Chevrolet Niva gearbox oil, how to change the oil in a Niva transmission with your own hands. How to change transmission oil on a Chevrolet Niva?

Any vehicle needs technical support. The equipment will work successfully only in cases where all mechanisms function without failure. Any motorist knows that the engine will not work if the appropriate motor oil is not poured into it in a timely manner. However, not only the car engine, but also the gearbox needs oil fluid. The process of changing the oil poured into a Chevrolet Niva transmission is not complicated, however, it is certainly necessary to prepare for it and arm yourself with the necessary theoretical knowledge. Many motorists believe that it is best to turn to professionals who will perform such tasks quickly and with the highest quality. This is partly true, but in order to save money, you should not contact a service station; it is better to do everything yourself. We will help you understand the intricacies of the procedure.

How to properly change the oil in a Chevrolet NIVA gearbox.

We make a replacement

Once you have prepared for a minor transmission repair, you need to prepare the necessary tools (before the replacement begins).

Tools

In order for the replacement of the Chevrolet Niva gearbox to be carried out quickly and efficiently, you will need:

wrench with 17mm head;
wrench with 12mm head (hexagon);
flushing liquid;
container for draining.

Step by step instructions

Well, now we have come to the most important process, after you have chosen the oil that you will fill in the gearbox and have prepared all the necessary tools, the replacement can begin. You need to follow this instruction:

Machine installation

Warm up the engine and place the car on the overpass.
Take a container and place it under the drain plug.
Unscrew the filler plug and drain plug.
Let the oil drain from the gearbox.
There may be various contaminants in the drain plug and on the magnet; they need to be cleaned so that they do not get into the gearbox. Draining the oil
Screw in the drain plug.
The next step is flushing the crankcase. To do this, you will need to pour almost 1 liter of flushing fluid into it. And tighten the cap.
Now we put the lever on the gearbox in the neutral position, change gears one by one and stop again at the first one. Let the car warm up for 2-3 minutes.
Drain the wash.
Fill with new oil.
Place the gear lever in neutral, start the engine, engage first gear and warm up the engine for 2-3 minutes.
Check the level and add more if necessary.

Done, the oil change in the Chevrolet Niva gearbox has been successfully completed.

Try not to forget to check the lubricant level of your “swallow” and monitor the presence of fresh substance, as this significantly helps prevent many irreversible destructive processes. Use only high-quality oils that have been tested by time and the owners of many cars; do not skimp on paying for a good thing, otherwise it will be more expensive later. Remember that your car also requires care and respect. Maintaining the original condition of a car is far from easy, but even with heavy everyday loads it is possible. You can always leave any questions you have in the comments.

Functioning of the checkpoint

The Niva Chevrolet gearshift mechanism is five-speed mechanical. Its main function is to change the torque transmitted from the engine to the wheels. The manual transmission has a three-shaft design. Unfortunately, the Niva Chevrolet gearbox, having a complex design, often fails. It should be noted that its repair is quite expensive. Therefore, it is important to periodically check the lubricant level and change the oil in the gearbox on time.

For this purpose, transmission fluid of API GL-4 standard with viscosity of 75W-90 and 80W-90 is used. They are produced by both domestic manufacturers (TNK and Lukoil) and foreign ones - Shell, Mobil, Castrol, Total, ZIC, Motul. Of all the above, the French lubricant Motul Gear 300 75W-90 showed the best performance in terms of protection against scuffing, film stability on contacting surfaces, and anti-wear characteristics.

In second place was Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W-90 transmission fluid, third was Mobil Mobilube 75W-90 oil. All of them can operate at temperatures from -35 to +35°C, ensuring easy gear shifting and stable operation of the manual transmission. The price of these products is quite high, so it is worth paying attention to the domestic semi-synthetic transmission made by Lukoil - TM-4 75W-90. It is not much inferior to foreign competitors, but at the same time it is much cheaper and better adapted to low temperatures. The manufacturer also allows the use of transmission fluids of viscosity 80W-90 and 80W-85.

It should be remembered that you cannot fill the gearbox with API GL-5 standard transmission oil. In terms of its performance, it seems to be better - it can operate at high speeds and loads, as well as high temperatures. But it contains sulfur-phosphorus extreme pressure additives, a large amount of which can simply “kill” the gearbox synchronizers. They contain bronze, not durable steel. A large number of such additives are contraindicated for her. Therefore, compositions of the GL-5 standard should be poured into axles and gearboxes.

Changing the oil in a Chevrolet Niva box

Make sure you have the tools necessary to complete the work. To do this you will need: a 12 hex key;
wrench 17;
container for draining used lubricant.

Place the vehicle on an inspection pit or overpass for ease of work.

Before draining the lubricant, it is necessary to warm up the engine. This is necessary in order to drain the oil to the maximum.

Lower yourself into the hole and place a container directly under the drain hole.

We clean the locations of the filler and drain plugs on the gearbox.

First you need to unscrew the filler plug, and only then unscrew the drain plug using a hexagon.

Now you need to wait until all the waste has drained down to the last drop.

The drain plug has a special magnet to which all metal particles are attracted. If there are particles on the plug, they must be removed. And another important point: the more of these particles are present on the lid, the less the box will last.

When the oil has drained, you need to screw in the drain plug and start flushing the crankcase. To do this, you need to fill in about 1 liter of special fluid and let the car run for 2-3 minutes. In this case, you need to turn on neutral in the transfer case and change gears.

Now the liquid is drained in the same way and new oil is poured in instead.

After filling, the level is checked and the engine is started. It is necessary to let the engine run in first gear for 2-5 minutes. Afterwards, the amount of oil is checked, if it has dropped, then you need to add it.

Transmission oils

For Chevrolet Niva, transmission oils are used that have the following parameters indicated in the table below.

SAE is a generally accepted classification of gear oils, which consists of 9 viscosity levels. The numbers presented on the plate indicate the temperature ranges of use. Thus, 75W-90 is allowed for operation at temperatures from −40 to +35, 80W-85 from −26 to +35 and 85W-90 from −12 to +35.

Classification according to the API system is also generally accepted. These accepted standards divide lubricants into groups depending on the type of design and operating conditions. According to the API system, transmission lubricants are designated in the letter GL and numbers from 1 to 5. It is important to know that the higher the number after the letters, the more severe the operating conditions of the lubricants.

Be sure to find out the data for your car brand before purchasing transmission lubricants.

Tips for choosing

Study the recommendations provided by the car manufacturer.
The use of more expensive oils is not always justified, since their properties can negatively affect the stability of the lubrication system itself. Therefore, it is important to choose a lubricant from the recommended range.
Replace lubricants in a timely manner.
In cars with high total mileage, transmission oils should be changed much more often, since the gearbox mechanism is subject to more severe operating conditions.
Do not allow the oil level to drop and constantly monitor the level.

It remains to be seen which oil to choose in the end for your Shevik? It is known that there are many manufacturers of gear oils, which differ only in the stickers on the canisters. The Chevrolet Niva gearbox holds 1.6 liters of lubricant.

Among the expensive ones, it is worth highlighting Shell Spirax, which costs about 600 rubles. But what’s important is not what kind of oil you put in the box, it’s important that it matches the operating characteristics of the car. On this point, I would like to note the following: monitoring and periodic replacement of lubricants will prolong the life of the mechanical parts of the car for a long time.

According to the recommendations of the AvtoVAZ manufacturer, the transmission oil in the gearbox must be changed every 60,000 km. Of course, many Niva owners neglect this rule, but this can only have a negative effect on the condition of the gearbox.

This procedure is best performed in a pit in a garage or on a lift. Although personally, I did everything without all this, I just jacked up the car and crawled under it, fortunately the ground clearance on the Niva allows me to do this without any problems.

To change the oil in the box we need the following equipment:

Hexagon 12
Wrench size 17 - preferably a socket or a head with a ratchet (wrench)
A special syringe for pumping oil into the transmission
Container for draining waste

So, the drain plug is located in the bottom of the box housing, and is clearly shown in the photo below:

We unscrew it with a hexagon, first placing the container under the bottom:

And wait a few minutes until all the old oil drains from the crankcase:

At this time, you can immediately unscrew the filler plug to make the draining process faster:

After everything has flowed out, you can screw the drain plug back in and use a special syringe to pump in new transmission oil until its level is equal to the top edge of the filler hole:

After all the work has been done, you need to screw the side plug into place. And you can continue to operate your Niva for at least another 60 thousand kilometers, after which you repeat the procedure again.

This is not an advertisement from the manufacturer; I myself am a Nivavod driver and fill my car with this oil myself; at one time I sold oils and had something to compare with. Although there are no friends in taste and color. According to my feelings, the car just drove, the ride became smoother, the transmission became quieter and drives from replacement to replacement without losing the driving dynamics, which cannot be said about other oils, after 5000 km you can already feel it. In this blog I will share my conclusions about tuning the Niva 21213 car. This is not a guide to action - this is a blog about how I made a car for myself.

Which oil to choose

The Chevrolet Niva SUV is a classic all-wheel drive vehicle. Choosing the right oil for the Niva transfer case and axles is a guarantee of long and flawless operation of these transmission mechanisms. Lubricating fluid reduces friction and protects vehicle components from wear, and also increases the service life of the vehicle itself.

For transfer case

The main nuance in the question of which oil is best to use for the Chevrolet Niva transfer case is not so much the manufacturer as the prevention of mixing different compounds.
Based on viscosity characteristics, it is recommended to use the following gear oils: 78W-90, 80W-85, 80W-90.
The oil specification for the Chevrolet Niva transfer case is
API GL-4. Purchasing gear oil will not require significant expenses, since the filling volumes are small: about 0.75 - 0.8 liters.
When refueling a Chevrolet Niva, visually monitor how much oil is used in the transfer case. It is necessary to monitor the volume so that the next oil change will no longer cause difficulties.

For bridges

Choosing the right oil is one of the key conditions for reliable and fully functional drive of the rear and front axles of the Chevrolet Niva during everyday driving.
According to the viscosity characteristics, the following oils are used for Niva bridges: 78W-90, 80W-90, 85W-90.
The specification of oils for axle gearboxes is
API GL-5. Filling volumes: for the front gearbox - 1.15 l; for the rear gearbox - 1.3 l. As a result, less than 3 liters of oil will be required.

Changing the Chevrolet Niva gearbox oil, step-by-step instructions

We install the vehicle on an overpass or inspection hole.
Next, place an empty container under the drain hole.
The places where the gearbox drain and filler plugs are located must be cleaned of dirt using a rag.
First of all, unscrew the filler plug, then use a hexagon to unscrew the drain plug.
Then you need to wait until the waste liquid drains completely.
The drain plug is distinguished by the presence of a special magnet that attracts all metal particles. If there are these particles on the lid, remove them. Remember, the more such particles there are on the plug, the less the gearbox will last.
When the oil has drained, tighten the drain plug and start flushing the crankcase by pouring in about one liter of special material and letting the car run for a few minutes.
At the same time, turn on the neutral position in the transfer case and change gears.
We drain this liquid and fill in new oil instead.
Then we check the oil level using the dipstick and start the engine. Next, let the engine run in first gear for five minutes.
At the last stage, we check the oil level and, if necessary, add it to the optimal level.

Preparing for replacement

If you want not to resort to such radical measures as repairing the gearbox, you should constantly monitor the level and condition of the oil in the Chevrolet Niva gearbox. If you notice that the liquid substance has changed color (darkened) or smell (unusual, foreign), you need to change the oil urgently. A good liquid substance that does not yet require replacement will be transparent and viscous. To check, you can rub a drop of liquid with two fingers, thus you can determine the presence of oxol and its condition. The manufacturer of the Chevrolet Niva car says that the gearbox oil should be changed every 45 thousand km - it is worth listening to these indicators.

What kind of oil to pour

Before we tell you how to do the replacement, you will need to buy new transmission fluid. Currently, it is very difficult to choose a suitable substance as the choice is too large, there are many manufacturers, and the difference between their products is insignificant. How to choose the best transmission fluid that will be of good quality and affordable price?

Synthetic oils

The first thing you need to do is identify the climatic conditions, for example, if you live in an area where winters are cold (22-25 degrees), then it will be better for your car to use 5W-40 synthetic oil. Such a substance will not freeze due to the fact that it is very liquid. With mineral oils things are different. In terms of characteristics, they are significantly inferior to synthetics, but their price is more reasonable. We would recommend that you fill the Chevrolet Niva gearbox with synthetic transmission fluid. Synthetics lubricate the engine well, which extends its service life, saves fuel and increases engine power.

After how many kilometers should it be changed?

The frequency of transmission replacement depends on the operating conditions of the vehicle and the quality of the lubricant. As a rule, you have to change the oil in the Chevrolet Niva gearbox after 50 thousand kilometers.

Untimely replacement leads to accelerated wear of the gears and a reduction in the service life of the unit as a whole. This is especially pronounced under heavy load conditions: when operating the vehicle off-road, on snowy roads or at high speed on the highway.