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.

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.

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.

Selecting transmission oil for Niva-Chevrolet

According to the maintenance regulations, the gearbox oil needs to be replaced after the first 60,000 km. After long-term operation and a total mileage of 120,000 kilometers, the transmission oil for the Chevrolet Niva is changed after the next 45 thousand kilometers. This is due to increased wear of working parts and transfer case units. It often happens that after 150,000 km it is necessary to dismantle worn elements and install new samples.

Before purchasing a new lubricant, you need to understand the brand of oil that is suitable for the gearbox of a particular vehicle. The Chevrolet Niva model has increased cross-country ability thanks to its all-wheel drive design. Lubricant solutions poured into the gearbox, power unit, front and rear axles differ in many technical characteristics. The main attention in choosing a lubricant for each unit is paid to the viscosity indicator, since during vehicle operation, different temperature conditions are created in the components.

What kind of oil to pour into the Chevrolet Niva transmission. It is recommended to fill the gearbox of a Niva Chevrolet car with a lubricant that meets the requirements of the SAE 78w-90 or 80w-85 standards, API-4 category. Among experienced car enthusiasts, the most popular are the following well-known global brands for the production of gear oil:

Important: For a car, it is very important what kind of oil is poured into the Chevrolet Niva transmission. It is not allowed to replace the oil in the Niva Chevrolet gearbox with a substance of universal use. Multi-purpose lubricants have technical characteristics that negatively affect the operation of the transmission and the stability of the vehicle as a whole.

How much oil is in the Niva Chevrolet gearbox. The relatively small volume of oil in the Niva Chevrolet gearbox is due to the design features and specific operation of the manual gearbox. To change the oil in the gearbox of this car, you need to stock up on 0.8 liters of fluid.

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.

How often to change

There are several different types of transfer cases, and depending on the type of mechanism, the frequency of replacement can vary significantly. Usually this information is contained in the technical documentation for the car and varies in the range from 50 to 100 thousand kilometers.

In addition, operating conditions affect the service life. The transfer case of a car that drives on public roads experiences much less load than that installed on a car that constantly moves off-road.

Changing the gearbox oil on a Chevrolet Niva

This is a special syringe for filling oil into the gearbox on a Chevrolet Niva. You can't do without it.

When the oil is selected, you need to prepare the following tools and consumables:

• The key is "17".
• Hexagon at "12".
• Flushing liquid.
• Container for draining used oil.
• Syringe for filling new oil.

Algorithm:

1. The machine with a warm engine should be placed on an overpass or pit for inspection.

   
   On the rise!

2. Place a container under the box to drain the oil.
   A regular basin will do.
3. Unscrew the drain plug on the gearbox (hexagon).
   Unscrew the drain plug.
4. Drain the oil.
5. Clean the plug and drain hole.
6. Screw in the drain plug.
7. Add new oil using a syringe.

   
   We used a homemade syringe!

8. Start the engine and place the gearshift lever in neutral. Let the machine run like this for 4-5 minutes.
9. Check the oil level and add if necessary.
   If necessary, just add a little.

When to change the oil?

A good oil is viscous and transparent.

The manufacturer of the Chevrolet Niva claims that the gearbox oil must be changed every 45,000 kilometers. If the car will be used in difficult conditions, the oil should be changed more often.

Oil selection

Before changing the oil, you should first select the right one. There are currently quite a lot of such substances, and therefore the choice is very large and someone ignorant in this matter will not always be able to cope with it.

Experienced car enthusiasts recommend Liqui Molly oil and the Suprotec additive.

When choosing, you should initially pay attention to the climatic conditions in which the car will be operated. For example, if the air temperature in winter reaches 25 degrees or more, then preference should be given to 85W-90 liquid. You should also remember that expensive does not always mean high quality.

Bad oil can push out the seal.

Preference should be given to oils from proven and well-known manufacturers.

Functioning of the checkpoint

The Niva Chevrolet gearshift mechanism is five-speed mechanical. Its main function is to change the torque transmitted from the engine to the wheels. The manual transmission has a three-shaft design. Unfortunately, the Niva Chevrolet gearbox, having a complex design, often fails. It should be noted that its repair is quite expensive. Therefore, it is important to periodically check the lubricant level and change the oil in the gearbox on time.

For this purpose, transmission fluid of API GL-4 standard with viscosity of 75W-90 and 80W-90 is used. They are produced by both domestic manufacturers (TNK and Lukoil) and foreign ones - Shell, Mobil, Castrol, Total, ZIC, Motul. Of all the above, the French lubricant Motul Gear 300 75W-90 showed the best performance in terms of protection against scuffing, film stability on contacting surfaces, and anti-wear characteristics.

In second place was Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W-90 transmission fluid, third was Mobil Mobilube 75W-90 oil. All of them can operate at temperatures from -35 to +35°C, ensuring easy gear shifting and stable operation of the manual transmission. The price of these products is quite high, so it is worth paying attention to the domestic semi-synthetic transmission made by Lukoil - TM-4 75W-90. It is not much inferior to foreign competitors, but at the same time it is much cheaper and better adapted to low temperatures. The manufacturer also allows the use of transmission fluids of viscosity 80W-90 and 80W-85.

It should be remembered that you cannot fill the gearbox with API GL-5 standard transmission oil. In terms of its performance, it seems to be better - it can operate at high speeds and loads, as well as high temperatures. But it contains sulfur-phosphorus extreme pressure additives, a large amount of which can simply “kill” the gearbox synchronizers. They contain bronze, not durable steel. A large number of such additives are contraindicated for her. Therefore, compositions of the GL-5 standard should be poured into axles and gearboxes.

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.

How to choose

Two types of fluid are poured into the transfer case: transmission oil or ATF fluid. On cars with an automatic transmission, ATF is usually filled into the transfer case, and on cars with a manual transmission, the transmission is filled. In this case, often the liquids must match or be completely compatible.

This is due to the fact that usually the connection between the transfer case and the gearbox is made by a single shaft, or one is attached to the body of the other. When mixing liquids, this will avoid the formation of emulsions, foaming and other side effects.

For most modern cars with a transfer case, the manufacturer recommends using GL-5 class gear oils. They protect hypoid gears well, are designed to operate in the most heavily loaded mechanisms and contain extreme pressure additives.

The viscosity characteristics of oils play an important role. Let's look at the meaning of the numbers using 80W90 oil as an example:

• 80 – viscosity at low temperatures
• W – all-season
• 90 – viscosity at high temperatures

If ATF is used, it is better to fill in the original fluid recommended by the manufacturer, or an analogue that has the appropriate approvals.