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.
Level control and required volume
After deciding what kind of oil to pour into the VAZ 2109 gearbox, you need to figure out how to check the level and, if necessary, add lubricant to the old and new Nine gearboxes. A complete replacement will require about three liters of lubricant. This amount will go into the four-stage unit when it is completely empty and all the oil has been drained from it. If the machine is equipped with a five-speed transmission, then it should contain about 3.3 liters of lubricant. Exact information about the volume is indicated in the technical manual for the car.
User Van4ik1985 in his video demonstrated the procedure for changing the oil in the Nine gearbox.
To add lubricant or check the level on an injection or carburetor Nine, you need to find a dipstick. According to the technical manual, the meter is located in the engine compartment, next to the battery. Before removing the dipstick, it must be cleaned with a clean cloth. Then remove it from the seat and install it there again. If the volume of lubricating fluid in the system is between the two minimum and maximum marks, then everything is in order with the amount of oil. If the level of the substance is higher or lower, the lubricant will need to be drained or topped up.
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.
Adding oil to the gearbox VAZ 2108, 2109, 21099
We advise you to check the oil level regularly (every 5 thousand km) and top up if necessary.
Make sure the car is parked on a level, level surface. Check the oil level using the dipstick. Make sure there are no oil leaks.
You need to know this when adding oil to the gearbox:
- Add the same brand of oil that you used previously. It is forbidden to mix with others.
- During operation, try to keep the oil level at maximum or 3-5 mm higher.
- If the oil level is at the minimum mark or below, get ready for problems with the gearbox.
To check the oil level, remove the dipstick, wipe it with a clean cloth and insert it back until it stops. Removing the dipstick again will show the actual oil level in the gearbox.
Changing the oil in the VAZ 21099 gearbox is a simple procedure that is required less often than changing the engine oil, only once every 5 years, which is also even easier to perform, so doing this at least once, then in the future it will not cause any difficulties and will wear out time.
In order to change the oil in a VAZ gearbox, you will need an inspection hole, a key for unscrewing the gearbox drain plug, an empty container for draining and purchased transmission oil.
Before changing the oil, you need to clean the breather. Then find the drain hole and unscrew the plug (substituting the container). New oil is poured into the VAZ 21099 gearbox through the oil dipstick hole. See the video for all the details of the oil change procedure at the VAZ Samara gearbox
Changing the oil in the gearbox of a VAZ-21099 car directly affects the technical condition of the vehicle, the quality and life of parts, safety and driving comfort. Transmission oil fluid promotes smooth operation of the mechanism, reduces the friction of parts against each other and acts as a heat exchanger, preventing the gearbox from failing due to overheating.
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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.
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.
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
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.
DIY oil change process
To change the oil in a VAZ 2109 manual transmission, lubricants of the GL-3 or GL-4 class are suitable. Viscosity is selected depending on climatic operating conditions.
For example, for northern regions you will need a thinner lubricant with a viscosity of 75W-80, 75W-85 or 75W-90. For warmer climates, you can fill in 80W-85 or 80W-90.
| Viscosity grade of winter gear oils | Engine starting temperature in cold weather, °C |
| 70W | -55 |
| 75W | -40 |
| 80W | -26 |
| 85W | -12 |
| Viscosity class of summer gear oils | Oil operating temperature |
| 80 | 20 |
| 85 | 30 |
| 90 | 40 |
| 110 | 45 |
| 140 | 50 |
| 190 | 55 |
| 250 | 60 |
It is not advisable to use thick transmission oils with a winter viscosity index of 85W, since in winter this will create an additional load on the manual transmission and cause excessive fuel consumption.
It is also recommended to use semi-synthetic oil. It is rightfully considered the most rational option if we consider the price-quality ratio.
How much oil should I put in the box? Based on the fact that a little more than three liters should be drained, you need to purchase at least this volume. Today, many manufacturers produce gear oil in 4-liter containers. This amount is just enough. And a little more will remain in reserve in case of topping up or another unforeseen situation.
We drain the old little
Before changing the oil in the box, it is advisable to warm it up. To do this, in summer it will be enough to drive 5-10 km, in winter a little more. After this, we put the car in a pit or raise the left front part on a jack and remove the wheel.
There are two bolts on the lower left side of the manual transmission. One covers the drain hole. The second is control-filling. Place an empty container under the box.
First, the top bolt is unscrewed. You need to remove it carefully, as there is a spring valve installed underneath it. Sometimes the ball gets stuck in the hole. In this case, you need to pick it up with a screwdriver or any other suitable object. Some oil may drain from the top hole.
After this, the bottom bolt is unscrewed. The main volume of used lubricant exits through the drain hole. If there is a probe on the box, then the control bolt does not need to be unscrewed. It is enough to remove the dipstick so that a vacuum of air is not created and the draining process is not delayed.
Filling with new oil
Before changing the lubricant, shake the canister thoroughly. Some additives may partially settle to the bottom.
On a VAZ 2109 manual transmission, transmission oil can be filled in two ways, depending on the design features. If a probe is provided, it is more convenient to fill through it. If there is no dipstick, filling is carried out through the control hole on the box.
For this operation you will need a syringe or a special watering can with a hose. It can be made from a plastic bottle and a tube with a diameter of up to 10 mm.
Feel free to add 3 liters of oil. After this, we check its level using a dipstick or by removing the filler tube from the control hole on the manual transmission.
In the case of a control hole, it is necessary to fill until the lubricant begins to flow out through it.
