Hi All,
Remember when I purchased my newer 2002 Grand Caravan? And how I simply was NOT satisfied with the mileage???
Well I am in to solving problems, and have a warranty, so all kinds of things have been done - to no avail! It runs real smooth, just not nearly the mileage I used to get with my 1994 GC with the same displacement engine (3.3 litre).
I am also one who believes in proper maintenance, so being as I was at about 101,000 km, and I had NO faith that the previous owner did ANY preventive maintenance... off to my favourite Trans Shop for the installation of a booster cooler, and a complete fluid change with new filter.
Fair enough, service when as planned, no nasty little surprizes at the trans shop, no codes, all is well.
And if I thought it shifted good before, it is AWESOME now!
All good. Then....
I have the overhead console - and I have it set to display my mileage in real time. In driving around over the last couple of weeks, I happened to glance up. My MPG is UP! by about 4 to 6 MPG! This puts the new van EXACTLY in line with my 1994!
I never noticed this with the 1994 because the trans DIED about 2 weeks after I purchased it! So when it was rebuilt, it had new fluid in it.
I will keep detailed mileage logs for a while to confirm, but the readings persist, and are consistant - and the ONLY recent change was the tranmission fluid!
As if doing this PM as a matter of course was not enough, and as a matter of saving your trans, now you have ONE MORE reason to do it! At todays gas prices, that extra MPG will quickly pay for the cost of the service!
Just thought you would like to know!
:)