Instructions for changing and topping up oil in the gearbox of a VAZ-2106 car
Having first appeared in 1975, the VAZ “six” turned out to be a long-liver, and with figures close to record ones: it was produced until 2005, that is, 30 years, and during this time about 4 million copies rolled off the assembly line. It is safe to say that this model is one of the most popular models in the global automotive industry.
It is not surprising that today the VAZ-2106, along with all its modifications, is a frequently encountered car on the roads of post-Soviet countries. Relatively low cost, availability of spare parts and ease of operation, maintenance and repair are the main advantages of this model. Most car repair and maintenance operations can be done on your own, including changing the oil in the VAZ-2106 gearbox.
How often to change transmission oil
According to the manufacturer’s recommendations, the frequency of oil changes in a “six” manual transmission is every 75 thousand kilometers. Such an impressive interval is quite understandable - transmission oil does not work under such extreme conditions as engine oil, so this indicator can be considered optimal. However, when operating a car in difficult conditions, the frequency recommended by AvtoVAZ may not be enough - many Six car owners perform this operation after a mileage of 60 thousand km.
How to change: main stages of the process
A successful replacement of the transmission substance in the box occurs after a trip over a distance of more than five km. This is necessary for the liquid to warm up. The transmission oil is changed by immobilizing the car on an overpass or inspection hole. Operations are created according to the following annotation:
Sources:
https://shiestko.ru/obsluzhivanie/kak-zalit-maslo-v-korobku-vaz-2106.html https://autoimage-mitsubishi.ru/diagnostika-i-obsluzhivanie/kak-zalit-maslo-v-korobku -vaz-2106.html https://vaz-russia.com/voprosyi-po-dvigatelyu/kakoe-maslo-zalivat-v-korobku.html https://motoroilclub.ru/transmissionnye/skolko-masla-v-kpp -vaz-2107.html
Recommendations for choosing oil
Any oil with viscosity values 75W90, 75W85, 80W85, 80W90, 85W90 is suitable for filling into a mechanical five- or four-speed VAZ gearbox. Questions arise when it is necessary to solve the dilemma of which oil is better to fill in the VAZ-2106 gearbox: mineral water, semi-synthetic or synthetic.
An important and at the same time practically the only advantage of mineral water is its low cost, which is one and a half to two times lower than synthetics or semi-synthetics. This is due to the composition of such a lubricating fluid, which does not contain any additives. At the same time, the lubricating properties of mineral oil are quite decent, allowing you to operate a car without changing the oil for 60 - 75 thousand kilometers. A significant disadvantage of mineral water is a decrease in viscosity in severe frost, which makes it difficult to change gears on a cold engine.
The only drawback of semi-synthetic and synthetic gear oils is their high cost. But they have more than enough advantages: excellent manufacturability, the presence of wear-reducing additives for gearbox parts, and the possibility of trouble-free operation in a wide temperature range.
Among some car enthusiasts, there is an opinion that the use of synthetic oil in the VAZ-2106 gearbox contributes to squeezing out the oil seals, which leads to their leakage. In reality, such problems have nothing to do with the type of transmission fluid used; their cause lies in the wear of parts and components of the gearbox.
ELF EVOLUTION 900 SXR 5W30
Energy-saving motor oil ELF EVOLUTION 900 SXR 5W30 developed using synthetic technology has improved anti-wear and cleaning characteristics, therefore it reliably protects the engine in all driving conditions. This oil has increased energy efficiency: due to its good fluidity, it reduces friction during engine operation, which helps save fuel. The low pour point of this oil guarantees reliable cold starts, and oxidative and thermal stability allows you to adhere to the maximum possible replacement intervals. ELF EVOLUTION 900 SXR 5W30 meets ACEA A5/B5 and API SL/CF specifications and is suitable for all Lada engines requiring oils of these standards.
How to check the oil level in a box with topping up
It is recommended to check the transmission oil level in the VAZ-2106 gearbox on a cold car. If the procedure is carried out immediately after a trip, you must wait at least 10 minutes (depending on the time of year and ambient temperature) for the oil to drain from the gearbox parts into the crankcase.
The level is checked not using a dipstick, as on an engine - it is filled to the upper edge of the filler hole located on the side plane of the gearbox.
The algorithm for checking and topping up the oil level in the gearbox is extremely simple:
Tools and accessories
To change the oil in the “six” yourself, you will need the following tools and materials:
- seventeen wrench (if the fasteners do not give in, an extension wrench may be required);
- a 12mm hex wrench, preferably also with a long tube to increase the leverage of the applied force;
- two-liter waste container;
- a special syringe characterized by a curved end (an ordinary honey syringe is also suitable, on which, instead of a needle, a hose about twenty cm long is put on);
- rags.
To change the oil, it is better to place the car in a pit or overpass; to add transmission water, this is not necessary.
Complete oil change
Since checking the oil level is not required, it is advisable to change it when the car is warm. Sequencing:
After completing the procedure, we check the used oil for the presence of metal shavings, crumbs and microparticles. If any, this indicates the need for transmission repair. We visually inspect the housing for cracks and leaks; if they are present, it is necessary to eliminate the detected defects.
If the waste is black in color, indicating that it is heavily contaminated, it is advisable to flush the gearbox housing before changing the oil in a manual transmission in a VAZ model 2106. For this procedure, you will need to mix 0.7 liters of transmission fluid and 0.3 liters of diesel fuel (you can use a ready-made flushing mixture sold in auto chemical departments). We pour the resulting liquid into the box, jack up one of the drive wheels, start the engine, and let the engine run in one of the forward gears for several minutes. Drain the flushing fluid and fill in new one.
What do you need to know?
The purpose of transmission oil is approximately the same as engine oil, with minor differences. Such oil should evenly and effectively lubricate the rubbing components of the gearbox. This is needed for additional cooling and reducing the coefficient of friction. Many motorists never change the oil in the gearbox at all, which subsequently leads to the need to overhaul it.
In this article we will look at the line of domestic cars with a manual transmission. An automatic is a different topic for discussion, since everything is arranged differently there, but the oil also needs to be changed. First of all, let’s figure out whether it’s worth following the manufacturer’s recommendations. In addition, we will consider reviews from motorists regarding this or that brand of gear oil. In general, we will try to cover this issue as best as possible.
The process of changing the oil in the gearbox of a VAZ 2106 car
Instructions - changing the VAZ 2106 gearbox oil yourself. The process itself is quite simple. So:
Unscrewing the drain plug
Unscrewing the filler plug with a spanner
Typically, syringes are made with a capacity of about 0.5 liters. Therefore, the procedure should be repeated several times.
Filling oil with a syringe
Second version of the syringe
As you can see, changing the VAZ 2106 gearbox oil will not take much time. The most important thing is to do everything slowly and carefully.
Special moments or "notes"
What you should pay attention to when changing the oil:
Six in perfect condition
Gearbox VAZ 2106: general information
The gearbox in a car is designed to change the value of torque transmitted to the wheels of the car from the crankshaft of the power unit (in our case through the driveshaft). This is necessary to ensure optimal load on the power unit when the machine moves in various modes. VAZ 2106 cars, depending on the modification and year of manufacture, were equipped with four- and five-speed manual gearboxes. The gear shift in such devices is carried out manually by the driver using a specially designed lever.
Device
The first “sixes” rolled off the assembly line with a four-speed gearbox. They had four forward speeds and one reverse. Since 1987, the VAZ 2106 began to be equipped with five-speed gearboxes, with an added fifth forward speed. It made it possible to almost completely “unload” the car’s engine during long high-speed trips. The five-speed gearbox was designed on the basis of a four-speed one. Both of these boxes are interchangeable, and their designs are largely similar.
The six-speed four-speed gearbox consists of:
The gearbox input shaft is mounted on two bearing supports. One of them (front) is mounted in a socket at the end of the crankshaft. The rear bearing is located in the wall of the gearbox housing. Both bearings have a ball design.
The rotation of the secondary shaft is ensured by three bearings. The front one has a needle design. It is pressed into a bore on the first shaft. The middle and rear bearing supports are installed in a special housing in the crankcase and the mounting hole in the rear cover, respectively. They have a ball design.
The gears of the first three stages are located on the secondary shaft. All of them are engaged with gears on the intermediate shaft. The front part of the shaft is equipped with special splines used for fastening the synchronizer clutch for the third and fourth speeds. The reverse gears and speedometer drive are also installed here. The intermediate shaft is also mounted on two bearings: front (ball) and rear (roller).
Stage synchronizers have the same design, consisting of a hub, coupling, springs and locking rings. The gears are switched by means of a mechanical drive, which consists of rods with forks that engage with movable (sliding) clutches.
The shift lever has a two-part design. Its upper and lower parts are connected using a collapsible damping device. This is necessary in order to simplify the dismantling of the box.
The five-speed gearbox is similar, with the exception of some changes in the rear cover and the design of the intermediate shaft.
Main technical characteristics of the VAZ 2106 gearbox
The main parameter that determines the operation of the gearbox is the gear ratio. This number is considered to be the ratio of the number of teeth on the driven gear to the number of teeth on the drive gear. The table below shows the gearbox ratios of various modifications of the VAZ 2106.
Table: gear ratios of the VAZ 2106 gearbox
| VAZ 2106 | VAZ 21061 | VAZ 21063 | VAZ 21065 | |
| Number of steps | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Gear ratio for each stage | ||||
| 1 | 3,7 | 3,7 | 3,67 | 3,67 |
| 2 | 2,1 | 2,1 | 2,1 | 2,1 |
| 3 | 1,36 | 1,36 | 1,36 | 1,36 |
| 4 | 1,0 | 1,0 | 1,0 | 1,0 |
| 5 | No | No | No | 0,82 |
| Reverse gear | 3,53 | 3,53 | 3,53 | 3,53 |
Which gearbox should I install?
Some owners of “sixes” with four-speed gearboxes are trying to improve their cars by installing five-speed gearboxes on them. This solution allows you to make long trips without putting much stress on the engine and with significant fuel savings. As can be seen from the table above, the fifth gear ratio of the standard VAZ 21065 gearbox is only 0.82. This means that the engine practically does not “strain” when driving in fifth speed. In addition, if you move no more than 110 km/h, then a working power unit in such a situation will consume no more than 6–7 liters of fuel.
Main faults of the VAZ 2106 gearbox
Being a mechanical device, especially one subject to constant loads, the gearbox cannot help but break down. And even if it is serviced in accordance with the requirements of the car manufacturer, the time will still come when it becomes capricious.
The main malfunctions of the VAZ 2106 gearbox include:
Let us consider these malfunctions in terms of the reasons for their occurrence.
Oil leakage
Leakage of lubricant in the gearbox can be determined by marks on the ground or by the engine crankcase protection. You cannot delay fixing this problem, because an insufficient oil level will certainly lead to a number of other malfunctions. The causes of leakage may be:
Noise when turning on gears
Extraneous noise that occurs when shifting gears may indicate the following malfunctions:
Sound uncharacteristic of gearbox operation
The appearance of a sound that is uncharacteristic of the normal operation of the gearbox and disappears when the clutch is depressed may be due to:
Complicated gear shifting
Problems with gear shifting that are not accompanied by extraneous noise may indicate such malfunctions as:
Lack of lever locking
If the gear shift lever returns to its previous position after switching on the speed, the release spring is most likely to blame. It can either stretch or break. It is also possible for one of its ends to slip from the attachment point.
Switching off (knocking out) speeds
If the gears are switched off uncontrolled, the following malfunctions may occur:
Table: VAZ 2106 gearbox malfunctions and methods for eliminating them
| Gearbox noise | |
| Bearing noise | Replace defective bearings |
| Wear of gear teeth and synchronizers | Replace worn parts |
| Insufficient oil level in the gearbox | Add oil. If necessary, eliminate the causes of oil leakage |
| Axial movement of shafts | Replace bearing retaining parts or bearings themselves |
| Difficulty shifting gears | |
| Sticking spherical joint of the gear lever | Clean the mating surfaces of the ball joint |
| Gear shift lever deformation | Correct the deformation or replace the lever with a new one |
| Stiff movement of the fork rods (burrs, contamination of the rod seats, jamming of the locking blocks) | Repair or replace worn parts |
| Tight movement of the sliding clutch on the hub when the splines are dirty | Clean the parts |
| Deformation of gear shift forks | Straighten the forks, replace them if necessary |
| Spontaneous shutdown or unclear gear shifting | |
| Wear of balls and rod seats, loss of elasticity of clamp springs | Replace damaged parts with new ones |
| Wear of synchronizer blocking rings | Replace locking rings |
| Broken synchronizer spring | Replace the spring |
| Wear of synchronizer clutch teeth or synchronizer ring gear | Replace clutch or gear |
| Oil leak | |
| Wear of the oil seals of the primary and secondary shafts | Replace seals |
| Loosening of the gearbox housing covers, damage to the sealing gaskets | Tighten nuts or replace sealing gaskets |
| Loosening the clutch housing to the gearbox housing | Tighten the nuts |
Repair of VAZ 2106 gearbox
The process of repairing a “six” gearbox comes down to replacing broken or worn elements. Considering that most of even the smallest parts of the box can be dismantled without problems, there is no point in restoring them. It is much easier to buy a new spare part and install it in place of the faulty one.
But in any case that requires repair of the gearbox, it will need to be removed from the car and disassembled. This may take a whole day, or maybe more than one. Be sure to take this into account if you decide to repair the gearbox yourself.
How to remove the gearbox
To dismantle the gearbox, you will need a lift, overpass or inspection hole. It is also advisable to have an assistant present. As for the tools, you will definitely need:
Dismantling procedure:
Dismantling the VAZ 2106 gearbox
Before disassembling the gearbox, it is recommended to clean it from dirt, dust, and oil leaks. In addition, make sure you have the following tools on hand:
To disassemble the gearbox, you must:
If faulty gears, synchronizers and forks are discovered during the disassembly of the gearbox, they should be replaced immediately. Parts that have visible signs of wear or damage should be considered defective.
Video: disassembling the VAZ 2106 gearbox
Replacing bearings
If, when disassembling the gearbox, it is discovered that any of the shaft bearings have play or visible damage, it will need to be replaced. All bearings in the VAZ 2106 gearbox have a non-separable design, so there can be no talk of any repair or restoration here.
In the gearbox, the rear bearing supports of the primary and secondary shafts are subject to the greatest load. They are the ones that fail more often than others.
Replacing the input shaft bearing
If the gearbox has already been disassembled and the input shaft and bearing assembly has been removed, simply knock it off the shaft with a hammer. Pack the new bearing in the same way. Usually, there are no problems with this.
Gearbox oil for VAZ 2106
The coordinated operation of the gearbox elements depends on the quality of the lubricant that washes them, as well as on its volume. The oil in the VAZ 2106 gearbox must be changed every 50 thousand kilometers. At least, these are the requirements of the manufacturer. But you need to check the lubricant level at least once a quarter.
What kind of oil to pour into the VAZ 2106 gearbox
In accordance with the requirements of the plant, only gear oil from groups GL-4 or GL-5 according to the API classification must be filled into the VAZ 2106 gearbox. As for the viscosity class, the following SAE classes are suitable:
The required oil volume for a four-speed gearbox is 1.35 liters, for a five-speed gearbox - 1.6 liters.
Checking the oil level in the gearbox
To find out what level of lubrication is in the box, the car must be driven onto a horizontal overpass or inspection hole. The engine must be cold. The oil level in the gearbox is determined by unscrewing the oil filler plug. It is unscrewed using a 17 key. If oil pours out of the hole, everything is in order with the level. Otherwise, it needs to be topped up. But there is one nuance here. You can only add oil of the class and type that is already in the box. If you do not know what kind of lubricant is in the gearbox, it must be drained completely, and only then a new one must be filled in.
Draining oil from the VAZ 2106 gearbox
To drain the lubricant from the “six” gearbox, the machine must be installed on an overpass or pit. The engine must be hot. This way the oil will drain faster and in full.
The oil drain plug is located in the lower crankcase cover. It is unscrewed with a 17 key. Before unscrewing it, you need to place a container under the hole to collect the oil. When the lubricant drains, the plug is screwed back on.
How and with what to fill the gearbox of a VAZ 2106
To fill the six gearbox with oil, you will need a special syringe or a thin hose (must fit into the oil filler hole) with a funnel. In the first case, lubricant is drawn from a container into a syringe, and then squeezed out of it into the filling hole. The process continues until the lubricant flows out of it. After this, the oil filler hole is screwed in.
When using a hose and funnel, you need to insert one end into the hole and raise the other end at least half a meter above it. The lubricant is poured into a funnel inserted into the other end of the hose. When oil begins to flow out of the box, stop pouring, remove the hose and tighten the plug.
Replacement instructions
Changing the lubricant in the VAZ 2106 transmission may be required when purchasing a used car. Having bought a used car, you should check the condition of the lubricant and its level. If it is not known what kind of oil was used, it is better to replace it. The lubricant should also be changed if it is coffee or black in color or if it contains silver dust.
How much to pour?
The VAZ 2106 lubricant should be checked every 10 thousand kilometers. In this case, its level should reach the lower edge of the drain hole. The check should be carried out with the car sitting for some time at rest so that the liquid drains from the walls. To check, unscrew the filler cap and see what level the oil is at. If the level is insufficient, the liquid should be added.
Transmission oil
The VAZ 2106 gearbox oil can be filled with 80W-90, 85W-90 from any manufacturer. The quality of the transmission fluid determines how the car will start at sub-zero temperatures. If you have the financial opportunity, it is better to use synthetics or semi-synthetics. How much oil to pour depends on the gearbox. About 1.6 liters are poured into a five-speed gearbox, and 1.35 liters into a four-speed gearbox. The grease is poured with a syringe until it flows over the edge.
Tools
To carry out the replacement procedure, you will need the following tools:
- open-end or socket wrench size 17 (if the part is stuck, you can use a head with a knob);
- 12 hex with a longer tube to increase the lever of action;
- two-liter container for waste liquid;
- a special syringe for filling lubricant, the end of which has a curved tube, or a regular syringe with a hose about 20-25 cm long attached to it;
- clean rag.
It is better to carry out the replacement in an inspection pit, overpass or lift - it is more convenient to drain the lubricant.
Replacement steps
It is better to change it when the car is warm, preferably after a trip.
First, you should unscrew the drain plug on the VAZ 2106 gearbox housing. To do this, use a wrench or hexagon. Having pulled the plug out of place, you can then unscrew it by hand. Be careful when doing this as the liquid is hot. Place a container under the drain hole to drain the old lubricant.
The used lubricant is poured into a container
After all the fluid has been drained from the gearbox, wipe the seat and drain plug with a clean rag. Then the drain plug is screwed back in, without applying much effort, so as not to strip the thread.
At the next stage, use a 17 key or a socket to unscrew the plug on the filler hole. The traffic jam is located on the right side in the direction of travel of the car.
The filler plug is unscrewed
Filling is done using a special syringe. Remove the cap on the syringe, add oil, then screw the cap back on. After this, the curved end of the syringe is inserted into the filler hole. Using the handle, the lubricant is squeezed into the hole. You can make a filling device with your own hands. To do this, take a large plastic syringe, put a thin hose on it, securing it with tape.
The syringe usually has a volume of 0.5 liters, so the procedure must be repeated several times. Fill the lubricant until it begins to flow over the edge; this determines the level of the poured oil.
After filling in the liquid, pull out the syringe and tighten the filler plug without any effort.
At the last stage, the presence of smudges and leaks is checked. If there is a leak under the drain cover, tighten it. If the leak does not stop after this, the gasket or cap should be replaced.
After draining the used oil, you need to examine it for the presence of metal chips. If it is found, then the gearbox requires repair. When changing the lubricant, you should check the box for cracks and there should be no leaks on it. All detected leaks must be repaired before changing the oil.
If the drained fluid is very contaminated, it is advisable to flush the gearbox housing before adding new lubricant. To do this, prepare a mixture of 30% diesel fuel and transmission fluid in a volume of approximately one liter, or use a ready-made special flushing fluid. This mixture is poured into the transmission and one rear wheel is jacked up. Start the engine, engage forward gear and let the engine run for several minutes. Then the mixture is drained and new oil is added.
It is important to monitor the quality of transmission oil throughout the entire operation of the VAZ 2106. As soon as it gets dark, it needs to be changed. This way you extend the life of your car.
