Changing the oil in the gearbox of a VAZ 2109: replacement frequency, selection of gear oil, step-by-step instructions and recommendations for replacement

Changing the oil in the gearbox on VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099 is not a difficult job; anyone can do it with their own hands. The first time will be longer than all the subsequent ones. Therefore, there is simply no point in going to the service for such a trifle. The main difficulty of the whole work is to fill the gearbox with oil, since the design does not allow you to get to the opening of any container with new oil. We will talk about changing the oil with and without a dipstick, on carburetor and injection models. But everything will be discussed in order in this article.

Many people ask: “When should you change the oil?” It all depends on the operating conditions of the car. If the car is constantly used in severe weather conditions (severe frost, heat, snow, dirt, dust, etc.), then we recommend changing the oil every 35 thousand km. In urban asphalt operating conditions, it is sufficient to replace it once every 40 thousand km.

Closer to 35-40 thousand km. mileage since the last oil change, the vehicle's transmission may not operate stably. You may feel increased vibration of the box, excess noise, and inaccuracy in gear shifting. And if there are no problems with the clutch, then these are all signals for diagnosing and changing the oil in the gearbox on VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099. Injector, carburetor, with or without a dipstick - it doesn’t matter, this applies to all models. We recommend changing the oil in all components of a used car after purchasing it.

To change the gearbox oil with your own hands you will need:

• New original gearbox oil. We recommend using oil recommended by the manufacturer, and also depending on the temperature conditions of the vehicle's operation (for example, 80W-85. GL-4432). Don’t forget that you will need 3.3 liters to change the oil in a five-speed gearbox, and 3 liters for a four-speed gearbox.
• Spanners 12 and 17
• A container for draining used oil with a volume of at least 3 liters.
• Syringe for filling oil (for gearboxes without a dipstick), funnel (for gearboxes with a dipstick)
• Hose or flexible tube 20-25 cm, electrical tape (for gearbox without dipstick)
• Clean rag
• Thin but strong wire
• Pit, overpass or lift.

Removing and replacing the front shock absorber strut of a VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099 with your own hands
Before replacing, be sure to heat the oil by shifting gears with the engine running or drive a few kilometers. It takes 5-10 minutes for the oil to drain completely from parts and mechanisms.

Let's move on to the sequence of actions. So…

Reasons for changing transmission oil in a VAZ 2109 gearbox

Replacing the transmission fluid in the “nine” box may be necessary for the following reasons:

• When extraneous sounds and creaks appeared. Gradually, the liquid loses its properties, and particles of metal and moisture can get into it. In turn, this leads to accelerated wear of parts.
• If the transmission fluid has become dark or black in color, it should be replaced regardless of the vehicle's mileage.
• Purchasing a used car. Especially when it is unknown how long ago the former owner changed the fluid.

The dipstick, which has 2 max and min marks, will help you find out the level of transmission fluid in the VAZ 2109 gearbox - you need to add it if the level is below the min mark

When should TM be changed?

Different experts have different opinions on this matter, but the majority is inclined to believe that the oil fluids inside the car for the VAZ 2109 gearbox should be changed every 30,000 kilometers, or once a year. But, of course, everything depends on the operating conditions and the roads on which the vehicle travels, so in a gentle mode, gear oil can serve well for 50,000 kilometers.

Every motorist should constantly check the quality of the working oil fluid, preferably at least every 10,000 kilometers. If the oil has acquired an unpleasant dark color, abrasive particles are visible in its structure, or foreign sediment is visible, then it is better to replace the oil composition. This way you will not only prevent car damage, but also protect your travel on the road.

Specialists oblige all motorists to replace the working oil fluids inside the VAZ 2109 gearbox every time the gearbox is repaired. This way you can prevent contamination and erosion of new parts, and most importantly, you will know that gear shifting is done efficiently.

Transmission oil change intervals

Recommendations from the manufacturer of your vehicle help us figure out how often the transmission oil needs to be changed.

In particular, if you own a domestic VAZ-2109 car, then it is necessary to replace the transmission fluid every 60 thousand kilometers.

However, let us hasten to make small adjustments. If you operate your car in difficult conditions, forcing you to travel long distances on poor quality roads, then it is best to fill in new oil in the gearbox after a run of 30 thousand kilometers.

We also recommend learning to hear your own car. Listen for any sounds that were not previously apparent when shifting gears. If you begin to notice suspicious squeaks, if every attempt to change gear is accompanied by even minor difficulties, then it’s time to change the TM. Replacement will also be required in cases where the clutch does not work.

Which oil is better to choose

“Ninety-nine” is one of the most unpretentious cars, but many new owners try to buy the best fluids for it. Surely all car enthusiasts know what happens when replacing antifreeze with antifreeze, especially without additional flushing. Same with oil. Domestic machines of the 9th family were developed to work with older brands of liquids; they are not designed for more modern ones.

What kind of oil is still best to pour into the engine and gearbox? Ideally, mineral or semi-synthetic. When you try to pour synthetics, especially into an old car, it can wash away old deposits, and then instead of lubricating the engine will receive a lot of abrasive particles. In addition, synthetics are more liquid. It is quite possible that it will begin to actively leak through seals, gaskets and seals.

About types of transmission oils

For VAZ 2109 vehicles, it is recommended to use the following types of gear oils:

1. API GL-4
2. SAE

Let's talk about each of these types in more detail.

API GL-4

These gear oils are suitable for use in a variety of conditions from light to heavy and are used in synchronized gearboxes.

SAE

The most popular classification of transmission oils. The following types are suitable for the VAZ 2109 box:

1. Mineral 85 W This type of oil is perfect for gearboxes with high mileage. It has good lubricating properties in hot weather due to its good viscosity and thickens at low temperatures.
2. Semi-synthetic 75 W Lubricating properties at a high level. In warm climates it remains quite viscous. In winter it warms up quickly. Reduces noise during gearbox operation
3. Synthetics 75 W In summer, due to high temperatures, it becomes liquid. Particular attention should be paid to the gearbox seals; oil leaks are likely; it does not thicken in the cold.

Author's advice: When choosing gear oil for a VAZ 2109 gearbox, you should take into account your financial capabilities and the recommendations of specialists.

Work order

The first step is to drain the used oil. For this, a container with a wide neck of suitable volume is useful. To drain the oil more completely, clean the transmission breather to ensure uninterrupted air flow.

You should also take into account that draining the oil after a long period of parking will not be complete, and you should first warm up the oil during a test drive.

It should be taken into account that there are various modifications of VAZ 2109 manual transmissions. It is easier to make such a replacement for units equipped with an oil gauge (dipstick). This will allow you to refuel in doses.

However, in the absence of such a dipstick on the car, replacing it correctly is also not particularly difficult. To do this, fill directly into the hole, which is located next to the drain. It can be found on the side of the end cap slightly higher relative to the ground.

This feature of the gearbox is characterized by the inconvenience of delivering oil to the filling hole. You won't be able to use a regular funnel here. In this case, a special oil syringe, which can be equipped with a curved oil line, will help.

If the volume of the syringe is insufficient, the filling procedure will need to be repeated. And specialized workshops have appropriate equipment for such purposes.

Checking the oil level in the VAZ 2109 box

The easiest way to monitor the oil level in the gearbox is with a dipstick. But where is the oil level dipstick in the VAZ 2109 gearbox and what is it?

The probe looks like a metal strip at one end of which there is an o and “max”, and at the second, opposite end, the part ends with a black rubber ring.

Checking the oil level using a dipstick:

1. Place the car on a flat surface.
2. We wait the required fifteen minutes.
3. We stock up on rags.
4. Open the hood.
5. On the side of the driver's fender we are looking for the black rubber ring of our part. It is located on the gearbox directly under the air filter tube for air purification.
6. We take out the found ring.
7. Wipe it dry with a rag prepared in advance.
8. Carefully, without touching the walls, put the dipstick back until it stops.
9. We take out and inspect the marks on the dipstick.

The optimal oil level in the VAZ 2114 gearbox shows about. If the actual level is below this mark, then the oil should be added.

Kinds

Today, various oils are used for gearboxes, each of which has its own characteristics.

The main criterion for choosing gearbox oil is the class. Since the VAZ 2109 is a front-wheel drive car, it is recommended to fill the gearbox with GL3 or GL4 class lubricants. Imported oils have such designations, and foreign ones have TM3 and TM4, respectively. In this case, it is not recommended to use TM5/GL5 lubricants, since they wear out the gearbox synchronizers.

Step-by-step instruction

In order to change the oil in a VAZ 2109 gearbox, we perform the following steps:

1. Start the car and drive it for a drive, during which you engage each of the gears and let it run for a while. This will help warm up the box and thin the oil, giving it maximum fluidity.
2. Place the machine over the pit and place a container under the front to collect the oil.

3. Open the hood. Remove the crankcase protection.
4. Remove the cap from the breather. Clean the breather and its cap from dirt.

5. Remove the dipstick. Unscrew the drain plug and wait until the old grease drains out completely.
6. Screw in the drain plug. Using a large syringe or bulb, pour the required amount of new lubricant into the dipstick mounting hole.

7. Reinstall the dipstick. Place the cap on the breather.

Thus, changing the oil yourself is a completely simple operation that anyone can do. The only thing you should remember is the need to check the level some time after the replacement and, if it is low, add the missing amount of oil.

Changing the engine oil

Even if the car sits idle more than it drives, the oil in the VAZ engine should be changed twice a season. This is due to different viscosities of oils, which is especially important for regions with very harsh climates. For example, an oil with an index of 5W or even 0W will promote cold starting much better than 10W or 20W. Although if an injector is installed on a VAZ 21099, and the climate is more or less warm, then it is not necessary to change the oil twice a year. Another criterion for carrying out work is mileage. The oil should be changed once every 10-15 thousand km.

The procedure itself is extremely simple. Before replacing, you need to purchase 3.5 liters of new and flushing oil, and an oil filter. The car is driven onto a lift or pit. The engine must be well warmed up - otherwise the oil will not drain completely. Naturally, the VAZ engine turns off. Place the waste container, carefully unscrew the drain plug in the crankcase and the filler plug at the top of the engine. Allow all the oil to drain, being careful.

After the oil has drained, the drain plug is screwed in and flushing oil is poured in. The engine starts and should run for a few minutes. You cannot drive on flushing oil, especially if the car is a VAZ 21099 injector. Then the engine stops again, the oil is drained again, and the oil filter is unscrewed. Before installing a new oil filter, you must thoroughly lubricate its rubber gasket. The plugs are screwed back in - job done!

If after replacement the oil pressure light begins to blink, then you need to tighten the oil filter a little and also inspect the engine for leaks. Perhaps one of the gaskets has started to corrode. This may also indicate that the oil pressure sensor has broken down or there is a more serious breakdown.

It is worth remembering that flushing the engine must be done only if oil of different viscosity or brand is poured. In other cases, flushing the engine is optional. It is advisable to combine such a procedure with such an important operation as replacing antifreeze. When all the fluids in the engine are new, the driver can be calm about the condition of his car.

When replacing fluids, you should not dump them on the ground - this can greatly harm the environment.

Dipstick Yes or not?

VAZ 2109 cars were produced from 1987 to 2011. During this time, certain adjustments were made to the design of the car, including gearboxes.

That’s why now nines are found both with and without a probe. Because of this, the procedure for changing the lubricant in the gearbox may differ slightly.

Earlier versions of the VAZ 2109 do not have a dipstick, but received a filler hole closed with a plug. To get to it, you have to crawl under the car. Later versions of the VAZ 2109 received a dipstick and filler hole located on top. To fill the lubricant, you just need to lift the hood.

Dipstick for lubrication in the gearbox

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.

Direct replacement (manual transmission with a dipstick)

1. Replacement is carried out with the box heated to operating temperature (so that the maximum amount of waste and wear products drains out).
2. Using a rag and thin wire, clean the breather and rubber cap (after cleaning, return the cap to its place).

3. We unscrew the drain plug and drain the waste liquid into a specially prepared container, then return the plug back.
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4. We take out the dipstick and pour transmission fluid through the hole (using a funnel), wipe the dipstick with a rag and install it in place.

5. We wait five minutes and then take out the dipstick and measure the oil level, adding it if necessary.

During operation, we check the fluid level every 10 - 15 thousand kilometers in order to avoid transmission breakdowns due to low oil level. If the gearbox consumes a lot of oil, it should be replaced as often as possible.

Choosing oil for manual transmission VAZ-2109

Before replacing the transmission fluid, you first need to decide on a suitable product. So, for the VAZ-2109, oil with viscosity parameters 80W-85 or 80W-90 is suitable. The API quality standard must be at least GL-4. Based on this information, we select the most compatible oil. For example, among the available brands we can highlight Rexol-T, Omskoil Trans P, and Volnez TM4. In addition, products from Lukoil, Rosneft, G-Energy, Valvoline, Mobil and others have proven themselves well on the Russian market.