Changing the oil in the gearbox on a Niva Chevrolet with your own hands

Many inexperienced owners of new cars do not even suspect that changing the gearbox oil is as necessary as changing the engine lubricant. For example, updating the oil fluid inside a Chevrolet Niva manual transmission is done after 45–50 thousand kilometers. This requires special gear oils. In addition to the manual gearbox, the transmission also includes a transfer case. There you also need to change the oil, at the same mileage interval as the gearbox.

We make a replacement

Once you have prepared for a minor transmission repair, you need to prepare the necessary tools (before the replacement begins).

Tools

In order for the replacement of the Chevrolet Niva gearbox to be carried out quickly and efficiently, you will need:

• wrench with 17mm head;
• wrench with 12mm head (hexagon);
• flushing liquid;
• container for draining.

Step by step instructions

Well, now we have come to the most important process, after you have chosen the oil that you will fill in the gearbox and have prepared all the necessary tools, the replacement can begin. You need to follow this instruction:

Machine installation

1. Warm up the engine and place the car on the overpass.
2. Take a container and place it under the drain plug.
3. Unscrew the filler plug and drain plug.
4. Let the oil drain from the gearbox.
5. There may be various contaminants in the drain plug and on the magnet; they need to be cleaned so that they do not get into the gearbox. Draining the oil
6. Screw in the drain plug.
7. The next step is flushing the crankcase. To do this, you will need to pour almost 1 liter of flushing fluid into it. And tighten the cap.
8. Now we put the lever on the gearbox in the neutral position, change gears one by one and stop again at the first one. Let the car warm up for 2-3 minutes.
9. Drain the wash.
10. Fill with new oil.
11. Place the gear lever in neutral, start the engine, engage first gear and warm up the engine for 2-3 minutes.
12. Check the level and add more if necessary.

Done, the oil change in the Chevrolet Niva gearbox has been successfully completed.

Try not to forget to check the lubricant level of your “swallow” and monitor the presence of fresh substance, as this significantly helps prevent many irreversible destructive processes. Use only high-quality oils that have been tested by time and the owners of many cars; do not skimp on paying for a good thing, otherwise it will be more expensive later. Remember that your car also requires care and respect. Maintaining the original condition of a car is far from easy, but even with heavy everyday loads it is possible. You can always leave any questions you have in the comments.

Communities › Chevrolet Niva › Blog › Leaking gearbox

Dear friends, help me understand what it is, I noticed an oil stain not long ago at the junction of the gearbox and the internal combustion engine

, also noticed a wet place where the gear shift rod

, mileage 35 thousand km, noticed 5 thousand km ago, oil in both the internal combustion engine and the gearbox is at the normal level

, there is no extraneous noise, the gears engage perfectly, I blame the input shaft seal. The question is, is it worth climbing in and removing the box just because of this?

and What are the mounts for on the left side (in the direction of travel) on the gearbox?

Changing the oil in a Chevrolet Niva box

1. Make sure you have the tools necessary to complete the work. To do this you will need: a 12 hex key;
2. wrench 17;
3. container for draining used lubricant.

Transmission oils

For Chevrolet Niva, transmission oils are used that have the following parameters indicated in the table below.

SAE is a generally accepted classification of gear oils, which consists of 9 viscosity levels. The numbers presented on the plate indicate the temperature ranges of use. Thus, 75W-90 is allowed for operation at temperatures from −40 to +35, 80W-85 from −26 to +35 and 85W-90 from −12 to +35.

Classification according to the API system is also generally accepted. These accepted standards divide lubricants into groups depending on the type of design and operating conditions. According to the API system, transmission lubricants are designated in the letter GL and numbers from 1 to 5. It is important to know that the higher the number after the letters, the more severe the operating conditions of the lubricants.

Be sure to find out the data for your car brand before purchasing transmission lubricants.

Tips for choosing

1. Study the recommendations provided by the car manufacturer.
2. The use of more expensive oils is not always justified, since their properties can negatively affect the stability of the lubrication system itself. Therefore, it is important to choose a lubricant from the recommended range.
3. Replace lubricants in a timely manner.
4. In cars with high total mileage, transmission oils should be changed much more often, since the gearbox mechanism is subject to more severe operating conditions.
5. Do not allow the oil level to drop and constantly monitor the level.

It remains to be seen which oil to choose in the end for your Shevik? It is known that there are many manufacturers of gear oils, which differ only in the stickers on the canisters. The Chevrolet Niva gearbox holds 1.6 liters of lubricant.

Among the expensive ones, it is worth highlighting Shell Spirax, which costs about 600 rubles. But what’s important is not what kind of oil you put in the box, it’s important that it matches the operating characteristics of the car. On this point, I would like to note the following: monitoring and periodic replacement of lubricants will prolong the life of the mechanical parts of the car for a long time.

According to the recommendations of the AvtoVAZ manufacturer, the transmission oil in the gearbox must be changed every 60,000 km. Of course, many Niva owners neglect this rule, but this can only have a negative effect on the condition of the gearbox.

This procedure is best performed in a pit in a garage or on a lift. Although personally, I did everything without all this, I just jacked up the car and crawled under it, fortunately the ground clearance on the Niva allows me to do this without any problems.

To change the oil in the box we need the following equipment:

1. Hexagon 12
2. Wrench size 17 - preferably a socket or a head with a ratchet (wrench)
3. A special syringe for pumping oil into the transmission
4. Container for draining waste

So, the drain plug is located in the bottom of the box housing, and is clearly shown in the photo below:

We unscrew it with a hexagon, first placing the container under the bottom:

And wait a few minutes until all the old oil drains from the crankcase:

At this time, you can immediately unscrew the filler plug to make the draining process faster:

After everything has flowed out, you can screw the drain plug back in and use a special syringe to pump in new transmission oil until its level is equal to the top edge of the filler hole:

After all the work has been done, you need to screw the side plug into place. And you can continue to operate your Niva for at least another 60 thousand kilometers, after which you repeat the procedure again.

This is not an advertisement from the manufacturer; I myself am a Nivavod driver and fill my car with this oil myself; at one time I sold oils and had something to compare with. Although there are no friends in taste and color. According to my feelings, the car just drove, the ride became smoother, the transmission became quieter and drives from replacement to replacement without losing the driving dynamics, which cannot be said about other oils, after 5000 km you can already feel it. In this blog I will share my conclusions about tuning the Niva 21213 car. This is not a guide to action - this is a blog about how I made a car for myself.

What and how much to fill

The table below will allow you to select oil by car brand and find out how much is required.

Changing the Chevrolet Niva gearbox oil, step-by-step instructions

1. We install the vehicle on an overpass or inspection hole.
2. Next, place an empty container under the drain hole.

3. The places where the gearbox drain and filler plugs are located must be cleaned of dirt using a rag.
4. First of all, unscrew the filler plug, then use a hexagon to unscrew the drain plug.
5. Then you need to wait until the waste liquid drains completely.
6. The drain plug is distinguished by the presence of a special magnet that attracts all metal particles. If there are these particles on the lid, remove them. Remember, the more such particles there are on the plug, the less the gearbox will last.
7. When the oil has drained, tighten the drain plug and start flushing the crankcase by pouring in about one liter of special material and letting the car run for a few minutes.
8. At the same time, turn on the neutral position in the transfer case and change gears.
9. We drain this liquid and fill in new oil instead.
10. Then we check the oil level using the dipstick and start the engine. Next, let the engine run in first gear for five minutes.
11. At the last stage, we check the oil level and, if necessary, add it to the optimal level.
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Check level

On most cars, inspection windows are not provided to check the oil level in the transfer case. Level control and replacement is carried out through the filler hole.

To check, you need to place the car on a flat surface and unscrew the filler bolt, or the control bolt, if any. Usually they are made with a quad or hexagon, or with a wrench.

A normal level is just below the fill/check hole.

The need for replacement is determined by taking a small amount of oil. This can be done using a syringe with a flexible tube attached to the end. Black, cloudy, with traces of wear and tear, must be replaced.

Preparing for replacement

If you want not to resort to such radical measures as repairing the gearbox, you should constantly monitor the level and condition of the oil in the Chevrolet Niva gearbox. If you notice that the liquid substance has changed color (darkened) or smell (unusual, foreign), you need to change the oil urgently. A good liquid substance that does not yet require replacement will be transparent and viscous. To check, you can rub a drop of liquid with two fingers, thus you can determine the presence of oxol and its condition. The manufacturer of the Chevrolet Niva car says that the gearbox oil should be changed every 45 thousand km - it is worth listening to these indicators.

What kind of oil to pour

Before we tell you how to do the replacement, you will need to buy new transmission fluid. Currently, it is very difficult to choose a suitable substance as the choice is too large, there are many manufacturers, and the difference between their products is insignificant. How to choose the best transmission fluid that will be of good quality and affordable price?

Synthetic oils

The first thing you need to do is identify the climatic conditions, for example, if you live in an area where winters are cold (22-25 degrees), then it will be better for your car to use 5W-40 synthetic oil. Such a substance will not freeze due to the fact that it is very liquid. With mineral oils things are different. In terms of characteristics, they are significantly inferior to synthetics, but their price is more reasonable. We would recommend that you fill the Chevrolet Niva gearbox with synthetic transmission fluid. Synthetics lubricate the engine well, which extends its service life, saves fuel and increases engine power.