Lada Priora is a modern and quite comfortable passenger car with a five-speed manual transmission. There are synchronizers on all major shifts. The box body consists of several main parts:
- gearbox housing;
- tail cover of the box housing;
- clutch housing.
The performance and service life of the transmission directly depends on what kind of oil is poured into the Priora manual transmission? It is important to regularly monitor the fluid level in the system and replace it in a timely manner. According to the automaker's regulations, the oil in the Priora gearbox should be changed after 75 thousand kilometers or every 5 years. You can read special detailed instructions about changing the oil.
Types of gearboxes in LADA Priora
LADA Priora cars were equipped with a mechanical and robotic gearbox.
A manual transmission called VAZ-2170 was used in cars from 2007 to 2015. After 2014, it remained only on 8-valve cars. The transmission was a modernized version of the VAZ-2110 gearbox. This is a 5-speed unit combined with a final drive and differential.
The unit was not highly reliable. Here the gears, bearings and synchronizers wore out quite quickly, and many oil seals began to leak oil at low mileage of the car. In addition, the gear shifts in this box are unclear, the gearshift lever is poorly fixed, and the transmission control drive and clutch require constant adjustment.
Starting from 2015, LADA Priora with 16-valve engines was equipped with a new gearbox called VAZ-2180. It is a deeply modernized version of the VAZ-2112 gearbox. The control mechanism of the new unit is now installed on top, and therefore does not depend on the temperature of the oil, the volume of which has been reduced by 1/3. Rigid shift rods have been replaced with a cable drive, which has reduced noise and vibration of the gearbox. The new box has overcome almost all the diseases of the previous version.
Among the minuses, one can note a crunch when changing gears, oil leaks, and failure to engage gears after a mileage of 50 thousand km. Despite the installation of a cable drive, noise during operation of the transmission and vibration of the lever still remained.
A robotic gearbox called VAZ-2182 AMT was also installed on Prioras with 16-valve units. Structurally, this is the same VAZ-2180 gearbox, where instead of a cable drive, actuators from the German company ZF are responsible for shifting gears.
The manual transmission turned out to be controversial. On the one hand, it has become easier to drive the car, since the clutch pedal has disappeared, but on the other hand, the operation of the unit is unclear and illogical. This was especially true during heavy traffic and traffic jams. AMT problems include transmission overheating, oil leaks, electrical problems and vibration of the gearbox selector.
How to buy original oil
Surely many have encountered suspiciously high discounts on any products from well-known brands that are associated with almost nothing. As a rule, such discounts operate almost constantly and this is due to the fact that the oil is not original. This can be easily checked at the purchase stage.
When purchasing a product at a surprisingly low price, be sure to look at the GOST and certificate. If you are not completely sure, then simply enter the numbers printed on the packaging into a search engine. There you will find detailed information about the product. For any well-known and trusted brand, searching for information will not take more than a minute.
If you ignore this basic thing, then there is a risk of purchasing low-quality oil, which not only will not help correct problems with the transmission and gearbox, but will also worsen the existing situation. You should especially not miss this rule when contacting a previously unknown auto shop.
Oil change intervals
According to the manufacturer's regulations, the oil in the LADA Priora gearbox must be changed every 75 thousand kilometers, or after 5 years of operation. But this replacement interval can be used as a guide if the machine is operated without special loads on good roads. In fact, the oil is changed every 50-60 thousand kilometers, and with an aggressive driving style, frequent traffic jams and other difficult conditions, the transmission fluid should be changed every 35-40 thousand kilometers.
The fact that it is time to update the oil in the box can be determined by the following signs:
- Oil deposits
- The smell of burning
- Difficulty shifting gears
- Knockout of the gearbox lever when the gear is engaged
- Increased noise during unit operation
- Increased vibrations of the gearshift lever
All this indicates that the transmission fluid has lost its properties or is of poor quality.
Tips for choosing quality oil
There is a table in the car's operating instructions that indicates the oils allowed for filling into the box. This table lists only a few common brands, mostly from domestic manufacturers. There is also a table with recommendations for choosing viscosity depending on climatic conditions.
| Table of transmission oils recommended by AvtoVAZ | ||||
| Oil brand | SAE viscosity grade | API Team | Manufacturer | Regulatory document |
| Lukoil TM4 | 75W-80 75W-85 75W-90 80W-85 80W-90 | GL-4 | OJSC Lukoil-Volgogradneftepererabotka, Volgograd OJSC Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez, Perm | STO 00044434-009 |
| NOVOIL Trans KP | 80W-85 | GL-4 | JSC "Joint-Stock Oil Company", Ufa | TU 0253-017-05766528 |
| Rosneft Kinetic | 80W-85 | GL-4 | OJSC "Angarsk Petrochemical Novokuybyshevsk Oils and Additives Plant", Novokuybyshevsk | TU 0253-059-48120848 |
| Rosneft Kinetic | 75W-90 | GL-4/5 | OJSC "Novokuibyshevsk Oil and Additives Plant", Novokuibyshevsk | TU-0253-030-48120848 |
| Tatneft Translux TM4-12 | 75W-85 | GL-4 | OJSC "Tatneft-Nizhnekamskneftekhim-Oil", Nizhnekamsk | TU 38.401-58-400-2010 |
| TNK Trans KP | 80W-85 | GL-4 | TNK Lubricants LLC, Ryazan | TU 38.301-41-191 |
| TNK Trans KP Super | 75W-90 | GL-4 | TNK Lubricants LLC, Ryazan | TU 0253-003-44918199 |
| Trans KL-2 | 80W-85 | GL-4 | Gazpromneft-SM LLC, Omsk Oil Refinery, Omsk | TU 38.301-19-129 |
| Shell Transaxle Oil | 75W-90 | GL-4/5 | Shell East Europe CO, UK | |
What happens if the replacement is untimely?
Untimely oil change in the LADA Priora gearbox leads to faster wear of transmission parts. Oil that has lost its working properties cannot protect the gearbox.
Consequences of untimely box maintenance:
- Wear accelerates and parts quickly fail, especially bearings
- Metal dust resulting from wear clogs oil lines, causing seals and oil seals to be squeezed out
- The gearshift lever begins to vibrate, and the sound of the transmission turns into a howl.
- Gears do not shift or are thrown out of position
If the gears and bearings are worn out, then changing the oil will not affect the operation of the transmission in any way. In this case, damaged elements must be completely replaced.
What to look for when choosing
The choice of lubricant for gearboxes is very important. There are several basic criteria that you need to rely on when purchasing:
- viscosity;
- manufacturer;
- chemical composition.
These are the three most important criteria for choosing transmission oil for the Lada Priora. We also draw your attention to the fact that when purchasing, you must check the packaging for compliance with GOST. It is desirable to have production certificates confirmed by independent government organizations. This will help you choose a truly high-quality lubricant and not get even more problems.
You should not save on buying oil, since the replacement process is already aimed at this. A high-quality product can double the normal operation of a car. Thus, you will no longer need major repairs at least for the duration of the new gear oil. And repairing any gearbox will cost many times more at absolutely any car service center.
What oil should I use?
The question of what kind of oil to pour into the LADA Priora box has given rise to a lot of controversy. Let's try to understand this issue.
From the factory, LUKOIL TM-4-12 mineral oil was poured as transmission fluid. It could only be used during the break-in of a new car. Therefore, according to the recommendations of AvtoVAZ, after some time it had to be changed to a fresher liquid with certain performance properties.
The manufacturer specifies that the new oil must be synthetic or semi-synthetic and meet viscosity grade SAE 75W-90. This is an all-season liquid that works at ambient temperatures from -40 °C to +35 °C. 75W-80 and 80W-85 oils are also suitable. 80W-90 liquids can be used in regions where winter temperatures do not drop below -10...-12 °C.
In addition to viscosity, the oil must comply with API GL-4 class. This includes transmission fluids that are designed to operate in medium-loaded gears: hypoid, bevel and spiral-bevel, operating at oil temperatures up to +150 °C and contact pressure up to 3000 MPa.
Let's consider which oils are most popular in the LADA Priora gearbox.
LUKOIL TM-4 (GL-4) 75W-90
This is a semi-synthetic transmission fluid used in manual transmissions, differentials and transfer cases of cars and trucks. It is made from highly purified mineral base oil, synthetic components and a multifunctional additive package.
The oil has high anti-corrosion, anti-foam, anti-wear and viscosity-temperature properties. It reliably protects transmission elements under high loads, ensures smooth operation of the gearbox at low temperatures and has high oxidative and thermal stability.
SHELL SPIRAX S4 G 75W-90
Semi-synthetic gear oil API GL-4 for manual gearboxes of cars and small trucks. Used in VAG cars as a first fill fluid.
The oil does not destroy synchronizers, ensures smooth operation of the gearbox, and protects transmission elements from shock loads, corrosion and wear. It has an extended service life and improves the performance of the gearbox.
Castrol Syntrax Universal 75W-90
Synthetic multi-purpose gear oil for gearboxes and manual transmissions. Suitable for use in synchronized manual transmissions of cars and trucks, as well as final drives and differentials of trucks and construction equipment.
The fluid has excellent fluidity at low temperatures and effectively protects against wear under high loads. It has an extended service life and is compatible with conventional mineral oils and sealing materials.
ZIC GF TOP 75W-90
Synthetic transmission oil for manual transmissions and drive axles. Compatible with synchronized boxes. In Hyuindai and Kia cars it is used as a first fill fluid. Belongs to material class GL-4/5. Meets the requirements of 75W-85 GL-4 oils.
The fluid ensures reliable lubrication of all transmission elements at high speeds and heavy loads, cleans the gearbox and axles, increases the service replacement interval, reduces wear, protects against corrosion and has excellent thermal-oxidative characteristics.
LIQUI MOLY Hochleistungs-Getriebeoil GL4+ (GL 4/GL 5) 75W-90
Synthetic transmission oil for manual transmissions and drive axles. It is compatible with synchronizers and is resistant to aging. Thanks to a special additive package, the fluid reliably protects transmission elements.
The oil prevents wear and corrosion, works well under high loads and maintains its characteristics at high temperatures. Can be used in gearboxes that require GL-4 oils and manual transmissions that are combined with a hypoid transmission.
Recommended AvtoVAZ oil for Lada Priora
Not all car enthusiasts know, but the oil in manual transmissions also needs to be changed at a frequency clearly indicated by the manufacturer.
Of course, unlike automatic machines, where deviation from the scheduled replacement dates is fraught with the appearance of problems quite quickly, mechanics are more resistant to untimely renewal of the lubricant.
However, abuse of timing for changing transmission oil will at a minimum lead to a reduction in the service life of manual transmission parts, and in severely advanced cases can cause serious damage.
What kind of oil should be poured into the gearbox of a Lada Priora? Under factory assembly conditions, different oils were poured into the manual transmission at different times. The main criterion by which it was selected was the class according to technical conditions (or GOST).
For Priora, the manufacturer recommends using TM-4-12 class lubricant. This gear oil has successfully passed all tests in the factory laboratory and has been approved by the manufacturer as suitable for use in manual transmissions.
Selection by manufacturer
Another important criterion for choosing oil for the Lada Priora gearbox is the manufacturer’s brand. On the modern market you can easily find a lubricant for any occasion. But in reality, the real choice of quality products is not so great. Moreover, most cheap and unknown manufacturers are simply trying to make an analogue of a higher quality and popular brand. This does not always end in success.
The best choice among Lada Priora owners are synthetic oils and semi-synthetics from the following manufacturers:
It is impossible to say for sure which of them is best to fill into the gearbox. All represented companies produce truly high-quality oil, which has been tested by time and a large number of drivers.
AvtoVAZ recommendations
Initially, when purchasing a new Lada Priora, you receive a car with oil poured into the transmission from TNK. This is a Russian manufacturer located in the Ryazan region. The company is not widely popular for several reasons, despite recommendations from AvtoVAZ. The most important thing is the focus of production on mineral lubricating fluids. They are not popular among the majority of motorists because they have poor efficiency during active use of the car.
According to numerous reviews from Lada Priora owners, it is best to use synthetic oils. They have high performance compared to mineral liquids. They are also suitable for most motorists because the car is used every day, and the mileage increases at a significant rate. Mineral oils cannot cope with such loads.
