Changing the oil in the Chevrolet Niva engine: the choice of oil, the frequency and timing of oil changes, tips from car owners

2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:41

The car's powertrain needs regular maintenance. The engine is the heart of any car, and its service life depends on how carefully the driver treats it. In this article we will talk about how to change the oil in a Chevrolet Niva engine. Despite the fact that every motorist can do this, there are some nuances that you must first familiarize yourself with.

General information

The first thing to do before changing car engine oil is to read the manufacturer's recommendations. The manufacturer has clearly defined scheduled maintenance periods for the power unit. But it is also necessary to focus on the operating conditions of the car, climate, etc.

The large selection of motor oils is also confusing. ATCurrently, manufacturers are trying to expand tolerances so that one type of oil is suitable for a large number of engines. One example of the confusion with motor lubricating fluids is that until relatively recently no one bothered about this and everyone was pouring mineral water. Then they began to use semi-synthetics, which, in their characteristics, are superior to oils made on a mineral basis. Now there is such a type of oils as synthetic. They have a high flash point and a good additive package. Also, the service life of such a lubricant is higher than that of the "mineral water". Well, what should a simple driver choose? Not everything is so clear here. Let's take a closer look at the process of changing the oil in the Chevrolet Niva engine and determine the type of lubricant and its manufacturer.

Volume and terms of replacement

The more loaded the car is operated, the more often it is necessary to change the oil in the Chevrolet Niva engine. This applies to all powertrains of the model, although there are not too many of them. In most cases, drivers make a replacement every 10-15 thousand kilometers. This interval allows you to ensure normal operation of the motor. But if you often have to drive through traffic jams and rough terrain or at too high air temperatures, then it is better to change the lubricant a little more often, for example, every 8 thousand kilometers. This will not hit the budget much, but it will help the engine last much longer.

Installed powerunit for 1.7 liters with a capacity of 80 hp needs about 4 liters of oil. But you need to be extremely careful when choosing a lubricant, because the risk of stumbling upon a fake is really high. If you use oils of a domestic manufacturer, then it is better to buy from an official supplier. The best option is to get acquainted with the information on specialized forums. Very often, experienced motorists advise one or another type of oil and, conversely, talk about brands that are better not to take.

Self-change oil in the Chevrolet Niva engine

The replacement procedure is quite simple. The first step is to warm up the car engine to operating temperature. The oil will heat up and become more fluid, so it can be drained faster and more completely. Next, we take any container that is suitable in volume. You can take an old bucket, canister or any other suitable container. We unscrew the drain plug and substitute the container for mining. Within 10-15 minutes, all the oil should drain. During this time, unscrew the oil filter. Then we install a new one, which we pre-lubricate. We twist the drain plug and unscrew the oil filler neck.

Continue work

Fill in pre-purchased oil in the amount of 3.5 liters (for engines 1.7 and 1.8 liters). After a few minutes, check the level with a dipstick. Top up if necessary. If the level is below the "minimum" mark, add lubricant. After that, it is advisable to start the engine for a few seconds, wait a coupleminutes and check the level. There is nothing complicated in replacing, even a beginner can handle it. The tool will require a minimum. You may find the following helpful:

• hexagon for unscrewing the drain plug;
• clean rags;
• metal brush for cork cleaning;
• oil can (optional).

All this can be found in your garage or purchased, as in the future you will need a similar tool.

Lubricant selection

This issue must be approached very responsibly. Currently, there are a lot of lubricants for high-quality power units on store shelves. But there are also many fakes. They are to be feared. Engine oil not made according to technology can kill a completely “live” engine in just a few thousand kilometers. Both ordinary drivers and experts in the industry speak about this.

First of all, you need to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The manufacturer specifies all the necessary tolerances. New Niva models comply with Euro-4 standards. The power unit, equipped with hydraulic compensators, needs to be filled with synthetic engine oil 5W30 of at least API, SJ class. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the temperature range in which the vehicle is operated. For the northern regions, more fluid oils are used, and for the southern ones, on the contrary, more viscous ones. In general, the manufacturer recommends lubricants such as Lukoil3000", "Shell Helix", "Petro Canada" and others. Many drivers speak positively about brands such as Lukoil and Shell, which is recommended to fill in engines.

Oil consumption and level control

Any powertrain needs regular lubrication. Moreover, the frequency does not depend on the actual mileage of the engine. You need to understand that there are certain norms for the consumption of lubricant for the motor, and each has its own. But as practice shows, the new engine practically does not eat oil, although there are still exceptions to the rules. As for the Niva, consumption is characteristic of used engines. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly monitor the level. It is advisable to do this before every trip. In stock, it is better to have a liter canister with you, which will be used in an emergency. There is no need to save here, because a drop in the level always leads to critical wear of the power unit and its further overhaul.

Oil renewal is not a replacement

Chevrolet Niva oil change frequency is 8-10 thousand kilometers. But some motorists add 1-2 liters of oil during this time. There is no need to think that if almost half of the lubricant poured into the crankcase is updated, then the replacement deadlines can be violated. The filter accumulates all the sludge, and various kinds of deposits accumulate in the crankcase. Every time you start the engine, all the solid particles circulate through the oil channels, which often leads to clogging. In the endAs a result, due to oil starvation, the power unit is sent for overhaul. Therefore, even if you add oil, this does not mean that you can violate the deadlines for its complete replacement.

Tips from motorists

Regardless of the mileage of the engine and its condition, do-it-yourself oil changes at the Chevrolet Niva must be done in a timely and high-quality manner. There is no need to bring the motor to a critical state and operate it constantly at the limit of its capabilities. In this case, you can count on the long-term operation of the internal combustion engine of a car. From the foregoing, certain conclusions can be drawn. For normal operation of the engine, you need to use the lubricants recommended by the manufacturer, change the lubricant in time, check the level before each trip. All this will help preserve and prolong the life of the car's heart for many years to come.