Chevrolet Niva: changing the engine oil and oil filter

The Niva SUV, in all modifications, is very popular in Russian spaces. This is due to good maintainability, low price and excellent maneuverability. To ensure reliable operation, you should undergo all maintenance on time, in particular, change the engine oil.

The VAZ 21214 engine lubrication system is designed to protect against premature wear of moving parts. It completely copes with its task, you just need to follow all the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Stages of replacing lubricant VAZ 21214

Changing the engine oil is a regulated maintenance procedure, which is prescribed in the operating instructions. There is nothing complicated about it if you clearly and carefully follow the described action plan.

The replacement operation will be the same for different modifications of the Niva car:

• VAZ 21214
• VAZ 21213
• VAZ 2121
• VAZ 2131

Our most popular engines are injection and carburetor engines, with a volume of 1.7 and 1.6 liters. The replacement process on these engines, as well as other modifications, will be the same.

Draining waste fluid

It is necessary to drain the used engine fluid when the engine is warm. This is due to the fact that heated oil is more liquid. This makes it easier for it to leak out of the thin channels of the lubrication system.

To drain old engine oil, it is advisable to drive the VAZ 21214 (Niva) onto a pit or overpass, since the drainage is done from below. If this is not possible, then the most inconvenient step will be unscrewing the drain plug. Especially if there is protection installed that will need to be removed.

When everything is ready, we proceed to the draining operation:

1. Raise the hood, then find the filler neck on the engine and unscrew the cap (Fig. 1).

   
   Fig.1 Oil filler neck

2. We unscrew the oil filter, which is located on the right side of the engine, on the spare wheel side. You can try to get to it from under the hood. But if the drain is made from a hole, then it will be more convenient to unscrew it from below (Fig. 2).

   
   Fig.2 Oil filter

3. Now we go down under the car and place a waste container in the drainage area. You can use a cut canister or an old bucket.
4. We unscrew the drain plug using a 12 hexagon, which is located in the front part of the internal combustion engine (Fig. 3).

   
   Fig.3 Drain plug

To unscrew the filter element, it is advisable to have a special puller. If it is not available, you can try to unscrew the filter using improvised means. In this case, you can use, for example, an old alternator belt, a regular belt, a bicycle chain or a simple screwdriver.

Unscrewing the oil filter using improvised means

Using this method, you can drain the maximum amount of used oil, after which you can proceed to further actions. The main thing is not to forget, everything that we unscrewed must be put back in place.

Flushing the lubrication system

Flushing the engine on a Niva 21214, 21213 should only be carried out in exceptional cases, which include:

1. Purchasing a used car when you cannot know about the quality, as well as the regularity of lubricant replacements.
2. During operation, the service replacement interval was repeatedly exceeded.
3. Engine operation with constant frequent overheating, which contributes to coking and other deposits.
4. In cases of switching to another type, for example from synthetics to semi-synthetics.

There are several types of flushes for the Niva 2121 engine:

• Five- or seven-minute, capable of cleaning even the most difficult deposits. They must be used very carefully and strictly follow the instructions printed on the packaging. It is recommended to use them only when absolutely necessary. Since there is a high probability of causing premature wear of the sealing seals. And also clog the oil channels with particles of washed away carbon deposits.
• Special compounds that are added to the oil several hundred kilometers before the expected change. They are more gentle, but there is also a possibility of clogging of the oil channels.
• Flushing oil is the most gentle method of cleaning the engine from the inside. This composition is poured after draining the waste, the engine runs for 15-20 minutes, after which the liquid with deposits is drained. The absence of aggressive additives in the wash composition gently cleans the engine, but is not able to remove heavy contaminants.
• Regular oil that you are going to use when changing. This method is not so popular due to its high price.

Before flushing a VAZ Niva, you should weigh all the pros and cons. And also understand that it will not be possible to completely drain the liquid. Some of it will remain in the channels, which will then mix with the new oil.

Installing a filter, filling in new engine fluid

If the lubrication system of the VAZ 21214, VAZ 21213 (Niva) is sealed and does not require repair work to eliminate leaks, you can proceed to adding fresh oil. In addition to the engine oil itself, sometimes, when worn, it is recommended to change the bolt closing the drain hole. The original has article number 2101-2401046. As well as the original LADA oil filter 2105-1012005-82, from the factory, it is often installed from. If you wish, you can look at analogues on the Internet.

Consumables for maintenance

When everything is ready, let's move on to the bay:

1. Replace the drain plug and replace it with a new one if necessary.
2. We wipe the seat under the filter.
3. We tighten and put in place the new oil filter. Pre-lubricate the rubber sealing ring with fresh oil.
4. Pour new oil into the filler neck.
5. We check the level on the dipstick; it should be between the MIN and MAX marks.
6. We start the engine, let it run for 10-15 seconds, then turn it off.
7. After 5 minutes, check the level with a dipstick and top up if necessary.

There are several opinions regarding replacing the oil filter. Many old-school owners advise filling it with new oil before installation. However, nothing is said about this in the official Lada Niva operating instructions. And also in information from global filter manufacturers it is recommended to simply lubricate the o-ring.

Chevrolet Niva

... loosen the filter with a puller (for clarity, we show the operation on the removed filter).
... loosen the filter with a puller (for clarity, we show the operation on the removed filter).

If there is no puller, we pierce the filter housing with a screwdriver (closer to the bottom, so as not to damage the engine fitting) and unscrew the filter, using the screwdriver as a lever.

Replacement frequency, what oil to fill

According to the manufacturer's regulations, service replacements of engine oil for Niva 2121 and other modifications are carried out after 10,000 kilometers or at intervals of 1 year. But some car owners consider this interval to be a little too high, recommending that it be shortened taking into account operating conditions.

At the factory, Niva models are filled with oil from different suppliers. Most often this is Petro-Canada Supreme 10W-40 or Lukoil Genesis Advanced 10W-40. But for accurate information about what is poured into your car from the factory, you should contact the feedback system of AVTOVAZ PJSC. When applying, you must indicate the year and month of manufacture of the car.

Products from other manufacturers can be used as lubricating fluid. When choosing, it is recommended to pay attention to semi-synthetics with a viscosity of 10W-40. The following motor oils are most popular among model owners:

• Lada Professional 10W-40
• Shell Helix HX7 10W-40
• Total Quartz 7000 10W-40

From this list, anyone can choose based on preference, price or love for the brand.

When using this car in winter, you should select oil taking into account the climate zone, as well as the recommendations of AvtoVAZ. Viscosity 5W-40 will allow you to operate the car down to -30°C, and 0W-40 up to -35°C.

If you use motor oil of different viscosities for winter and summer, but of the same brand and manufacturer, then flushing is unnecessary.

How much oil is in the engine lubrication system, volume table

Chevrolet Niva

...and, unscrewing the plug manually, drain the oil.
...and, unscrewing the plug manually, drain the oil.

Attention! Be careful - the oil is hot.

Drain the oil for at least 10 minutes.

After wiping the plug, screw it on and tighten it. We remove oil leaks from the engine oil pan.

Place a container under the oil filter. Unscrew (counterclockwise) the oil filter. If this cannot be done manually...

Leaks and problems

The higher the mileage of the VAZ Niva, the more problems appear, as in principle with any car. Most often this is due to natural wear and tear of the engine, causing oil to burn. Although the manufacturer allows for a small consumption.

There can be many reasons why an engine eats oil. And in each case they can be individual. But, over the years of the model’s existence, we can talk about the most common places where leaks occur.

If the breather is spewing or throwing oil, or if there is oil in the exhaust manifold, this may indicate a serious problem with the oil rings. In this case, you can try decoking with dimexide. But it is better to use special auto chemicals designed for these purposes.

A leak from under the valve cover may be due to a worn gasket. Sometimes simply replacing the gasket does not solve the problem. Since the cover itself may have significant curvature. Therefore, in some cases it will have to be replaced.

A white emulsion in the engine or on the oil filler cap may indicate condensation. This is a common occurrence when temperatures change from minus to plus, mainly in autumn or spring.

But if the emulsion is also observed on the dipstick, then this is already a sign of more serious problems. Most often we can talk about a broken cylinder block gasket. And in rare cases, a cracked cylinder head may be to blame.

Also, with this problem, you can find oil in the expansion tank. Sometimes, simply replacing the gasket is not enough. It may be necessary to grind the head itself, and this is completely different money for repairs.

All this is general information, which may manifest itself differently on each specific vehicle, since everyone’s operating modes are different. The same applies to leak locations; it is impossible to identify the cause from a distance.

Video materials

The video recommended below will help you understand the small nuances of changing engine oil on a Niva.

• Hello! My name is Sergey, I am a mechanic with 7 years of experience.

  I’ll be happy to share tips and techniques that I use myself.

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  The Niva SUV, in all modifications, is very popular in Russian spaces. This is due to good maintainability, low price and excellent maneuverability. To ensure reliable operation, you should undergo all maintenance on time, in particular, change the engine oil.