[jenkinskg]

I put full Synth Lucas and I saw efficiency numbers never seen before.

See attached picture, has anyone else seen 6 before, I never had before this.

 

[jimsokoloff]

If I reset mine at the top of a long hill, I can get some truly amazing numbers for a short while...

I'm guessing that your figure wasn't sustained for an entire kilowatt-hour's worth of travel.

 

[Yinzer]

That said, some efficiency tweaks may be possible with a different gear oil. Was the Lucas lower viscosity than the original oil?

 

[jenkinskg]

Old oil was dirty, car prev dusty environment.
Lucas was 75W90 full synth, I also added a slick 50 additive, thinner but designed for man trans.

 

[e350coupe]

I just changed my transmission oil with Amsoil 75/90. The old oil was dirty and full of metal filings, which cannot be good. There was so much metal particles, small but numerous, I think I will do it again in a couple of months.

 

[Yinzer]

I presume that they don't use a magnetic drain plug on the ED gearbox? I wonder if one is available or can be rigged? (or is E350coupe's car a gas Smart?)

 

[Winfield Esterline]

When should I change the trans oil?

 

[sokoloff]

On an EV I'd probably never change it. The maintenance chart also does not mention the transmission fluid ever due to be changed. It doesn't really get any stress on it like a regular transmission does.

Len
2014 EV Coupe 19,500 miles
2014 EV Cabriolet 15,000 miles

 

[MB DNA]

Really don't understand what all the hubbub is about over changing the tranny oil in a limited range Electric Vehicle with a single fixed-gear ratio transmission??

As Len suggests - "The maintenance chart also does not mention the transmission fluid ever due to be changed."

Kinda like sorting the socks in your sock drawer - why? :shrug:

 

[natural phenomenon]

It doesn't really get any stress on it like a regular transmission does.

Exactly ! They are only single speed tyrannies. On the gas side of things there is literature out by Mercedes that even warns you not to be changing even the oil to soon in the Smart.

Everything most of us have been accustomed to gets thrown out the window when it comes to the Smarts. It's a whole separate breed unto itself, with clever engineering that was never thought possible. We can all take pride in the knowledge that our car will some day grace the halls of the Smithsonian Institute as one of automotive's all time great engineering accomplishments. Forever in the annals of great 21st century technology.

Future historians will perhaps point to this period when hope was within reach only to be sabotaged by fake claims and greed. The precursor to America's ultimate downfall as foretold long ago by George Orwell.

 

[strelnik]

Exactly ! They are only single speed tyrannies. On the gas side of things there is literature out by Mercedes that even warns you not to be changing even the oil to soon in the Smart.

Everything most of us have been accustomed to gets thrown out the window when it comes to the Smarts. It's a whole separate breed unto itself, with clever engineering that was never thought possible. We can all take pride in the knowledge that our car will some day grace the halls of the Smithsonian Institute as one of automotive's all time great engineering accomplishments. Forever in the annals of great 21st century technology.

Future historians will perhaps point to this period when hope was within reach only to be sabotaged by fake claims and greed. The precursor to America's ultimate downfall as foretold long ago by George Orwell.

The late brother of a fellow car enthusiast was an oil engineer, of the type who formulated experimental "brands" for testing.


He told me that many lubricants are made with two types of fluids: "2X" lubricants and "1X" detergents. The "X" refers to the duration so that the lubrication additives lasts twice as long as the detergent additives do.


As an example: If the oil is supposed to last 5000 miles before change, the first 2500 miles will include detergent action to clean all the particulate matter so it can be trapped by the filter. All this time, the oil is also lubricating and will continue to lubricate until 5000 when it loses major effectiveness. So you change it no later than 5000 miles.


You don't want to change too early or you get no benefit from the detergent and you don't want to wait until 6000 miles, because you lose lubrication effectiveness.


Recommended brands of lubricants are matched to duration of effectiveness of the additives.


Can you use other brands? Of course, especially if you know the level of effectiveness and the duration of its additives.


This is true in Citroen cars which used LHM+. Some brands of US aircraft hydraulic fluids exceed the specs for the car's hydraulic system. They certainly can't hurt anything.

 

[jenkinskg]

So have done a few hundred miles since change and I am able to sustain 3.3 to 3.5 mpkh even with highway use.
I used to drop into the 2.4 region as soon as speed went up.

Before real cold sets in I may change oil again 75w90 full synth

FYI there is a mag drain plug stock and it had some very small particles, no big deal

 

[DealMeIn]

I've gotten 7mi/Kwh according to the car a few times on my 2014 convertible. I generally average 6+ in the summer. Actual number is in the mid to upper 5's, lifetime (3 years, 8,700 miles) actual is 5.0

I live in the Chicago area so no real terrain around here, just warm weather and a decent tailwind is needed to get a higher number.

 

[jenkinskg]

Thanks for the info, you are getting great efficiency.
Mine is better but nothing like yours

 

[Yinzer]

Really don't understand what all the hubbub is about over changing the tranny oil in a limited range Electric Vehicle with a single fixed-gear ratio transmission??

Even simple single speed gearboxes produce friction, and there may be oils that reduce that friction below the stock oil.

 

[MineCooky]

On an EV I'd probably never change it.

I wouldn't as well, but my german Mercedes shop did that already once or twice. (my ED3 now has got over 200.000km/125.000mi)

 

[Foolios]

Does anyone have a link for changing the tranny oil themselves?

 

[MineCooky]

Sadly I don't know hot it has to be done. Otherwise it would be listet on my website.

 

[lebikerboy]

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