About a year ago, I changed the oil in the Chevrolet Lacetti gearbox in the sedan body in a specialized center and filled it with a transmission from Mobil 1 and regretted it a lot, since for a year it showed itself not from the best side. Even with a slight frost of -15 degrees, the box became wooden and, moreover, warmed up for a very long time. I got tired of this topic and I decided to change the transmission oil on my own. I went to the officials and bought a draft there, no beer, but oil for the checkpoint from "Hado".
Why draft? Because this oil is poured into large 50 - liter barrels. First, I needed to drain the oil.
A container for working off was prepared in advance, as it I used a five-liter bottle with a cut neck. We unscrew the drain bolt and drain the mining into a container.
After the oil is drained, do not rush to immediately tighten the bolt back, as oil will drip from the drain hole for some time and it will be better for it to be completely drained. We see that the transmission oil has become completely unusable after the vehicle has traveled 10,000 km, so I am on time.
Some kind of resinous mass, similar to solid oil, has formed on the working elements, which is best removed from there, since this is a kind of slag. Next, we clean everything with gasoline and collect everything in the reverse order. New oil was poured through the sopun.
First you need to remove the cap from it, and then use a 17 key to unscrew it.
Changing the oil in the box refers to seasonal events, most often it is carried out in the fall, ordinary oil is changed to frost-resistant. In our area, low temperatures are the norm, so you need to be prepared. Today I will talk about how to change the oil in a Chevrolet Lacetti box with your own hands.
For winter, I chose 75W-90 oil. Read about how much time to change the oil in the box. I bought Ravenol 75W90 GL4 oil and started preparing for a replacement. In addition, you will need:
Pallet cover gasket (before purchasing, make sure that your cover is 10-bolt, since there are 11-bolts, therefore, the gasket may not fit).
- The key is at "13".
- Empty container for used oil.
- Sealant (optional).
Self-oil change in manual transmission - step by step instructions
Before starting work, warm up the engine to operating temperature, this will make the oil more fluid and drain faster.
1. First of all, you need to find a hole or lift, all work will be done under the machine.
2. Near the pallet, you will find a cap. It must be removed by pulling upwards, after which the breather will become available to you.
3. The breather is tightened with nuts on a turnkey basis on "17" and "15", which are connected by welding, your task is to unscrew the breather plug.
4. Now the most unpleasant and dirty work begins - draining dirty oil from the sump. To do this, unscrew 10 pallet nuts with a "13" wrench, but before that do not forget to substitute a bucket or trough under the pallet cover.
5. It is enough to rip off the bolts, after that they are quite easily unscrewed by hand.
6. After the oil has drained, unscrew the bolts all the way and remove the sump cover. Remove the gasket, it most often sticks to the pallet or lid. If you do not have a new one, then when removing it, be extremely careful not to tear it.
7. Unscrew the magnetic-tipped level control bolt. It tends to collect small metal particles, so it is best to remove them. In addition, when the control bolt is unscrewed, we will be able to control the overflow.
8. The oil is drained, the cap is unscrewed, now you can put a new gasket in place and screw the cap. This is not my first oil change in the Chevrolet Lacetti box, therefore, given my previous experiences and the quality of the gaskets, for reliability, I always put the gasket on top of the sealant. Do not tighten the oil level plug if you do not know how much oil to fill. Pour slowly, when the bottom pours through the "control" - this will mean enough. 
9. It is possible to fill in the box using a tube that is available in each canister, but this is not very convenient, so it was decided to change the oil in the gearbox using a large plastic syringe. The syringe minimizes waste and saves time.
Checking the condition of the transmission of a Chevrolet Lacetti car is carried out after 15 thousand kilometers or once a year. If necessary, the check is accompanied by cleaning, repairs and refilling of technical fluids. In a Chevrolet Lacetti car, an oil change in the gearbox is not provided by the manufacturer. However, the need for maintenance arises when switching to a different viscosity class, overhaul, long-term operation. With the necessary tools and minimal experience, changing the oil in the Lacetti manual transmission can be done at home.
Procedure for changing gear oil
Changing the oil in the Chevrolet Lacetti gearbox is not a complicated procedure, but it requires a strict implementation of the algorithm of actions.
- We warm up the transmission fluid of the gearbox to a standard operating temperature - about 70 - 80 ° C. To do this, it is enough to drive a few kilometers or let the engine idle for 10-15 minutes.
- We install the car on a flat horizontal platform, it is best to use a viewing hole, overpass or lift. We brake the car with the parking brake, put stops under the wheels.
- We unscrew the plug of the filler and control hole for better atmospheric pressure. This will help the waste fluid flow out of the gearbox more easily. The filler plug acts as a breather. Therefore, when reassembling, you need to clean its channels.
Note. The control plug is sealed with a rubber gasket. We replace the pressed, hardened and torn gasket with a new one.
- At the bottom, if there is protection, it is removed to provide access to the pallet. With the head on "13" we loosen the fixing bolts of the pallet. We substitute an empty container for collecting waste liquid under it. We pry the pallet with a screwdriver, the oil will begin to drain.
- After the main volume of oil has been drained, you can completely unscrew and remove the sump to clean it from the old gasket and sealant.
Note. The pan gasket must be changed each time the bottom cover is removed. When buying a new gasket, you need to consider the number of crankcase cover fixing bolts. There are pallets for 10 and 11 bolts, depending on the year of manufacture of the car.
- Put the bottom cover back in place and fill in new oil. On the Lacetti, oil in the manual transmission can be poured in two ways: through the control hole using an oil pump or through the filler plug with a watering can with a long funnel. When oil begins to flow out of the control hole, wrap the control and filler plugs.
After successfully completing the foreseen operations, you need to start the engine and inspect the pallet for leaks. This completes the Lacetti manual transmission oil change, it remains to periodically check its level in accordance with the car service regulations.
Checking the oil level
During the operation of the machine, periodically (every 15,000 km) it is necessary to check the condition of the transmission fluid. Since the design of the unit does not provide for a dipstick, control of the lubricant level in the Lacetti gearbox is carried out using a control hole.
To complete the work, a certain algorithm of actions is required.
- Place the vehicle on a level, horizontal surface.
- Use the “13” head to unscrew the bolt of the hole to check the lubricant level. This bolt is located on the right side of the crankcase in the direction of the vehicle in the area of the CV joints.
- At a normal level, the grease will be at the edge of the hole or at the bottom of the hole.
If the level of the lubricating fluid cannot be tracked, top-up is required. It is necessary to pour oil into the Lacetti gearbox as it was done when replacing it.
Important. You need to add oil that has the same technical characteristics as the oil in the gearbox.
Chevrolet Lacetti cars are equipped with 4-band or 5-speed mechanics. For each type of transmission, the manufacturer provides a specific brand and volume of oil to be poured in.
When choosing a transmission fluid, the following basic principles must be considered:
- SAE Specification - Determines the thermal stability of the oil. The viscosity-temperature properties of the oil depend on the ambient temperature. The SAE index determines in what temperature range the composition can be used for the effective operation of the assembly.
- API approvals - detailed recommendation on the applicability of products to a certain type of transmission and transmission mechanism.
- The type of lubricant is mineral water, semisynthetics, synthetics.
To change the oil in the Chevrolet Lacetti manual transmission, the following brands of oils are suitable:
- Mobil 3309. Used in automatic transmissions with controlled slip lock. Maintains the cleanliness of the manual transmission at the factory level.
- ISU DEXRON III. Fits most Chevrolet Lacetti automatic transmissions with servo and traction control. Meets and exceeds the latest requirements of the world's leading DEXRON manufacturers from GM.
- Castrol Manual EP SAE 80W-90. based on mineral oils refined by catalytic hydrocracking.
- Mobil ATF LT 71141. Semi-synthetic ATF product for robotic, automatic transmissions. Optimum frictional properties of the fluid ensure smooth gear shifting.
Oil change intervals
Changing the oil in the Lacetti box is not provided by the manufacturer. This means that the transmission fluid is filled for the entire period of operation of the vehicle. But the manufacturers do not specify that the service life of the car is a relative value and is 150 thousand km or 5 years of operation (the period before overhaul). Therefore, of course, the Chevrolet Lacetti is needed, preferably without waiting for repairs.
The frequency of changing the transmission depends on the following factors:
- The quality of the lubricant. For original products, the established service life is within 100 - 150 thousand km. When using cheaper analogs, replacement must be carried out every 75 thousand kilometers.
- Operation mode. Aggressive driving style, increased load, driving in the "start-stop" mode leads to premature oxidation and thickening of the transmission oil.
- Climatic features of the region. Sharp temperature changes, harsh climatic conditions, high humidity significantly shorten the life of the oil.
Correctly selected transmission fluid improves the efficiency of the gearbox, reduces fuel consumption, and ensures smooth engagement of speeds.
This photo report shows in detail how to change the oil in a manual transmission on a Chevrolet Lacetti car with your own hands. In the Lacetti, it is instructed to check the oil at the gearbox every 30,000 km.
The replacement process is not particularly difficult; people without special professional skills can cope with it. Changing the oil in the box refers to seasonal events, most often it is carried out in the fall, the usual oil is changed to frost-resistant. In our area, low temperatures are the norm, so you need to be prepared.
You will need:
- Pallet cover gasket (before purchasing, make sure that your cover is 10-bolt, since there are 11-bolts, therefore, the gasket may not fit);
- The key is at "13".
- Empty container for used oil.
- Sealant (optional).
Before starting work, warm up the engine to operating temperature, this will make the oil more fluid and drain faster.
First of all, you need to find a hole or a lift, all work will be done under the machine.
You will find a cap near the pallet. It must be removed by pulling upwards, after which the breather will become available to you.
The breather is tightened with nuts on a turnkey basis on "17" and "15", which are connected by welding, your task is to unscrew the breather plug.
Now the most unpleasant and dirty work begins - draining dirty oil from the sump. To do this, unscrew 10 pallet nuts with a key on "13", but before that do not forget to substitute a bucket or trough under the pallet cover.
It is enough to rip off the bolts, after which they are quite easily unscrewed by hand.
After the oil has drained, unscrew the bolts all the way and remove the sump cover. Remove the gasket, it most often sticks to the pallet or lid. If you do not have a new one, then when removing it, be extremely careful not to tear it.
Unscrew the magnetic-tipped level control bolt. It tends to collect small metal particles, so it is best to remove them. In addition, when the control bolt is unscrewed, we will be able to control the overflow.
The oil has been drained, the lid has been unscrewed, now you can put a new gasket in place and screw on the lid. This is not my first oil change in a Chevrolet Lacetti box, so given my previous experiences and the quality of the gaskets, for reliability, I always put the gasket on the sealant. Do not tighten the oil level plug if you do not know how much oil to fill. Pour slowly, when the bottom pours through the "control" - this will mean enough.
You can pour oil into the box using a tube that is available in each canister, but this is not very convenient, so it was decided to change the oil in the gearbox using a large plastic syringe. The syringe minimizes waste and saves time. Pour slowly to hear the oil pouring out in time and stop pouring it into the box.
Install the magnetic tipped bolt and tighten the remaining 10 pallet bolts. Make sure nothing is leaking anywhere.
Changing the oil in the gearbox of the popular Chevrolet Lacetti is not a difficult task. This procedure is available to everyone, even an inexperienced car enthusiast. It is quite another matter how to choose the right lubricant for maximum service life. This article provides recommendations on this issue using the example of a Chevrolet Lacetti with a manual transmission.
Is it worth changing the oil
Before buying oil, you need to decide whether it is worth replacing at all. So, first of all, let's pay attention to the replacement schedule specified in the user manual for the Chevrolet Lacetti. Usually the manufacturer indicates a rather large interval, which is relevant only for European countries with favorable climatic and road factors. For Russia, with its harsh climate, it is necessary to change the oil every 15-20 thousand kilometers. This is an unofficial recommendation, which is quite successfully followed by experienced owners of Chevrolet Lacetti with manual transmission.
Oil selection by parameters
We will not go deep into the topic of oil parameters, and consider only the most optimal options. Especially for manual transmission Chevrolet Lacetti oil can be recommended Ravenol 75W90 Getriebeoel TSG GL-4. This is a semi-synthetic type product that will be the best option in terms of value for money. Of course, this lubricant is much more expensive than pure mineral oil, but it has more stable beneficial properties - both to low and high temperatures. Let's highlight the following advantages of the product from the Ravenol company:
- Protection of manual transmission components from premature wear
- Effective cooling of all transmission components
- Stable operation of the box under increased load
- Optimum viscosity level, adapted even to temperatures above 40 degrees
- High thermal stability
- Adaptable to extreme low temperatures
- Good elastomer compatibility, namely resistance to corrosion propagation
- Reducing the effect of "dry friction" of parts
- Affordable price
Other brands
The owner of the Chevrolet Cruze always has the right to choose - to buy an expensive original product, or to buy something cheaper, but no worse than the original. There are many analogues on the market, the quality of which is beyond doubt. For example, among them it is worth highlighting such as Shell, Mobile, Castrol, Total, ZIK and Motul. The most important thing is to pay attention to viscosity parameters, tolerances and quality standards. Optimum parameters are indicated as API GL-4, SAE 75W-90 / 80W-90.
In the first place in terms of wear resistance is the Motul Gear 300 75W-90. The second place is taken by Castrol Syntrans Transaxle 75W90, and the third - by Mobil Mobilube 75W90.
All three oils work ideally in temperature ranges from - (minus) 35 to +35 degrees.
An alternative option is Lukoil TM-4 75W-90. This is a good semi-synthetic oil, inferior in parameters to most imported lubricants. Yet this product is well adapted to low temperatures. This model has the lowest cost among foreign oils for Chevrolet Lacetti manual transmissions.
Oil check
