the Kalina becomes less comfortable.

In this article we will tell you how to change the oil in a Kalina gearbox, how much fluid to fill, how to check the level, and also give useful tips and instructions.

When to change the gearbox oil for Lada Kalina

The documentation from the factory does not contain clear regulations for updating or completely replacing the transmission fluid. In this regard, many car owners believe that the volume filled at the factory will be enough to last the entire time the car is used. The result of this attitude is a quick visit to the service station for major repairs.

Experts disagree on how often the oil should be changed in the Lada Kalina gearbox, no matter the 2nd cable model or the old model. Some give as guidelines a mileage of 70-75 thousand km or 5 years of operation, others insist that the fluid will be enough for 120-150 thousand km.

Of course, the distance your car has traveled and how long ago it was purchased are not all the parameters that should be taken into account. If you are forced to often stand in traffic jams or drive at low speeds, the transmission fluid may become unusable even after a mileage of 40-50 thousand km.

Carry out diagnostics immediately if you begin to notice deviations in the operation of the gearbox (noise, hard shifting).

Tips for choosing oil and filter for Kalina

According to the factory's recommendation, the oil for filling into the Lada Kalina engine is synthetic or semi-synthetic. Among the original compositions recommended by the manufacturer, we can highlight Lada 5W-40 and RN Magnum Ultratec 5W-40 from Rosneft.

There are other recommended oils with similar characteristics from other brands:

1. Mobil Super 3000 X1 5W-40.
2. Shell Helix HX8 5W-40.
3. Lukoil Genesis Armortech 5W-40.

To select oil according to characteristics depending on engine type, you can use the table:

Changing the oil in the gearbox of Lada Kalina 2nd generation: level measurement

There are two ways to measure how much transmission fluid is in the gearbox of your Lada Kalina:

• Using a dipstick.
• By completely draining.

Regardless of how exactly you are going to measure the oil level, the car engine must first be warmed up. At an air temperature of 20°C, you will have to drive for 10 minutes for the transmission fluid to warm up to 50-80°C.

The procedure for measuring the oil level with a dipstick:

• Move out the air filter.
• Find the dipstick (it's located to the left of the motor), pull it out and wipe it thoroughly.
• Place the dipstick in place, wait a few seconds and remove it.
• Determine the volume of oil in the Kalina gearbox using the oil trail.

The probe has two notches: “min” and “max”. If the level is below the minimum mark, you should change the oil in the Kalina box, both 8 and 16 valve. If the indicator approaches “min”, adding at least 200 grams will be necessary.

To measure the liquid level by completely draining it, you will need an inspection hole, as well as a funnel and an empty 4-liter container.

After installing the vehicle over a hole or overpass, perform the following operations:

• Remove the air filter.
• Unscrew the lower engine protective cover.
• Open the drain cap and drain the oil (this process may take 30-40 minutes).

Upon completion of the draining procedure, evaluate the volume of oil in the Kalina box and its quality. The oil should be transparent and free of sediment and metallic inclusions. If the amount of fluid and its condition are normal, pour the oil back in.

Dark color and the presence of chips means that the gearbox requires flushing with special flushing oil. After this is completed, pour in new transmission fluid.

Why does it wear off?

The situation when the Kalina gearbox dipstick wears off occurs for two reasons:

• incorrect installation in the seat;
• meter defect (manufacturing defect, bending).

In these cases, one edge of the rod is “eaten” in the area of ​​the MAX and MIN marks.

Grinded oil dipstick

During operation, the rubber from which the cork is made loses its properties, becoming too hard. This leads to loose fixation of the hole plug. Therefore, the probe becomes loose in the box.

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.

Methods that are not recommended

Liquid can be poured into the crankcase of box 2181 through a separate hole, which is closed by the reverse switch. The part in question will be clearly visible if you open the hood and remove the filter box:

Dismantling this part is not easy. First, disconnect the connector, and to loosen the fastening, you will need a special socket wrench with a high head. The key size is 22mm hex.

You can gain access to the internal volume of the gearbox in another way, which is not discussed here. Together with engines 21126 and 21127, a speed sensor is used, mounted on the top of the box casing. It will be easy to dismantle this unit, but after reinstallation the tightness is broken.

The oil level in the gearbox is controlled as follows: the standard filler plug must be unscrewed, and as soon as the liquid begins to leak out onto the casing, topping up is stopped. It is advisable that the car be installed on a level surface. And it’s even better if the body is tilted to the right - excess transmission fluid has never hurt anyone.

What oil is better to fill in the Lada Kalina box?

AvtoVAZ equips vehicles with different gearboxes. The first generation Kalina is available with a manual transmission 1118 or 1119, the second generation - with a manual transmission 2180 or 2181. In addition, some Kalina 2 models have an automatic transmission; as a rule, manufacturers use automatic transmissions manufactured by Nissan.

How much oil to pour into the Kalina gearbox? The boxes differ in volume: the smallest will be in the manual transmission 2181 - 2.2 liters; the largest - up to 3.5 in manual transmissions 1118 and 1119.

At the factory, gearboxes of all types are filled with the same fluid: TNK TRANS KP mineral oil, produced by the Ryazan Oil Refinery. At the same time, the manufacturer does not insist on using this brand exclusively.

The most important factor is that the liquid performs the required functions:

• protection of surfaces exposed to friction from wear and wedge;
• reduction of shock load;
• reduction of energy losses due to friction;
• reduction of hum and vibration of gears.

To ensure the correct functioning of the Lada Kalina gearbox, the lubricating fluid must have the following parameters:

• anti-corrosion and anti-wear properties;
• increased oxidation stability;
• excellent viscosity-temperature criteria;
• compatibility with rubber gearbox parts;
• low foaming;
• stability of the chemical composition.

An indicator of the quality of the product will be its compliance with API standards (it must have a class of GL-4 or GL-4/5), as well as the viscosity standard SAE J 306. The latter regulates the optimal option for various temperature conditions.

Which oil is best for the Kalina gearbox? The Lada owner must independently choose a lubricant in accordance with the climatic characteristics of his region:

• SAE 75W-80 and 75W-85 (from -40°C to +35°C).
• SAE 75W-90 (-40°C to +45°C).
• SAE 80W-85 (-26°C to +35°C).
• SAE 80W-90 (-26°C to +45°C).
• SAE 85W-90 (from -12°C to +45°C and above).

Video example: express method, not recommended to be repeated

The Lada Kalina car is one of the best-selling domestic cars in Russia, and is also in demand in the CIS countries. The car attracts with its cost, good technical characteristics and affordable operating price. Repair and maintenance are cheap, which allows you to save on maintaining the machine. Car owners have certain questions when changing the oil at the Kalina gearbox. The procedure takes some time, requires skills and a minimum of knowledge. But this will not stop you from doing the work yourself. You just need to know what to fill, where and how. You will find out all this now.

Useful tips

The first and most important recommendation is not to use mineral compounds when operating the car in low temperatures. This type of oil tends to thicken, as a result of which the gearbox gears do not receive proper lubrication and lock up. This is due to the fact that the viscosity of the frozen composition does not allow them to work correctly. It is advisable to use such a liquid only in areas with a constantly warm climate.

Periodically check the oil level in the box. It won't take too much time, but at the same time you will be sure that one of the most important components of your vehicle is working correctly. If you notice that the lubricant is leaving or leaking, immediately contact the service for diagnostics.

There are a large number of gearbox fluids on the market that meet the listed requirements. When choosing a specific oil, the owner of a Kalina car will be faced with the question: is the use of an expensive imported product justified or for a domestic vehicle the best option would be a cheaper Russian-made 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

Lada Kalina Gearbox oil change

Change of oil

at

Lada-
Kalina
checkpoint in pictures with comments. Engine 1.6. 16V.

It is better to change the oil immediately after a trip, while it is hot, so the oil combines faster and more fully with suspended wear particles.

The temperature of the heated oil reaches 90 °C, be careful.

1. We prepare the car for work

2. Place a container under the drain hole of the crankcase.

3. 17 spanner, unscrew the drain plug.

4. Drain the oil.

5. After waiting for the oil to completely drain from the box, screw the plug to the area.

If the oil drained from the box is dark in color and iron particles are noticeable, the box should be washed. For this purpose, pour 1-1.5 liters of special flushing oil into the crankcase. With one of the drive wheels hanging, start the engine and engage first gear. After 5-7 minutes, turn off the engine, drain the flushing oil and fill in clean transmission oil.

How to check the oil level in a grant gearbox.

6. We take out the oil level indicator.

7. We wipe the pointer, removing oil from it.

8. We thread the lower end of the hose into the hole of the oil level indicator.

9. Insert a funnel into the upper end of the hose.

10. Through a funnel, pour 3.1 liters of gear oil into the gearbox.

We control the oil level in the box using the indicator.

11. At the end of the work, use a rag to remove oil leaks and install the oil level indicator at its intended location.

Checking volume and condition

There are two main ways to check the oil volume in the Kalina gearbox.

1. With a feeler gauge. This is a traditional method that is used to assess the transmission oil fill and condition of a gearbox. The dipstick is pulled out, wiped, inserted back, and removed. Then we focus on o and “Max”. The level is normal if the oil is approximately halfway between the two marks.
2. Full drain method. This check of the oil level in the gearbox of a Lada Kalina car is relevant if you are going to change it. The liquid is completely drained into the container, and new lubricant is poured in instead.

Both methods have the right to life. But one is preventative, and the second is usually used during repairs or routine replacement of transmission oil. If we talk about how much oil is in the Kalina gearbox, then it requires approximately 3 liters. But experienced car owners of domestic cars recommend having a reserve of 1 - 2 liters. The first fill will take about 3.1 liters, and subsequently you will have the appropriate oil to add as the lubricant level gradually decreases.

It is recommended to carry out a preventive check of the condition and level every 10 thousand kilometers. You can do it more often, it definitely won’t make it worse. To assess the condition, simply drop oil onto a white surface (paper, rags) and look at it visually. You can compare it to fresh oil by dropping it nearby. If there are any impurities in the old lubricant, or the color has noticeably changed, it is better to change it.

Transmission – automatic Kalina

The manufacturer equips its creation with a fairly modern automatic transmission. This gearbox device is used only with the 1.6-liter 16-valve version of the engine.

Note that all modifications that the manufacturer has equipped with an automatic transmission have a reduced ground clearance. Also, the engine sump in this version is covered from below with an aluminum protective shield.

The gearbox is characterized by its own features, which allow the LADA Kalina car to have increased fuel consumption and slightly reduced dynamics. The unit, in comparison with the mechanical version, has more mass, which also provokes an increase in fuel consumption and the total weight of the model.

Mechanical transmissions of LADA Kalina have a cable-type shift mechanism. When the owner notices a loss of clarity during switching moments, the condition of the scenes should be immediately assessed. In the best case, the fixing nut has loosened, as a result of which there is a displacement of the link due to unsatisfactory fastening of the clamp present here.

Let us note one more important problem. It consists in the fact that when the engine speed reaches 3000 per minute, the effect of the lever rattling occurs. Here you will need to resort to shortening the sleeve. This measure will reduce the size of the gap, after which the handle will “leave the habit” of dangling. We take a file, sharpen the indicated sleeve a little and lubricate the assembly. The lever is now held tighter.

Replacement procedure

Based on the recommendations, you will be able to change the oil in the gearbox of a Lada Kalina car yourself. You may have at your disposal the first generation of the family or the newer Kalina 2. A distinctive feature is the location of the control hole on the side, and not on top of the crankcase. Plus, for convenience, it is recommended to move the air filter of the Kalina 2 power unit to the side. The engine filter is mounted on three rubber stops, which can be removed only after disconnecting all connectors on the box. Don’t forget to also remove the Kalinovsky adsorber valve. After this, changing the oil in the box will be much easier and more convenient.

If you decide to change the transmission fluid on a Lada Kalina car yourself, then when working with the gearbox during an oil change, follow some rules, recommendations and sequence of actions.

To get started, prepare everything you need. To work you will need:

• open-end or socket wrench size 17;
• a ratchet with a head of the same size (it is not necessary to use it, but it is more convenient);
• watering can;
• hose for watering can 30 – 40 cm;
• new oil;
• empty container for draining old lubricant;
• pit or jack.

Features of the transmission in the Kalina model

If we touch on the design aspects of the box installed on the second generation of the practical Lada Kalina, we should designate the locking solenoid. This element is present in the unit to prevent accidental engagement of reverse gear while driving forward. You will not be able to activate reverse speed when the electrical circuit of this solenoid is broken or the component itself has become unusable. If there is a malfunction, repairs will be required.

In this case, unscrew the solenoid from the transmission housing. We install a special locking plug in its seat. It can be found in a repair kit, which is recommended to be kept in stock in the car. This allows the owner to get to the repair site. You will need to move very carefully in such a situation. We take special care not to accidentally engage reverse instead of one of the forward gears.

It is not difficult to carry out the repair operation yourself, but you will need a gear shift diagram.

Oils used

If you took the Lada Kalina from the factory and did not change the transmission oil yourself, then Magnum 300 lubricant from TNK was probably filled inside it. This is a standard liquid poured into the box at Kalina production. And in Kalina 2 they already use Kinetic SAE from the Rosneft company. Therefore, make sure what kind of car you have and what was initially filled there if you are just going to add fluid.

is mineral, which can hardly be called high-quality and effective. In terms of characteristics, it is significantly inferior to many competitors. The reason for its use has a lot to do with its cheapness. It is optimal to change it to a semi-synthetic one, which will allow the box to feel comfortable under any operating conditions. According to car recommendations, it is better to use the following oils:

• TM4 produced by Lukoil;
• Kinetic company Rosneft;
• Trans KP from Novoil;
• Translux TM4-12 from Tatneft;
• Trans KP and LZ Super produced by TNK;
• Transaxle from Shell.

Replacement frequency

If we proceed from the recommendations of the automaker itself, represented by the AvtoVAZ company, then there is no specific frequency and period for changing the oil in the gearbox of the Lada Kalina car. According to their beliefs, it is not necessary to change the transmission lubricant in the gearbox; it is enough for the entire period of operation of the machine. In practice, the actual operating conditions of the vehicle significantly reduce the service life of the oil filled from the factory. Experts came to the conclusion that in order to maintain the efficiency and performance of the gearbox, it is better to replace it at least once every 50 - 80 thousand kilometers. If you use the machine less actively, then the frequency is determined in years and is no more than 4 - 5 years.

If you haven’t driven about 50-70 thousand kilometers in 4 years, it’s still better to change the oil. It would be most correct to start from the current state of the transmission fluid. To do this, periodically check the oil, measure its level, top up, and if the lubricant wears out, change it completely in the Kalina gearbox.

If the oil is not changed in a timely manner, you risk encountering:

1. Wear of shafts and gears. This happens because the lubricant loses its original physical and chemical properties and stops cooling the parts. Further rotation of the elements provokes friction and overheating.
2. Loss of chemical properties. This is where parts begin to wear out and metal shavings appear, which negatively affects the bearings.
3. Failure of the entire gearbox. Carrying out a major overhaul or completely replacing the box in Kalina will not be such a cheap pleasure.