The VAZ-2115 car is the result of numerous modernizations of the well-known VAZ-2108 model. The machine is easy to use, and its high reliability is due to inexpensive spare parts, even despite the unpredictable frequency of breakdowns. The VAZ-2115 is an outdated car in all respects, and yet, people continue to buy it. Low cost of operation and maintenance, the possibility of self-repair are the key advantages that the VAZ-2115 has today compared to foreign cars. Thus, one of the most common procedures is the replacement of consumables. For example, every motorist can cope with changing the oil in the gearbox. This task does not require any special skills and is performed with improvised means. But it should be noted that the reliability of the gearbox depends on the quality of the oil, which still needs to be chosen correctly based on the parameters, the best brands, the frequency of replacement, as well as the volume of oil being poured. This article will be relevant for owners of the VAZ-2115, regardless of the year of manufacture of the car.
Replacement Regulations
The AvtoVAZ company recommends changing the oil in the VAZ-2115 gearbox every 70 thousand kilometers. A longer service interval can greatly affect the reliability of the gearbox due to its design features. Moreover, it is advisable to replace it earlier than after 70 thousand. This is due to the following risk factors:
The most popular articles on the site:
- How often should you change engine oil?
- Oil 5w30 and 5w40 what is the difference
- What oil to pour into the engine in winter and summer
- How long does it take to change the automatic transmission oil?
How to change it yourself?
The design of the components of the VAZ 2115 car is very simple, so the oil in the box is often changed on its own. To do this you will need tools and no more than two hours of time.
Tools and materials
- fresh oil, 3.5 liters is enough;
- rags and gloves;
- 10 and 17 mm wrench (ideally you need a full set, as the protection may need to be removed);
- slotted screwdriver;
- funnel or transmission syringe;
- a container with a volume of at least 4 liters for draining waste.
Stages of work
Immediately before changing the oil in the gearbox, it is necessary to warm it up. To do this, it is enough to drive about 10–15 kilometers.
In order to replace the lubricant in a VAZ 2115 car, you need to do the following:
- Place the machine on a horizontal surface. It is more convenient to carry out replacement from a hole in the garage or on a lift.
- Remove the protection of the engine trays and/or transmission. The protection does not need to be dismantled if it has a hole that exactly matches the drain plug.
- Wipe the lid and box housing around it with a rag.
- Check for oil leaks along the parting lines and seals.
- Place the container and unscrew the cap.
- Wait about 20 minutes for the oil to drain completely.
- Screw the cover onto the gearbox housing.
- Lubricant can be filled using a syringe for transmission fluids or a funnel with an extension. In the second case, it is necessary to remove the air filter housing; the device is held on by two clamps - the throttle assembly and the crankcase ventilation tube. Since the VAZ 2115 uses an injection engine, when removing the filter it is necessary to disconnect the air flow sensor connector. Some owners remove the absorber tank to make access easier.
- Then you need to remove the dipstick from the hole that will serve as the oil filler neck.
- Pour 2.8-2.9 liters of oil using a funnel or syringe. When changing the lubricant, a smaller volume of liquid is always poured into the crankcase than the rated capacity of the box. This is due to the fact that some old oil remains inside.
- Wait a few minutes and check the amount of fluid on the dipstick. If the level is below o, the oil must be added. Excess lubricant can be pumped out with a medical syringe with a volume of 50 ml or more with a dropper tube attached to the nozzle.
- After this, you need to check that there are no lubricant leaks through the drain plug and box components. If traces of a leak are noticeable, then the cause of its occurrence must be eliminated.
- If the lubricant was replaced while the filter was removed, the parts should be reassembled in the reverse order.
- After 500-700 km, it is necessary to perform a control check of the oil level and the tightness of the unit components.
The best motor oil. does it exist?
- Frequent driving at high speeds
- Sharp maneuvers
- Driving on bad and dusty roads, including off-road
- Temperature changes, when frosts are replaced by sudden warming, dirt and slush on the roads
- Frequent engine operation at high speeds, which causes overheating and rapid wear of transmission parts
Russian motorists are well familiar with these so-called risk factors. Knowing about possible problems, they prefer to change the oil twice as often as specified in the regulations - for example, after 50 thousand kilometers. The regulations can be reduced even further if the machine is subjected to increased loads almost continuously. In addition, in such cases, it is advisable to check the volume of oil in advance, and at the same time monitor its condition.
Changing the oil in the gearbox of VAZ 2113, 2114, 211
Video. report on changing the gearbox oil at 40,000 km. Music downloaded from the site indicated below, registration on this.
I wonder what kind of oil most drivers fill in... A year ago I was advised to use Lukoil (Super) 10B/40 semi-synthetic for the summer... (well, this is understandable, in terms of less quality and not expensive) It seems to be the norm! I change it every 10 thousand. Why have the Shell guys been praising it lately? If you mainly drive around the city, I wonder which oil would be better...
Checking the volume and condition of the oil
The fluid level in the VAZ-2115 manual transmission is determined with a dipstick, which has Max and Min marks. If there is not enough oil, the oil mark on the dipstick will be below the Min level. In this case, add oil until it rises above the Min mark, but does not exceed the Max mark - this position is considered the most optimal.
If the fluid has darkened or become cloudy, emits an unpleasant odor and contains a suspicious sediment, then the oil should be completely replaced. In such a situation, topping up alone will not be enough.
Level and top up
As the vehicle is used, all fluids are gradually consumed. In the case of a transmission, this does not happen as quickly as with gasoline or oil in the gearbox. But you definitely need to monitor the level. The gearbox of VAZ-2115 vehicles has a special dipstick, access to which is provided through the engine compartment.
To make your task easier, you can remove the air filter housing. It gets in the way a little. Manipulations for checking the level are elementary and correspond to the principle of monitoring fluid in the engine crankcase. You need to remove the dipstick, wipe it dry with a rag, insert it back and pull it out again. By the location of the oil film on the dipstick, you will see at what level the fluid is now.
If your version of the gearbox does not have a dipstick, which is typical for old-style gearboxes, you will have to use your eye and fill it to the level of the filler neck. This ensures the right amount of lubrication in the transmission housing. The VAZ-2115 gearbox has its own design features that do not allow it to operate for a long time if the level of transmission oil is insufficiently high.
It's all about one gear. It is located higher than the others, which is why when the amount of oil is reduced, the lubricant does not reach it. This gear is responsible for 5th gear. Therefore, be sure to periodically check and add oil. Topping up is carried out through the filler hole from the engine compartment. Maintain a consistently high oil level in the gearbox of your VAZ-2115 so that the box works without crunching and can last as long as possible.
Choosing oil for VAZ-2115
For the VAZ-2115 gearbox, oil with certain viscosity parameters should be selected based on the climatic conditions in which the car is most often used. In this case, the manufacturer allows the following standards: 80W-85, 75W-80 or 75W-90. Fluids with a higher viscosity (for example, 85W-90) are incompatible with the VAZ-2109 gearbox.
After reviewing the parameters, we select the manufacturer. Recognized brands with good reputations include inexpensive products from Lukoil, Rosneft, Valvoline, Kixx, Mobil, G-Energy, Elf, Castrol, Shell and others.
You also need to pay attention to the following types of oils - synthetic, semi-synthetic and mineral. The best option for the VAZ-2115 in terms of price-quality ratio would be semi-synthetics. But if finances allow, you can safely take synthetics.
Oil selection
The cylindrical gears used in VAZ-2115 gearboxes are unpretentious in terms of the type of oil selected. Therefore, the transmission will feel equally good when filled with a mineral and synthetic composition. To save money, buy mineral water. The main selection criteria will be:
- relative slip speed indicators;
- parameters of specific loads acting on internal mechanisms.
Oils from the GL4 group are poured only into front-wheel drive models, while the second group has a universal purpose. Some consider the GL5 to be a better choice due to its high quality. But in fact this is not true. In terms of quality characteristics, they are the same. Only in the case of GL5 oils have a negative effect on synchronizers, which is not relevant for GL4 oils.
Suitable oils for VAZ-2115 from the GL5 group are conventionally divided into categories:
- These are mineral compounds. These include the products of Lukoil TM 5-18, Rexol and Norsi.
- Also mineral mixtures, but less thick consistency. The preferred options would be Spectrol Forward, Wells TM, Texaco Geartex, etc.
An important point when choosing gearbox fluid will be viscosity.
Viscosity parameters
When choosing oils for the VAZ-2115 gearbox, be sure to take into account the viscosity indicators of the composition. Owners of domestic cars immediately remember the TAD-17I. But this transmission fluid is already a thing of the past. The current replacement for it was the composition TM5-18. If you live in the hottest regions, which is not typical for Russia and the CIS countries, a composition with a viscosity of 140 SAE may be suitable for you. But generally our climate is much cooler, which is why we need to focus on viscosity at moderate ambient temperatures.
The first type does not perform very well in the harsh Russian winter, so it is not suitable for certain regions. The remaining two options for transmission fluids are fully justified; they can withstand both the sultry summer heat and severe winter frosts. Regarding API classification, for the fifteenth model from AvtoVAZ, the best solution would be GL4 or GL4/5. The use of GL5 is not recommended, since such compounds accelerate wear of synchronizers.
Factory recommendations
If you plan to fill in a special transmission fluid, aim closer to the viscosity parameters 75W80. If you are not afraid to pour motor lubricant into the box, then 10W40 or 15W40 will suit you. The manufacturer itself advises AvtoVAZ to fill in TM4-12 with a viscosity of 80W85. This is a great solution, but finding the original will be quite problematic.
Recommended oils include the following formulations:
- Novoil Super T;
- Kinetic from Rosneft;
- Super T-2;
- Super T3;
- Trans Gipoid from TNK;
- Transaxle Oil produced by Shell brand.
Back in 1996, the manufacturer introduced a special gearbox oil for the VAZ-2115 called Rexol T. It had a viscosity of 80W85 and an API class of GL4. After 2 years, the plant began to recommend Lukoil TM4 with the same viscosity. It is possible to find oils recommended by the manufacturer. The recommended gearbox oil meets the requirements of the VAZ-2115, but is not a single alternative solution. The range of ingredients is impressive. The unpretentiousness of the domestic car and its gearbox allows you to choose the composition from a wide variety.
Car owner experience
On various forums, almost every VAZ-2115 car owner told what kind of oil he poured into the gearbox and what should not be poured. Based on the experiences of other people, you can draw objective conclusions for yourself. There are several oils that are in highest demand. This is about the question of which gear oil is best to pour for the VAZ-2115 gearbox if problems arise with the purchase of the original one recommended by the manufacturer.
- TNK 75W90. An oil with good performance characteristics that allows you to confidently manipulate the gearbox. Its main advantage is accessibility. Among all the options presented, this is the cheapest composition.
- GetribeOil EP with viscosity 75W90. This is an excellent gear lubricant produced by the famous Shell brand. Although the real properties and characteristics are comparable to the composition from TNK, at a higher cost of Shell.
- Oil from Castrol with a similar viscosity. If the winter is very harsh, the composition may freeze slightly. But under normal conditions it demonstrates its best qualities. In terms of price, this is somewhere between the options presented above.
We figured out the parameters, main characteristics and manufacturers. Now we focus on the need to buy gearbox fluids only in trusted places, in certified stores. The main problem of spontaneous markets and private sellers, who often offer oils at lower prices than in stores, is the high probability of encountering counterfeits.
Depends on the operating conditions of the vehicle. In regions with colder climates, less viscous liquids are used. Oils with high viscosity are better suited for hot climates.
Depending on the season, it is important to consider the properties of the oil used. To better perform its assigned functions, it is recommended to replace mineral oil with semi-synthetic or synthetic oil before the winter period. Synthetics to mineral - before summer.
For long runs, you should focus on the mileage. For a VAZ 2114 car, replacement is carried out at least once every 60,000 km. If the car is rarely used, consider the expiration date of the lubricant. The average is 5 years.
Hello friends!)
I think it's time to change the oil in the box, because... 5th gear began to howl, only 5th, and this could well be due to the fact that the oil is either at the max level or a little lower. Well, of course I’m not going to mix the oils.
As I understand, our boxes have such a problem as “oil starvation” in fifth gear, it seems like the bearing is higher than the max mark, which means that the oil in the box should be slightly higher than the max mark, because
the bearing does not bathe in oil)))
It is unlikely that the star came to the bearing, because... I don’t force the gearbox, I’ve never even turned it above 4000))) And I rarely drive in 5th gear, mostly 3rd, 4th - in the city)
- The car is 7 years old, the gearbox oil has never been changed, mileage is 68,000 km
- I don’t know what kind of oil is put in there, so it’s just an oil change))
- So what are you interested in:
1) What to pour? Mineral water, semi-synthetic or synthetic? As far as I know, it’s not worth pouring synthetic into our boxes)
- - Mineral water: they say it thickens a lot in winter - Semi-synthetics: something between mineral water and synthetics
- — Synthetics: highly fluid (like “water” in summer)
2) What viscosity should I take? SAE75W-90, 75W-85, 80W-90, 80W-85 or another viscosity?
3) What quality classifier should there be? API.
GL-1 - used in gearboxes where there are no synchronizers GL-2 - definitely not for our gearboxes GL-3 - seems to be eliminated too GL-4 - for non-synchronized gearboxes
GL-5 - Used as universal oils for all other mechanical transmission units (except for the gearbox). And right there it is written: For synchronized manual transmissions, only oils that have special confirmation of compliance with the requirements of vehicle manufacturers are used.
How much to fill
Having understood the quality of the oil, as well as its parameters and the best brands, let’s consider another important parameter - the volume of oil. For the gearbox of the car in question, 3.3 liters of the substance should be filled. This amount of fluid is usually injected after a complete oil change. This procedure is performed as follows:
- Old oil is drained
- The flushing composition is poured
- Flushing is carried out throughout the entire transmission with the engine running.
- The engine is turned off, the new mixture is filled in completely
- Check the level with a dipstick.
View oil prices
Tools and materials
When preparing materials and tools, it is important to consider what type of gearbox is installed on your vehicle. There are two types of gearboxes provided on the fifteenth model from AvtoVAZ. These are old and new style boxes. They are not very different from each other from the perspective of an ordinary car owner. There is no need to go into any minor design or technical differences.
The main thing is to understand that on old boxes there is no dipstick and the filler hole is located lower. New transmissions are filled with lubricant using a funnel, but for older transmissions you will need a large syringe and a hose to reach the filler neck. Otherwise, the procedure for changing the working fluid on the two types of gearboxes is identical.
To work you will need the following tools:
- key to 17;
- empty waste container;
- syringe;
- hose (about 0.5 meters long);
- funnel;
- canister with transmission oil;
- hexagons;
- rags;
- protective clothing.
Be sure to take the empty canister and key with you under the car, otherwise without them you will not be able to drain the waste. If your VAZ-2115 is equipped with crankcase protection, then take appropriately sized keys under it to remove it. As additional repairs or maintenance are performed on the machine, an additional set of tools may be required.
Filled volume
An important point is the amount of lubricant poured into the transmission installed on VAZ-2115 vehicles. It is about 3.3 liters. You already know which fluid is best to pour into the VAZ-2115 and its gearbox. To accurately understand the amount of oil, you can rely on the results of draining the old grease.
In practice, it holds slightly less if the box has not been completely drained, which is almost impossible to achieve in garage conditions. It is extremely important how much oil you manage to pour in so that each gear in the box is covered with a lubricant. You know the problem of the VAZ-2115, so you cannot ignore the rule of maintaining a high level of lubrication.
Transmission oil change intervals
Based on factory documentation, the oil needs to be changed every 70–80 thousand kilometers, but at least once every 4–5 years with an average annual mileage of 15–16 thousand km. In reality, the situation is somewhat different - weather conditions, environmental conditions, operating and storage (parking) conditions have a serious impact on replacement intervals.
According to experts, replacement must be done every 35 - 40 thousand km, and at intervals after 30 thousand km. It is already possible that primary signs of violations may appear:
- heavy and imprecise gear shifting;
- extraneous noise;
- vibrations.
If the above symptoms have recently begun to appear in your car, we strongly advise you to change the oil as soon as possible - this will reduce wear on gearbox parts and compensate for possible losses from breakdowns.
