The gearbox is a vehicle component that is subject to quite heavy loads, since a powerful power moment from the engine to the wheels is transmitted through rather small gears. Therefore, for long and trouble-free operation of the gearbox, you need to change the oil in a timely manner, and at the same time do not forget about its quality and compliance with the technical parameters of the car.
First of all, the technical characteristics of the “transmission” must meet the requirements of the manufacturer. Secondly, when changing the oil, you need to take into account the climatic conditions of the place where the car is used, as well as the driver’s driving style.
In this article we will look in detail at the question of what is the best oil to pour into the gearbox of a Kalina. Lada Kalina cars are equipped with 2 types of gearboxes - “mechanical” and “automatic”. Each transmission option has its own requirements for the amount and standard of oil poured.
Transmission oils for Lada Kalina
| Brand | SAE viscosity grade | API Team | Manufacturer | Regulatory document |
| LUKOIL TM 4 | 75W-80, 75W-85, 75W-90, 80W-85, 80W-90 | GL-4 | OJSC Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka, Volgograd LLC Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez, Perm | STO 00044434-009 |
| NOVOIL TRANS KP | 80W-85 | GL-4 | OJSC Novo-Ufa Oil Refinery, Ufa | TU 0253-017-05766528 |
| ROSNEFT KINETIC | 80W-85 | GL-4 | OJSC "Angarsk Petrochemical Company", Angarsk | TU 0253-386-05742746 |
| TNK TRANS KP | 80W-85 | GL-4 | TNK Lubricants LLC, Ryazan | TU 38.301-41-191 |
| TNK TRANS KP SUPER | 75W-90 | GL-4 | TNK Lubricants LLC, Ryazan | TU 0253-003-44918199 |
| TRANS KP-2 | 80W-85 | GL-4 | OJSC Sibneft-Omsk Oil Refinery, Omsk | TU 38.301-19-129 |
| SHELL TRANSAXLE OIL | 75W-90 | GL-4/5 | Shell East Europe Co, UK, Finland | – |
Choosing the best gearbox oil
First, you need to take note and understand that for Lada Kalina, as for any other car, it is better to purchase original lubricant - it is more reliable and safer. Particular attention should be paid to this. The fact is that there are now a lot of manufacturers on the market producing counterfeit products. Therefore, it is necessary to approach the issue of changing the oil with special care.
Experienced motorists who are familiar with the Lada Kalina device recommend using THK Trans KP Super lubricant. Indeed, the Lada Kalina gearbox with this oil is noticeably quieter and produces less vibration. You should also use a dipstick and regularly check the fluid level.
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
The steps mentioned above are listed here in order:
- Disconnect the negative terminal of the battery;
- Disconnect the clip “1” that holds the power wire and disconnect the connector “2” of the mass air flow sensor (Fig. 1);
- Dismantle the canister purge valve. Disconnect the connector with the wires, then use a flat screwdriver to press the spring on the side and remove the module itself from the grooves (Fig. 2);
- All stops holding the box can be easily removed from the slots (Fig. 3).
The connector that needs to be disconnected in “step 2” will not be available in configurations with motor 21127.
What happens if you don't change the oil on time?
As you know, the gearbox wears out over time under the influence of various climatic and road conditions. At the same time, over time, it is necessary to be more attentive to the maintenance of the gearbox - perhaps fill up the oil more often, since worn parts already need better lubrication. Untimely oil change is fraught with the following consequences:
- Failure of gears and shafts - this problem can arise after 150 thousand km, when the need arises for the first oil change. If this is not done, the used oil will lose its properties and will no longer be able to provide effective cooling and lubrication of parts. As a result, the shafts and gears will overheat due to increased friction, which will lead to premature wear
- Loss of chemical properties after 150-160 thousand kilometers can cause metal shavings to accumulate in the oil, which can damage not only gears, but also bearings
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.
Video
For owners of Lada Kalina, problems related to transmission are relevant. In most cases, they arise due to deterioration in the quality of the lubricating fluid. Also, with time and increasing mileage, there is a decrease in the amount of lubricant in the gearbox. All this brings inconvenience that drivers face.
All problems can be solved by changing the lubricant in the gearbox. But here a completely logical question arises. Which oil should I choose to add to the Lada Kalina gearbox? After all, the market is represented by a huge assortment, both in price categories and in chemical composition. Let's try to understand this in detail.
How to choose an oil
So what kind of oil should be poured into the gearbox of the Lada Kalina? It is simply impossible to give an unambiguous universal answer to this question. There are several criteria that you should pay attention to when choosing.
Mainly attention is paid to price, viscosity, chemical composition, as well as the popularity of the manufacturer’s brand. In fact, everything is not as complicated as it seems at first glance. However, when purchasing, you should pay special attention to the availability of GOST and product certification. This is very important, because if you purchase a product that does not have all this, you may encounter not only low quality oil, but also further deterioration of the transmission.
How much oil is in a manual transmission of a Lada Kalina car?
First generation 1118, 2004-2018
When creating the Kalina, AvtoVAZ used 3D virtualization for the first time, which not only made it easier to design, but also improved aerodynamics and speeded up development. In addition, the new production technology had a positive effect on the quality of painting, welding and subsequent assembly of the car, which was very important for mass production and cost reduction. Kalina had three trim levels - Standard, Norma and Lux. Thus, for some versions they offered air conditioning, parking sensors, an audio system and other modern options, and power steering was already included in the basic package - for the first time in the history of AvtoVAZ. The restyled Kalina of 2013 was distinguished by a new front design, as well as a more modern front panel in the cabin - with a 7-inch multimedia display, Bluetooth and USB, improved climate control and additional options. The updated model was also equipped with an ABS system with emergency braking and an ESC stabilization system.
Oil in manual transmission 2181: volume - 2.2 liters with partial replacement (for gearbox 1118 and 1119 - up to 3.5 liters)
What transmission oils does AvtoVAZ recommend?
When you buy a brand new Lada Kalina, the transmission is already filled with oil. As a rule, this is what the manufacturer himself recommends. You can easily find it in almost any store. Magnum 300 lubricant from TNK is added to the Lada Kalina from the factory.
In fact, according to reviews from most car enthusiasts, this is not the best option. The oil deteriorates very quickly and has to be changed much more often than its analogues. That is why we present a list of the most popular gearbox lubricants among Lada Kalina owners:
- Liqui Moly;
- Castrol;
- Mobil;
- ZIC;
- Lukoil;
- TNK.
As you can see, most often they choose products from the most well-known and trusted manufacturers. The use of oil from TNK is justified in cases where the car is not used very often, or the mileage is less than 20 thousand kilometers over a long period of time. Therefore, we can objectively say that the product recommended by AvtoVAZ is not the most effective for the vast majority of drivers.
Which manufacturer should you prefer?
Another important factor in choosing the best gear oil for Lada Kalina is the manufacturer’s brand. The modern market is saturated with a large selection of products. It is popular and in great demand brands that offer high-quality and high-quality products. In practice, the vast majority of lubricating fluids offered are cheaper analogues of truly good oils. Always check the availability of GOST when purchasing. If it is not there, then most likely this liquid will not help. It's better to pay a little more and get quality lubricant.
We present to you a list of the most purchased oils for the Lada Kalina gearbox:
- ZIC (29.7% of buyers)
- Shell (14.1% of buyers)
- Liqui Moly (13.4% of buyers)
- Lukoil (12.4% of buyers)
- Castrol (5.5% of buyers)
- Mobil (4.2% of buyers)
Also, manufacturers TNK and Rosneft are almost on a par with Mobile. All presented brands produce products with different chemical compositions. Among them there are synthetic and semi-synthetic oils. Mineral fluids are produced by a small number of manufacturers, since they are not in great demand and are suitable for drivers in extremely rare cases due to their fragility.
Types of oils
At the moment, the following options can be considered the most popular types of oils for cars:
- Mineral. It is suitable for first pouring and has unstable fluidity. They decompose faster and do not require disposal, but have characteristics much worse than those of synthetic and semi-synthetic oils.
- Synthetic oils. They are characterized by good stability both thermally and chemically. But they have a fairly high cost and high consumption. They can boast of a long service life.
- Semi-synthetic oils. Their characteristics are slightly worse than synthetic ones, but they are much cheaper. It has good characteristics, but is not suitable for the winter season. Ideal option for cars with high mileage.
Transmission lubricants: properties and operation
What to choose for Kalina
If you still find it difficult to determine what kind of oil to pour into the Lada Kalina gearbox, then feel free to choose the products of one of the above manufacturers. So you definitely can't go wrong. The highest quality ones are ZIC and Liqui Moly. Also, you should not take mineral oils if you drive often. It is best to take semi-synthetic or synthetic. This is the most durable option for those who regularly use the car for a long time.
Results
As a result, we can say that the modern Russian market offers a wide range of transmission oils for any car. Among all the products, it is important to choose exactly the lubricant that is ideal for you. After a little comparative analysis, or by trusting the opinion of the majority of motorists, you can easily make the right choice. When purchasing, you must take into account the certification of the product. This is very important in order to be confident in the quality of the purchased oil.
| Minimum temperature | -40 | +35 | |
| 75-85W | -40 | -40 | +45 |
| 80-85W | -26 | -26 | +45 |
| 85-90W | -12 |
