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.
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.
Sources:
https://vaz2109.net/transmissiya/zamena-masla-v-korobke-peredach-vaz-2109.html https://masteravaza.ru/korobka-peredach/zamena-masla-korobka-peredach/vaz-2109-zamena -masla-v-kpp-169 https://filtrzamena.ru/kak-zalit-maslo-v-korobku-vaz-2109-bez-shhupa.html https://vibormasla.ru/transmission/zamena-masla-v -kpp-vaz-2109 https://prosmazku.ru/zamena/korobka/kak-zalit-maslo-v-korobku-vaz-2109
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.
What you need to change the oil
To replace it yourself, you will need at least the following:
- jack, inspection hole or lift;
- wheel bolt wrench;
- open-end or socket wrench 17;
- empty waste container;
- a syringe or other device for pouring oil;
- clean rags.
When preparing for a replacement, there are a few things to consider.
- It is necessary to take into account how much oil is in the VAZ 2109 gearbox. That is, the container for the old lubricant must be selected appropriately, so as not to subsequently collect spilled waste. If you are the only owner of the car, are replacing it for the first time and are sure that there have been no unqualified interventions before, then the maximum volume of oil in the box will not exceed 3.3 liters. Accordingly, a 4-5 liter canister is quite suitable for this purpose. If the box has a dipstick, you can first check the lubricant level. Often a plastic 5-liter bottle of technical liquids is used as a waste container.
- It is necessary to take care of safety. Changing the oil in a manual transmission requires a person to partially remain under the front wheel arch. Therefore, it is important to follow at least two basic rules: securely stop the car and install a safety stand in case the jack falls.
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.
Kinds
Today, various oils are used for gearboxes, each of which has its own characteristics.
| Oil type | Peculiarities |
| Synthetic | The most expensive, high-performance gear oils. They ensure reliable, long-term operation of the box. But it is not advisable to purchase them for the VAZ 2109, since this oil is more suitable for expensive imported cars or more modern domestic cars |
| Semi-synthetic | The optimal choice for VAZ 2109 and cheap foreign cars. This oil preserves the performance of gearbox gears and extends their service life. With a high level of quality, semi-synthetics have an attractive price for Nine owners. Change every 75 thousand kilometers |
| Mineral | The cheapest gear oils, which are best avoided even for the VAZ 2109. To a certain extent, they perform their functions, but they cannot be recommended. If there is no alternative solution, you can use synthetics or semi-synthetics as a temporary replacement. |
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.
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.
Quantity
We have determined which oil is best to pour into the Nine gearbox, now we will determine how much lubricant is in the gearbox of the VAZ 2109 model.
In many ways, the amount of oil you fill depends on whether you are replacing it completely or partially. The volume of lubricant in the gearbox is approximately 3 liters. Between partial and complete replacement, we recommend choosing a complete one.
When pouring lubricant into the gearbox, use the dipstick as a guide. The optimal filling of the transmission crankcase is the mark between the minimum and maximum levels on the dipstick.
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.
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.
