If you fill the box with engine oil. Oil in the gearbox: how not to harm the component

If you fill the box with engine oil. Oil in the gearbox: how not to harm the component

Good day everyone! You came to our site, which means you were looking for what suits you oil in a box VAZ 2110. In this article, we will consider which are suitable oils for the box VAZ 2110.

Oil in the gearbox VAZ 2110

So, let's begin. The VAZ 2110 car from the factory is equipped with only a 5-speed manual gearbox. Of course, there are "dozens" that are equipped with an "automatic", but this is already the result of re-equipment of cars by "craftsmen". These are very rare cases and the oil in the VAZ 2110 automatic transmission should be selected in accordance with the installed box. We will not dwell on this option, but we will only consider which oil is suitable for the VAZ 2110 manual box.


The manufacturer recommends using gearbox VAZ 2110 oil with API classification GL-4 or universal GL-4/GL-5. In terms of viscosity, SAE 75W90 or 80W90 gear oil is suitable for the VAZ 2110 box. In any case, the second number must be exactly 90, and the first is chosen according to the climate in which the car is directly used. If the climate is mild or moderate, then the oil in the VAZ 2110 box should be selected with a viscosity of 80W90, if the climate is cold - 75W90. In any case, this is just a recommendation for comfortable use of the car. In any case, if you fill in the box VAZ 2110 oil with a viscosity of 85W90, nothing bad will happen. Since the VAZ 2110 gearbox is quite "tenacious" and unpretentious, even engine oil poured into the VAZ 2110 box will not cause any harm. Remember the saying: "Better at least some oil than none?". And if somewhere along the way you notice that oil in a box VAZ 2110 for some reason, “disappeared”, and the nearest store is very far away and only engine oil is at hand, then feel free to add it to the box, and upon arrival and troubleshooting, simply change it to the “correct” one.

What kind of oil to fill in a VAZ 2110 box?

So we have determined that oil in a box VAZ 2110 must match the class API GL-4 or GL-5 and SAE viscosity 75W90 or 80W90. Since we are in Siberia, and our winters are quite severe (up to -35 ..-40C), it is important for us that after a long idle time the car starts up and the gears turn on smoothly. Often, when using low-quality or incorrectly selected oil in a box VAZ 2110 after a long downtime in the cold, it is not possible to turn on the desired speed. You have to wait a long time with the clutch depressed and the engine running until the oil warms up. To avoid such situations, I recommend using oil with a viscosity of 75W90 in the VAZ 2110 box year-round.

Now consider, what kind of oil to fill in a VAZ 2110 box. My personal recommendations include three options. This is a transmission oil for the VAZ 2110 gearbox, which I personally used for several years and which proved to be only the best.

The best oil in a box VAZ 2110


An honorable third place is occupied by transmission oil Liqui Moly Hochleistungs-Getriebeoil GL4+(GL-4/GL-5) 75W-90. In general, Liqui Moly products cause me respect. This is both German quality and truly advanced properties. Why then the third place? Definitely a price that "bites" a little. If you plan to fill a VAZ 2110 box with really high-quality oil and do not spare money at the same time, then feel free to follow the link to buy Liqui Moly Hochleistungs-Getriebeoil GL4 + (GL-4 / GL-5) 75W-90 transmission oil. I am sure you will be surprised by the quality. And if you are planning to save money, then continue.

How much oil is in a VAZ 2110 box?

This is the last question we'll look at today. So, the amount of oil in the gearbox VAZ 2110 is approximately 3.3 liters. This is the volume when filling oil up to the MAX mark on the dipstick. But knowing the device of the VAZ 2110 checkpoint, you should fill in a little more than the maximum level. If you are guided by the probe, then this is 3-4 mm above the maximum mark. Judging by the volume, then an additional 200-250 ml. This is due to the fact that the design of the 5th gear, when filling the VAZ 2110 gearbox with oil to the MAX mark, does not allow sufficient washing of this speed. Therefore, it is better to pour a little.

Let's summarize. The VAZ 2110 gearbox is filled with gear oil with an API class of GL-4 or GL-4/5 and a viscosity of 75W90 or 85W90. To replace, you need 3.3-3.5 liters. Among the best oil options for the VAZ 2110 gearbox are Liqui Moly, Petro-Canada and ZIC. These are just my recommendations. With a complete list transmission oils for the VAZ 2110 box can be viewed and purchased

Is it possible to fill the gearbox with oil that you fill in the engine? (Sergey)

Sergey, good afternoon. This question is of interest to many novice motorists and now we will give a complete answer to it.

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Is it possible to pour engine oil into the gearbox?

The answer is unequivocal - no. Engine fluid is not intended for use in a transmission system, nor is transmission oil intended for use in an engine. The use of MM (motor consumable) in the gearbox can lead to irreversible consequences. Most likely, in this case, the unit will simply fail.

It must be remembered that consumables are made for a specific type of unit, that is, an engine or gearbox. In addition, they have different additive packages, which is also an important factor.

The chemical elements contained in the transmission fluid are designed for specific purposes, respectively:

  • such a liquid will not be able to perform the functions assigned to it, since it was originally used for the wrong purposes;
  • such a consumable may adversely affect the operation of the engine or gearbox, for the same reason of non-compliance;
  • in the structure of the consumable, components are used that can adversely affect the performance of certain elements of the system, that is, they can destroy them, and so on.

These are just a few reasons why we don't recommend you use the wrong MM. As you understand, this is true for both the engine and the gearbox. In any case, if you have poured such material into the system, then you will not only have to drain it. After that, the system will need to be very thoroughly rinsed from the remnants of an unnecessary substance. This must be done very carefully, since even residues can adversely affect the functioning of the unit.

  • use only the MM that is prescribed and recommended by the manufacturer;
  • use only high-quality oil, this will stabilize the operation of the engine or gearbox, as well as increase their service life;
  • use only the appropriate MM (in order not to confuse, oil for mechanical transmissions is labeled as MTF, for automatic transmissions - as ATF, while engine oil is labeled as Motor oil);
  • in order for the power unit to always work well, the MM must be changed exactly on time, therefore we recommend observing and not increasing the interval between replacements;
  • the purchase of a low-quality substance will subsequently cause more serious breakdowns, so we do not advise you to save money by purchasing products from an unverified manufacturer.

In the Honda manual transmission, either the original is poured and changes after 50 thousand, or engine oil, which changes after 20 thousand. You can’t use ordinary transmission fluid there - it threatens to damage the box!

Video "All about transmission fluids"

Detailed information about transmission fluids is presented in the video.

Before the car owner, who does not change cars every year, sooner or later the question arises of which oil to choose in the automatic gearbox. In order to consciously decide on a specific composition, you need to understand why it is needed and how the automatic transmission works.

Lubrication not only reduces friction between pairs of parts, but also removes excess heat, cleans surfaces, and prevents corrosion. To ensure the normal performance of all the tasks assigned, the compositions are supplied with additives - special synthetic substances with certain properties. The amount and ratio of additives is the main factor determining the applicability of the product to a particular gearbox. To make it easier for drivers to understand, specifications have been created - requirements for substances used in boxes.

Before deciding which oil to fill in a box, you need to understand whether it is necessary to do this at all. The ATF replacement schedule is individual for each car model. The operating instructions for the machine must be followed. Many manufacturers expect lubricant for the entire life of the car. That is, they assume that a replacement will be needed only in case of a serious breakdown and major intervention.

When to change?

Motorists and auto mechanics agree that ATF replacement is necessary. The lubricant is gradually produced, oxidized, loses its properties. The manufacturer's recommendations are for the warranty period of the machine only.

If the gearbox is working normally, there are no knocks, jams, delays when switching, vibrations, you should not touch the component. When there are any problems, the first thing to think about is the development of the composition.

If the machine is under warranty, you should contact the dealer. Changing the oil in unauthorized workshops or doing the work yourself is a violation of the warranty.

How is the replacement done?

In a home garage, it is possible to change the oil only partially, 20–40% of the old substance will remain inside. A similar procedure will solve the problems that have arisen, but it is preferable to change the oil completely. Specialists expel old fuel and lubricants from the system using a special device that supplies air under high pressure.

Partial replacement procedure:

  1. Warm up the car after driving 10-15 km.
  2. Unscrew the drain plug of the box crankcase.
  3. Wait until the composition drains.
  4. Pour fresh substance into the machine (the same amount as the old one leaked out).
  5. Repeat the procedure 3–5 times every 150–200 km.

After that, almost all the old oil is diluted with new.

How to choose a product?

Before work on the replacement, it is necessary to decide which oil to fill in the machine. It is difficult for an inexperienced motorist to navigate the variety of manufacturers and models of fuel and lubricants.

Many automakers produce ATF under their own brand. It is also poured during production. This is what BMW, Toyota, Nissan, Mercedes, Volkswagen Group, Chevrolet, KIA, Hyundai do. The operating instructions for the machines indicate which particular compositions need to be poured into the automatic box.

For each original oil, you can choose an analogue. Automakers do not create lubricants themselves, they simply order their release from large specialized companies and pack them in containers with their own brand. Therefore, analogues are often identical to each other. The selection is carried out according to the characteristics of fuel and lubricants and tolerances.

It is better to buy products from car dealers. Oils are often counterfeited. Therefore, saving on them will lead to problems with the machine, the development of parts, the need for major repairs.

The main ATF specification is called Dexron. It was developed by General Motors and accepted by all manufacturers in the world. Here are the main markings of this standard:

  • Dexron B;
  • Dexron II;
  • Dexron III;
  • Dexron IV;
  • Dexron IV Service Fill.

Each of the specifications puts forward certain requirements for kinematic viscosity, Brookfield viscosity at certain temperatures, flash point, ignition, foaming, degree of protection against formation of corrosion and other characteristics. If the car's operating manual provides only the required oil parameters, you can choose what to fill in the automatic transmission, according to them, having read the specifications in detail.

Motor trains and gearboxes

Under the USSR, there was not a large selection of fuels and lubricants. Therefore, car manufacturers poured the same compounds into the gearbox and into the engine. The design features of the cars of those times made it possible to do this without causing much harm to the car. In the modern world, everything is different. Boxes have become more complex, more details have appeared in them - the loads that they experience when interacting with each other cannot be tolerated by a conventional product for motors.

The main element of the gearbox is the gear. There are two types of coupling of these parts to each other:

  1. Hypoid - teeth contact pointwise.
  2. Planar-stationary - when two gear teeth are engaged, they move together until they disengage. In other words, they remain stationary relative to each other. This results in additional sliding loads. At this point, the oil film is "ripped off" from the surface.

To ensure normal lubrication, strengthening additives are added to ATF. In addition, the machine is a closed, almost sealed system. Therefore, high temperatures occur during operation. Ordinary engine oil, even with the highest SAE index, will become too fluid and will not be able to perform its functions.

To the question of whether it is possible to pour engine oil into the gearbox of a modern car, the answer is unequivocal - no. This will cause very serious damage. Parts will be worked out over several tens of thousands of kilometers, that is, in a year or two of not very active operation of the machine. If we are talking about an old domestic car, a similar experiment can be carried out after a thorough study of the instruction manual.

At first glance, it seems strange that someone in principle asks such a question. After all, the difference between the average engine and transmission oil for manual transmissions is not so critical as to look for savings in such a sophisticated solution. Another thing is the machines. Below we will consider whether it is possible to fill in engine oil in a box.

Engine oil in automatic transmission

It is even difficult to imagine why a car owner in their right mind would fill in an expensive automatic transmission with a basically unsuitable gear oil, not to mention engine oil. Let's discuss in theory what the use of motor lubricants in automatic transmissions is fraught with.

Lubricants for automatic transmissions (so-called ATF fluids) are actually closer in their properties to hydraulic oils than to engine oils. Therefore, if there was a question about using a "spindle" or other hydraulic oil in the machine, one could think of some kind of interchangeability here.

Engine oil is quite different from ATF fluids.

  1. Inappropriate temperature setting. Fluids for automatic transmissions, even in severe frosts, retain acceptable fluidity relative to motor oils. Relatively speaking, if the oil thickens to a consistency, for example, honey, then the hydraulics (starting from the torque converter, pumping with a hydraulic plate) will be partially or completely paralyzed. Although there are winter oils that remain quite liquid even at very low temperatures (0W standard). So this point is very conditional.
  2. Unpredictable performance under high pressures. One of the prerequisites for the normal operation of the automatic transmission is the predictability of the behavior of the oil under pressure. Automatic transmission is a complex mechanism consisting of an extensive system of hydraulic channels. Each channel has its own, strictly normalized, values ​​of pressure and flow rate. The fluid must not only be incompressible and transmit force well, but in no case should it form air pockets.
  3. Inappropriate additive package that will harm the box. The only question is how long it will take to see the effects. The mechanical part in the automatic transmission works with high contact loads, which engine oil at its peak cannot cope with. Scuffing and chipping of teeth is a matter of time. And rich engine oil additives, which are designed for 10-15 thousand kilometers in the engine (and in completely different conditions than in automatic transmissions), can precipitate. Deposits in the valve body will certainly cause problems.

In general, pouring engine oil into an automatic transmission is possible only as a sophisticated and expensive experiment: how long will the automatic transmission last on engine oil. For normal operation, even the most expensive and technologically advanced engine oil will not work in an automatic transmission.

Engine oil in manual transmission

We note right away that engine oil can be poured into the box of VAZ cars of classic models. This was written even in the factory instructions for early models.

On the one hand, such a decision was based on the lack of good gear oils in the 80s, when the mass production of Zhiguli began. Lubricants of the type had an increased viscosity, which was acceptable for trucks. But in conjunction with the low-power engines of the first VAZ models, a large percentage of the power, especially in winter, went to viscous friction in the box. And this caused operational problems with the car in the winter, such as increased fuel consumption, low throttle response during acceleration and a drop in top speed.

In addition, the structural margin of safety for the manual transmission of VAZ cars was very high. Therefore, if engine oil reduced the resource of the box, it was not so much that it became a critical problem.

With the advent of more advanced oils, this item was removed from the instruction manual. However, the box has not undergone structural changes. Therefore, even now, it is possible to fill in engine oils in a box of VAZ classics. The main thing is to choose thicker lubricants, with a viscosity of at least 10W-40. It will also not be a big mistake if, in the absence of a suitable transmission lubricant, add a small amount of engine oil to the VAZ manual transmission.

It is impossible to pour engine oils into the mechanical boxes of modern cars. The loads on the gear teeth in them have increased significantly compared to cars produced 20-30 years ago. And if the main gear in the box is hypoid, and even with a significant displacement of the axles, the filling of engine oils in this case is completely prohibited. The point is the lack of a sufficient amount of extreme pressure additives, which will certainly lead to the destruction of the contact surface of the gear teeth of this type.

Novice motorists are often tormented by the question of the possibility of using engine oil as a lubricant for transmission parts. In the old "VAZ" car models, the same lubricant was indeed used for the engine and transmission. The manufacturer recommended using it for gearboxes due to the lack of a suitable composition in the assortment. with high viscosity provoked high loads on the synchronizers of the device, increased wear of parts, while the lubricant intended for engines was more suitable in terms of characteristics. A lot of time has passed since then, during which both lubricating compounds and the motor designs themselves have evolved, so among the variety of auto chemistry, you can choose the right oil for a particular type of device.

It is not recommended to pour engine oil into the gearbox.

Each product has its own purpose, individual characteristics and application features. In addition to the fact that products with different compositions can be used taking into account the structural structure of the mechanisms of a particular vehicle system, the possibility of filling oils, even those intended for this type of device, also depends on the operating conditions. It is highly undesirable to experiment what will happen if engine oil is poured into the box, because in this way, at best, you can reduce the service life of the gearbox.

Is there a difference between engine and transmission oil

The component composition, as well as the functions of each product, are different. In addition to the big difference between engine and transmission oil, each of them has its own characteristics, because the purpose of special equipment is not only to lubricate mechanisms. All oils have a mineral, synthetic or semi-synthetic base (mixture), as well as a balanced set of additives. Additives are different from each other, and if they do not match the characteristics of the device, they can cause irreparable damage to its elements.

The main differences between engine oils and transmission fluids:

  • work in different temperature conditions;
  • viscosity characteristics;

The properties of lubricants for motors ensure stable operation of the unit due to a suitable component composition. The product is applied in accordance with the design features of the engine, therefore, when choosing a product, you should rely on the recommendations of the car manufacturer of your car.

The gearbox of modern cars is a complex mechanism and high temperatures are observed during the interaction of structural parts, so the viscosity of engine oil cannot ensure the full functionality of the device. The transmission system also needs additives other than those that can be added to engine lubricants. , which are poured into automatic boxes, carry out more functional tasks due to the complexity of modern automatic transmission designs.

The main action of gear oil is aimed at removing the heat that occurs during the friction of parts, reducing noise and preventing wear of the device. The loads under which gearbox fluids operate are often the same, which distinguishes them from motor lubricants, which are forced to ensure the functionality of the engine under temperature extremes and under different operating conditions. The service life of transmission fluids is much longer, some manufacturers do not even provide for the replacement of the product during operation.

How to distinguish transmission lubricant from motor

The viscosity of transmission fluids is much higher than that of motor oils; the container label will always tell about these characteristics. The right lubricant should be selected depending on the type of device. Transmission fluids for manual transmissions are marked as MTF, for automatic ones - ATF, their compositions are also different. All these designations can be seen on the product packaging. Motor oil is signed by Motor oil, so it is almost impossible to confuse the compositions when buying.

Another thing is if, after several procedures for changing the lubricant, you still have leftover funds and for some reason there is no label on the canister. Only an experienced auto mechanic can determine the composition by appearance; the smell after a long period of time can also be greatly distorted. For sure, a proven method will help to find out what is in the canister:

  • add a drop of an unidentified agent to a container of water and look at the results;
  • if the form holds, the oil floats for several minutes, then this is a lubricant for the engine;
  • when the drop spreads like a film, shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow, this is transmission fluid.

What happens if you fill in engine oil instead of transmission

Before filling in this or that lubricant, it is recommended to refer to the car's operating instructions. Some old-style manual transmissions may well exist for a certain time on engine oil, but whether it is possible to fill engine oil in the box of your car, in principle, you need to find out in the manual for the car. The resource of the device and the service life will noticeably decrease, and this is the best that can happen. Practicing on an ongoing basis the use of lubricants for other purposes, you can provoke the failure of the gearbox.

It is not allowed to pour engine oil into an automatic gearbox or a variator!

The compositions cannot replace each other, let alone mix, with the exception of emergency situations, when there was no lubricant in the box at all, there is no means for transmissions at hand, and you still need to get to your destination on something. Such a replacement is justified, but can only be a temporary solution.



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