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#1
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Transmission questions???
I have a 1994 SVX LSI AWD with 146K on it. I have had it since 126K and assume the trans is original.
I noticed that when the car is cold, and usually for the first 30 minutes of driving or so, the tranny doesn't seem to fully engage into 4th gear. When driving at 60 mph, the tach reads about 2300 rpm. When you give it gas, it goes up to maybe 26-2800 rpm. After a while, it seems to lock into 4th gear and is taching 2000 rpm right on. When you give it gas, the rpm doesn't jump, but remains at 2K as the engine pulls until the veicle speed increases. I am familiar with how the car holds in third gear until it warms up, but this is after the shift from third to fourth. Bottom line, most of my driving involves shorter runs, but at highway speeds, and when it doesn't lock into 4th, my mileage is kind of crappy (18-19mpg) with about 75% being highway miles. I am wondering if I have a tranny problem? Also, I read somewhere someone assuming that the blue torque converter is not the factory converter?? I recently replaced the motor and have the bright blue converter. Does this tell me it has been replaced? Thanks, Brian |
#2
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Re: Transmission questions???
I am no expert but it sounds like you are describing torque converter lockup. The TC won't lock up until the ATF is warm enough. Do you have an external tranny cooler? If so, how big?
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Tony 1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads 2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil 2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil 1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything |
#3
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Re: Transmission questions???
The Torque Converter won't lockup until the internal ATF temp is at least 125deg F (although, I think it's actually higher).
If you're not doing long highway drives, you're going to get around 20mpg. You need to do long highway drives in order to see greatly increased mpg.
__________________
-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
#4
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Re: Transmission questions???
Yea your miles per gal. Is not that bad considering the max is 25 ish i drive about 50 miles to work and the best i have ever got was 24 and this is in a fwd svx...
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#5
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Re: Transmission questions???
MPG will suffer in extreme cold and I assume you have extreme cold in MN. Have you switched to synthetic ATF? If not, I highly suggest it along with synthetic in the differentials. I have not yet been convinced to use synthetic in the engine, however. There are good arguments to changing the oil every 3-4k miles regardless of the type of oil. If I am going to do that, I am not spending the $$$ on synthetic. I have opted for Quaker State High Mileage oil instead as it has a good viscosity index and a good additive package for high mileage engines. It is a little more money but not nearly the bank breaker synthetic oil is. The high VI will keep your 5W30 oil from turning to molasses in the MN winters.
__________________
Tony 1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads 2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil 2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil 1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything |
#6
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Re: Transmission questions???
Quote:
dcb |
#7
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Re: Transmission questions???
I don't have an external tranny cooler. And it does sound like, based on your response, that it is simply the needfor the tranny to fully warm up before it will lock the torque converter. I am not running synthetic ATF.
Doesn't sound like there is any way to get it to lock sooner to improve mileage?? Brian |
#8
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Re: Transmission questions???
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That and maybe swapping to a 5MT so you could short shift constantly. Still wouldn't resolve your short trip problem though.
__________________
-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
#9
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Re: Transmission questions???
Quote:
__________________
Tony 1996 Polo Green Subaru SVX LSi, 168,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF, Redline 75W90 gear oil, K&N HP-4001 Oil Filter, Mobil 1 5W50 FS (3qt) and 5W30 High Mileage (4qt) Oil Blend, Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid, AC Delco A975C Air Filter, NGK BKR6EIX-11 plugs, Centric Rotors, Power Stop Evolution Carbon Fiber Ceramic Brake Pads 2005 Gray Acura RL, 165,XXX miles, Redline D4 ATF with Lubegard Platinum Protectant, Mobil 1 5W20 High Mileage Extended Performance Oil 2009 Red Toyota Venza, 123,XXX, Mobil 1 5W30 High Mileage Oil 1992 Red Ferrari 348 ts, 82,XXX, Redline everything |
#10
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Re: Transmission questions???
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Stop and go traffic and 3600lb of metal is going to kill your gas mileage. Plain and simple. Those problems are not easily remedied and doing something to lock your TC faster isn't going to fix those problems.
__________________
-Jason (8/23/07-Present) 1995 Subaru SVX LSi (197k) Polo Green (#1102) 03/95 Mods: DDM Tuning 4500k 35w Low Beam HID, 100w H3 Bulbs, Extra Ground Cables, 15 minute $12.96 mod, svxfiles designed transmission mount (), sporting a "new" tail light bar, silver BBS rims, custom power steering cooler (one that doesn't dump ATF constantly), new negative lead cable, no more third or fourth gear (1977-Present) 1977 Chevrolet Corvette (81k) Silver (12/01/2011-Present) 2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited 5MT (97k) I have a bad feeling about this. -Obi Wan Kenobi |
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