Gas milage increase!

[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?

[BeeVenom]

I bought Don DiBart's 01VX a couple years ago (long time V-Cross member) and one thing he stressed was the transmission flush and refill. He just did a trans flush prior to me purchasing with synthetic fluids and i intend to follow the same process. I will flush/change at 60,000 miles and continue for as long as we own the VX. All fluids in my VX are synthetic and i think it's worth the extra expense. These transmissions can be finicky and the flush/refill process even with synthetics is cheap insurance for having a long-lasting transmission. I've had no complaints and still love the Proton as i did the first day i purchased it.

[BeeVenom]

P.S.
I'm running ALL SYNTHETICS including engine, transmission/transfer/differential, plus brake fluid and power steering. Again, I think it's a good insurance policy against future potential problems/challenges. One thing i will add is that I've always used Castrol synthetics (i've owned a bunch of british cars.....Castrol is the 'Thing' with british). However, i found through news updates (and publicized law-suits) that Castrol started using petroleum-based stocks in their synthetic oil to cut costs a few years ago which meant that they were NOT really 100% 'synthetic' any more in the true sense of the word.
If you use synthetic engine oil make sure it is a 'Group 4' synthetic and NOT 'Goup 3' synthetic OR less.
Mobil 1 'extended service' is a 'group 4' oil (Red Line and some others are too, but i have not used them). I am now using Mobil 1 Ext. Service.....for what it's worth. If you change every 2000-3000 miles, it may not be a big deal. I do change at 2500 miles but I still use 'Group 4' oil.
Needless to say, i do believe in synthetics for mileage increases and longevity although sometimes you may think it's too expensive. I think NOT!
I do get 16-17 average (even with an Alpine Superchager w/7 psi boost) and have hit as high as 23 mpg on highway with average 60-65 speeds.
Synthetic is the way to go!

[JHarris1385]

Or clean,replace, service your Fuel Pressure Regulator. I have seen a 3-4 avg mpg increase since.

[JHarris1385]

What are the group four oils?

[tom4bren]

One thing to keep in mind about gas mileage right now is that we are now running on summer blend gasoline. Summer blend has about 10% less energy content so your gas mileage will probably be 10% lower as well (maybe more). Isn't it nice how they've set it up where the more expensive gas gives us less performance?