Gas milage increase!

[nfpgasmask]

The tranny is not really that hard, but it does take some work, and its pretty messy and a little tedious. If you do it yourself, plan on starting it on a Saturday morning when you have all day to do it.

I used a little hand pump I picked up at Pep Boys to pump in the new trans fluid. I also changed my tranny filter at the same time.

I don't understand that myth, because not servicing your tranny would be more likely to cause it to croak then ignoring it. My VX was shifting like cr@p until I changed my fluid and filter and now she is smooth.

I bought my replacement OEM filter from AutoZone for like $35. It came with a cork gasket that I flattened in between 2 heavy books for 48 hours before I did the change. I would recommend doing the same if your gasket is folded, as it makes it a lot easier when it is flat.

The worse part of the tranny service is filling it up with clean fluid. Our beloved VXes have a difficult tranny to fill, to say the least, and no dipstick, so you need to follow the manuals instructions for filling, which sucks. I used Mobile-1 Synthetic Transmission Fluid. I think you need something like 4-6 quarts if I remember correctly.

Bart

Is it just a myth when people say. You dont want to mess with your tranny much. The more the mess with it the more likely it is going to die quicker?

Not to hi jack.

But I plan to do this as well since I am getting 13.4 mpg. I plan to consider de-lifting as well.

[etlsport]

taking your VX back to stock height wont do much for your gas mileage.. switching back to stock sized tires and lightweight rims will... if your tranny is starting to go anyway, new fluid may speed up the process, new fluid may also show leaks that were already there since the new fluid will be thinner and easier to flow out small gaps

[Ascinder]

I plan to consider de-lifting as well.

Oh no, say it aint so. Blasphemy I tell you, Blasphemy.

I agree, it's probably the tire/rim weight and size. I know when I got my rims and tires, each one seemed to weigh twice as much as the old setup. I don't think going up a few inches should hurt mileage that much, but putting stock size wheels on a VX lifted 3" or so I have seen how that looks, and IMHO

[JHarris1385]

I have the lift ,de-lift down to an art of no more than 20 minutes. Considered de lifting during the week and lifting during the weekends for off roading. Was not sure what effect that would have on the vx?

I wish i had normaly tires to put on it. But if any of you remember I have three stockers becuase the fourth was "lost" during shipping from the seller I bought the VX from. I would heavily consider stocks for the time being.

[MZ-N10]

for the tranny fluid, i found it was MUCH easier if u have a air compressor. just punch a hole at the top of a container and one on teh bottom. attach the compressor to the top and a rubber hose to the bottom. fill the container up and lets the air flow.....much much less tiring then pumping one of those harbor freight pumps.....

[Dino]

Or, again... do this

and just watch it all happen as you have a beer and keep the bottle topped off... simple. You could hang it from the mirror even, put a pan under the car. Invest in some clear plastic tubing.

The excitement of it all!!!

I'm being a nut! forgive me...

Trannys are not some black art. It's just a big ol multispeed hydraulic pump that needs the fluid changed regularly or it will die!

Why? Because it needs good clean fluid to work right and lock up the clutches in each gear. It goes through a lot of heat cycles and this breaks down the fluid. As it breaks down, it doesn't perform properly and does not provide the needed pressures to actuate the mechanism that locks up the clutch pacs. This robs mileage, causes the clutches slip, and heats up the fluid even more. Parts of the clutches and the steel plates in between them begin to flake off and further contaminate the fluid and plug up the filter. The problem just gets worse from there and before you know it, you need a new tranny.

Keep that trans serviced!!!!

[JHarris1385]

I am going to do the tranny and diffs this weekend. This will be my first time doing these two things. Is there a check list on here that I am missing of what all is needed to perform this task?


Ascinder what is your mpg, since you are one of the highest lifted vx's?