Often, Lada Priora drivers encounter many unpleasant problems that they consider AvtoVAZ’s shortcomings. In fact, all problems are directly related to transmission oil, which loses its original properties with mileage.
But for some reason, many people believe that it is not necessary to change it at all. This is far from true. Regularly changing the transmission fluid helps prevent many known problems and prolong the normal operation of the transmission and gearbox. Moreover, this is useful in order to delay the period of major car repairs by at least two times.
This raises several questions. What kind of oil to pour into the Lada Priora gearbox is the most important of them. Let's figure out further how to make the right choice.
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.
Selecting viscosity
When choosing oil for the Lada Priora gearbox, it is important to pay attention to the viscosity of the purchased product. The following table will help with this:
| Viscosity grade | Minimum temperature | Maximum temperature |
| 75-80W | -40 | +35 |
| 75-85W | -40 | +35 |
| 75-90W | -40 | +45 |
| 80-85W | -26 | +35 |
| 80-90W | -26 | +45 |
| 85-90W | -12 | +45 or more |
We hope that, depending on the viscosity, you will be able to most accurately choose for yourself which oil is best to pour into the Lada Priora gearbox. The table shows that in winter it is best to buy lubricant in the viscosity range of 75-90W. In warmer regions and for the summer season, options with a viscosity of 80-90W are best suited.
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 | |
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:
- Castrol;
- Mobil;
- Lukoil;
- Liqui Moly;
- ZIC.
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.
Changing the gearbox oil
One of the best gear lubricants
It is advisable to plan an oil change after a long trip in a Priora car, so that the gearbox is warmed up. After removing the splash guard of the power unit, you need to clean the crankcase drain, unscrew the drain plug, drain the lubricant into a container and tighten the plug. Then you need to fill the transmission oil strictly to the required level. You cannot use lubricant of low quality or unsuitable for Priora, otherwise noise and crunching will occur when shifting gears. So what kind of oil should you put in the box? This question worries many car enthusiasts, and for good reason. In the market of modern lubricants, it is very difficult to make the right choice. Advertisers offer each of their products, but not all of them are of high quality. Synthetic gear oils can cause leaks through auto gaskets at high operating temperatures, which cannot be said about mineral oils. At low temperatures, the lubricant may become mobile. The higher the viscosity index, the less the oil thickness depends on temperature conditions and can be used at any time of the year. In summer, it is necessary to lubricate transmission units at high temperatures, and in winter, to promote safe rotation of gears at low temperatures. Approximate temperature ranges for all-season transmissions:
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.
What oil to use in Priora 16 valves
Many Priora owners are interested in: what lubricant should they use? Oils for cars can be of a synthetic type (obtained by chemical synthesis), as well as mineral (they are made by distilling oil). This type of lubricant is much less preferable for pouring into Priora, since this lubricant quickly loses its properties and changes its chemical composition during operation. Also, this type of lubricant contaminates the motor and makes its operation more unstable.
To lengthen the time intervals between engine servicing, it is recommended to use synthetic oils. In principle, you should not mix several types of oils. But still, in rare cases, this can be done if you are stopped on the road and do not have the opportunity to purchase a similar product here and now.
Remember that for the 16-valve Priora engine it is best to buy synthetic lubricant of the highest quality.
If you have financial difficulties, you can purchase standard semi-synthetics.
- Motor oil Lukoil 10W-40 This oil has many awards and is generally of quite high quality in its essence. The product is ideal for your Priora with a 16-valve engine and fully meets the standards indicated on the bottle. The product is of excellent quality and has a positive effect on the Priora engine, and was also able to establish itself at a sufficient level in the market. Lukoil series can improve driving characteristics. The motor lubricant of the series has proven itself to be beneficial when working in the most dangerous conditions.
- Lux is an equally effective option for the Priora engine. The oil has received many awards from various competitions, and if you are on the side of the latest achievements of the chemical industry and want the best product for your Priora, which has won numerous awards, then you should pay attention to Lux lubricants. What are the advantages of such motor oils? The company's lubricants contain many additives that can distinguish this oil from products of equal price.
- Rosneft Premium motor oil is the choice for those who want to keep their Priora in perfect working condition. This product can effectively compete with many brands - the lubricant has the best properties in cold weather and has proven itself well in hot weather, thanks to new additives. Replacing your current motor lubricant on a Priora with a 16-valve engine with a Rosneft Premium series is appropriate even in the most dangerous weather conditions. The product is not afraid of strong temperature changes. The oil of the series almost does not emit harmful vapors and does not evaporate into the atmosphere, therefore, lubricant replacement is postponed for 2-3 thousand kilometers.
- Shell Helix. Shell is one of the leading companies producing automotive lubricants. Shell oil production technologies are classified, but let's just say that the line of oils from ]Shell[/anchor] is definitely suitable for use in the Lada Priora engine.
It is important to consider: the most important thing is that the engine oil change is done according to the established plan and without delays.
However, in first place I would put Motul 8100 X-cess 5W40. If you do not look at the rather high cost of the product, which seems overpriced for a Priora, we have before us perhaps the best engine oil for a Lada Priora car, if the car is purchased for many years, and not for a year or two.
Firstly, in comparison with most synthetic products that are made on a hydrocracking base, here we can note a full-fledged ester base, which provides excellent operational stability during operation (this is also indicated by the pointer to BMW approval requirements).
The series oil also has a good list of calcium and boron additives: product analyzes do not show any noticeable increase in the amount of aluminum in the lubricant, so the wear rate of pistons and beds when filling this lubricant will be at the lowest level. It would also be worth noting that modern ]Motul[/anchor] lubricants already have a reputation as “the quietest” - the hydraulic compensators of the Motul lubricant make virtually no sound while the car is driving.
Among the advantages of the Motul extra-series lubricant: the lubricant is capable of excellently maintaining the viscosity indicator over time, without going beyond the established norms; when used, it demonstrates low ash content and an almost complete absence of deposits.
The alkaline indicator of the composition makes it possible not to worry about the overall level of performance of the lubricant, even at normal replacement intervals. But, unfortunately, only the high cost of the product spoils the whole impression.
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.
