Changing the gearbox oil is an important part of car care. Over time, the lubricant ages and ceases to perform its functions, thereby causing wear and tear on the device parts. The VAZ Nine gearbox is reliable and durable, but it cannot do without maintenance. The replacement procedure is simple; a motorist can handle this task on his own. Before pouring oil into the VAZ-2109 box, it is important to read the automaker’s recommendations.
Replacement frequency
Despite the durability of the gearbox, it also tends to wear out and periodically requires attention from the car owner. A scheduled oil change in the VAZ-2109 gearbox should be carried out every 70 thousand km. mileage or after 5 years of operation. However, if extraneous sounds begin to appear from the device, the procedure must be carried out earlier. It is also necessary to take into account the fact in what conditions the car is operated. Sometimes the replacement time is almost halved, for example, for cars subjected to heavy loads, the service interval will be about 40 thousand kilometers.
What to choose in a car store?
And so we came to the auto store to buy oil in a box for the VAZ-2109. Of course, sellers today are more likely to sell you a more expensive product. However, it is best to give preference to imported oils in the mid-price range. But here we are faced with classification.
GL-4 is an oil that is used for “nines” with front-wheel drive. GL-5 is used in other cases. You can also find combined oils of the GL-4/5 brand; they are suitable for all VAZ-2109. The oil box should be filled with GL-4 or GL-4/5, the viscosity should be as follows: 75w-40, 80W-90. It won’t be difficult to find all this in specialized stores. However, extremely tempting low prices should be avoided. The average temperature range varies from -25 to +40 degrees Celsius. As a rule, the lower the thickening temperature, the better, especially given the harsh winters in our country.
Checking the volume and condition of the oil
Every 5 - 10 thousand km. It is recommended to check the level and condition of the oil, as well as the box for leaks. Constant monitoring allows you to protect parts from wear and tear, preventing the need for repairs in a timely manner. The vehicle must be placed on a flat surface during the procedure.
You can check the oil level in the VAZ-2109 gearbox using the dipstick located under the hood. To do this, remove the device, wipe off the grease and insert it back until it stops, then remove it again and evaluate the results.
Ideally, the oil level is at the upper mark of the meter, but if not, then you should definitely add fluid to the required level, and it is important not to overfill the lubricant higher than required. The lower mark of the device shows the minimum permissible value, and if it is lowered, there is already a danger of early failure of the box.
In addition, it is important to monitor the condition of the fluid. Its color, which tends to change over time and is often far from the original, will say a lot. If the oil remains clear but has darkened a little, then this is considered normal, but if it becomes cloudy and looks dirty, it means that a large amount of metal shavings and other deposits have accumulated in it. It is also important to pay attention to the presence of a burning smell. In this case, the box urgently needs to replace the lubricant.
What kind of oil to pour into the VAZ-2109 box
One of the most sensitive questions. Most owners of this car model can sit on forums for days and search for information on this matter. But, as they say, everything ingenious is simple, and this is exactly the case. It’s enough to open the instruction manual, where, in fact, everything is written, but if you don’t have one at hand, then here are some useful tips.
So, in our gearbox the main pair of teeth is helical, and not hypoid, as on the “classic”, so we can say right away that it makes no sense to fill such a gearbox with TAD-17I oil. As for using engine oil in the box, this is a more suitable method, but it is applicable exclusively for “nines” manufactured before 1993.
After 1993, TM 5-9M oil is used. In models with front-wheel drive, it can operate for 70-75 thousand kilometers. However, this brand of oil is not available for sale.
Oil options for the VAZ-2109 gearbox
The fact that the operation of the transmission depends on the quality of the lubricant being poured is no longer a secret, but a well-known fact. An incorrectly chosen product can affect the functioning of the device and lead to very undesirable consequences. The Nine gearbox does not require the purchase of extremely expensive oil, but its technical characteristics still play an important role in ensuring stable operation. There are certain recommendations for selecting a lubricant suitable for a given vehicle. The choice should be taken with full responsibility, because the serviceability, service life of the device, as well as the frequency of replacement will depend on what kind of oil is poured into the VAZ-2109 box.
Let's look at the factory recommendations
When selecting transmission fluid, it is better to follow the car manufacturer's recommendations. This ensures the product is compatible with the box and ensures stable operation of the device.
The manufacturer recommends using all-season mineral oils of domestic brands with viscosity characteristics 80W-85, 80W-90:
- Omskoil Trans P class GL-4/5;
- Rexol T GL-4;
- Volnese TM4 GL-4.
The plant poured mineral lubricant from Lukoil into cars, but in practice, in winter, the liquid is not adapted to cope with very low temperatures.
The range of compounds for the Nine transmission is quite wide and is not limited to a few brands. The manufacturer recommends for use oil of classifications GL-3 and GL-4, as well as TM-3 and TM-4 according to Russian standards. You can choose any one that meets these requirements. Semi-synthetic and synthetic lubricants behave much better in cold weather, providing rapid heating and maintaining their properties even at very low temperatures.
It is also equally important to purchase an original product without running into a fake, so you need to buy oil from trusted sellers who have appropriate certificates confirming the quality of the products.
On the very first cars produced, the same oil was used for the transmission that was poured into the engine. This was also recommended by the manufacturer. Now there is no shortage of auto chemicals, so it is better to use specialized products for their intended purpose.
Signs that replacement is needed
So:
- Increased noise level of the box
- Deterioration of gear shifting
- The car's mileage exceeded 40 thousand kilometers
What is needed for replacement
You need:
- Fresh oil specifically for the gearbox (gearbox), branded oil is recommended.
Note: Remember that the transmission capacity is: five-speed – 3.3 liters; four-speed - 3.0 liters.
- Spanners for 12 and 17
- Syringe (for filling) or funnel
- Clean rags
- Container (bucket, cut plastic canister, the main thing is at least three liters) for draining the old
Before replacing, remove the rubber cap from the breather, wash it and clean the hole with wire. Replace the cap.
We pull off the cap from the breather, clean the hole with a wire, rinse the cap and return it to its place
Topping up oil
Regularly checking the fluid level in the VAZ-2109 box will allow you to maintain the device in good condition for many years.
Based on the marks on the dipstick, add oil if necessary. It is very important to keep the transmission fluid level at the maximum level. A drop in volumes to a minimum leads to severe wear and tear on the car's gearbox, as a result of which it is at risk of repair or complete failure. Topping up is carried out using a dipstick and a funnel into the hole of the measuring device, where oil should be poured if the gearbox is serviced. In case the car does not have a dipstick, a syringe is used and liquid is added to the hole in the filler neck.
You should only add a product that is identical to what was used previously; mixing different compositions can have an extremely negative effect on the box.
Some more useful information
We have already decided what kind of oil to pour into the VAZ-2109 box and how much is needed. Now I would like to say a few words about what high-quality gear oil should be like. Since lubrication in the gearbox is extremely important and work is simply impossible without it, you need to use only a high-quality product that has already proven itself in the market.
Synthetic-based oils are more preferable for severe winters, when the temperature drops to -30 at night. Synthetics do not thicken as much, which allows you to start the car the first time even under such conditions. Mineral oils are less expensive, but do not perform well at sub-zero temperatures.
An important point is the number of additives. In most cases, these are sulfur compounds that reduce the likelihood of gear scuffing. This type of connection completely eliminates metal scuffing, forming a film that simply wears out during operation. But this has its drawbacks - the metal literally corrodes, but this still minimizes wear. The conclusion is that the VAZ-2109 gearbox, for which the oil was purchased wisely, will serve for a long time and properly.
Step-by-step instructions for replacing the gearbox on a “nine”
VAZ produced “nines” with serviced boxes that were not equipped with a measuring probe.
Before the procedure, it is necessary to warm up the transmission fluid so that it drains better. To do this, it is enough to drive 5–10 km, and then drive the car into a pit or place it on a lift.
How to fill oil into a VAZ-2109 box without a dipstick
The process of changing oil in a manual transmission consists of three main stages. When the preparation has already been completed and access to the bottom of the car is obtained, we move on to the next step.
Drain the oil
Remove the rubber cap of the transmission breather, clean it and reinstall it. Unscrew the drain bolt with a 17mm wrench, then tighten it by hand. We pour the waste into a pre-prepared container; about three liters should flow out of the box, provided that the oil level is normal. After we have managed to drain all the fluid from the gearbox, tighten the plug.
Filling with new oil
For boxes with a dipstick, new transmission fluid is poured directly into the hole of the measuring device using a funnel, and it is easy to control the level of the lubricant being poured.
Changing the oil in a VAZ-2109 gearbox without a dipstick is more difficult. The filler neck is located slightly higher to the right of the drain hole, and you will have to measure the level along its edge. We unscrew the plug and pour in the oil using a special syringe with an oil line at the end. When the liquid reaches the upper edge of the hole, stop filling and return the lid to its place.
There is also the option of changing the oil through the speedometer drive hole. In this case, the level of the lubricant being poured is easily visible, but this method is intended to be used as a last resort if it is not possible to carry out the procedure in a standard way.
Replacement steps
The entire process of replacing the lubricant in the gearbox can be divided into three main stages:
- Checking the lubricant level;
- Draining old oil;
- Pouring new lubricant into the box.
Let's go through each stage separately.
Level check
Checking the current oil level in the gearbox is not difficult, regardless of whether you have a dipstick or not.
If the dipstick is missing, we will check with our finger. This is done as follows:
- Under the car, unscrew the filler plug from the gearbox;
- If after this the liquid begins to flow out, the level is sufficient. If not, insert your finger into the hole. Having felt the liquid at the level of the edge of the filler hole, we can talk about the optimal amount of lubricant;
- You can visually drain all the lubricant and, by its quantity in the container, determine how much liquid was in the system.
If you have a probe, everything is simple:
- Unscrew the plug on which the measuring probe is attached;
- Wipe it with a dry cloth;
- Place back into box. In this case, the machine must be on a flat surface and at rest;
- Take out the dipstick and see what the meter shows. It has Min and Max marks. It is optimal if the oil stains the dipstick up to the maximum mark, but not above it.
In order for the new lubricant in the gearbox to work effectively, the first step is to get rid of the old one. The transmission oil is drained quite easily.
To drain the lubricant from the gearbox you need:
- Remove the rubber plug from the breather, clean the breather with wire and close it with the plug. This will help equalize the pressure inside the gearbox.
- Unscrew the drain plug. In old and updated versions of the VAZ 2109, this plug is located the same way - at the bottom of the box.
- Drain the oil into a container of about 5 liters prepared in advance.
- After draining all the lubricant, screw the drain plug back securely.
When the engine is warm, the fluid from the gearbox will drain faster and more efficiently. But at the same time, follow safety precautions. After all, you are working with hot oil.
Replacement
Now we have reached the point where we need to fill in new lubricant. We have already determined which one.
- Unscrew the filler plug located at the bottom;
- Using a syringe, gradually fill the gearbox housing with fresh oil;
- Add until the liquid is level with the edge of the filler hole;
- Close the plug.
An important difference is the gearboxes on the VAZ 2109 with 5 speeds. They require approximately 300-350 milliliters more lubricant to be poured. Otherwise, when operating in 5th gear mode, the gearbox will experience oil starvation.
To add the required additional amount of lubricant to the five-speed gearbox, do the following.
- Use a jack to raise the rear of the car. This way the additional amount of lubricant will not spill out.
- While the machine is raised, add the required amount of oil.
- Close the plug and only then return the car to a horizontal position.
Level control and required volume
While operating the vehicle, it is necessary to constantly monitor the oil level in the gearbox using a dipstick. There are two control marks (dashes) on the dipstick, indicating the minimum and maximum oil levels in the gearbox. The minimum mark indicates the need for topping up (usually the operation is performed every 4 - 5 thousand km), and the maximum mark indicates that there is no reason for concern.
Control is carried out as follows:
- At the gearbox, the dipstick is unscrewed or removed (the hole from it is usually used as a filler neck).
- Wipe the metal part with a dry, clean cloth.
- Insert the dipstick back and take it out again - you see the actual oil level in the gearbox.
The standard is considered to be the volume of lubricating fluid in the range between minimum and maximum, i.e. approximately in the middle of the marks.
Topping up oil
Oil is added to the “21099” gearbox only after checking the level and taking into account its tendency to a minimum. As a rule, from 0.5 to 0.8 liters are added to a 5-mortar, and up to 0.6 liters to a 4-mortar. It is important to use for topping up oil of the same manufacturer and the same viscosity that is currently used in the gearbox of your car; mixing is unacceptable and can lead to complete failure of the gearbox or its individual parts. Add oil using an oil syringe or funnel, then measure the level using a dipstick. Typically, topping up is done in stages, periodically checking the level, since a volume in excess of the maximum will lead to squeezing out of the gearbox through gaskets, seals and drives, which will necessarily lead to their replacement.
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