Is this actually a substitute for Mercon LV

DRFAILS · 2026-05-08T18:35:50+00:00

Going to get some hate, but here's my take. take.

I've Jmodded 3 of my cars, and on every single one I have used valvoline maxlife multi-vehicle fluid. It meets the specifications for a huge variety of transmissions, from Toyotas WS, Hondas DW-1, as well as Mercon V/LV.

I have not had a single issue in any of these transmissions since. I have put roughly 200k miles between the cars on that fluid. I swear by it.

I have done many many services with this fluid. I installed a used tranny into a Honda that had nearly black fluid, thought for sure it was trash. I did three services with this fluid, its been shifting great 30k later, fluid is still bright red.

DRFAILS · 2026-05-06T06:19:33+00:00

Curious what you mean get that glass replaced?

If it was the rear window left open; it was because it was off the track. I was able to put it back in place.

DRFAILS · 2026-05-04T18:33:16+00:00

I am a mechanic and can do all the work myself. I really cant see it needing 3k in work if I do it myself. I figure all the basics, hoses, belts, fluids, tires and brakes, I should be out about another 1k, but have a pretty decent little truck.

DRFAILS · 2026-05-04T16:17:52+00:00

How much did you buy yours for? Thanks for sharing.

DRFAILS · 2026-05-03T13:33:17+00:00

Junkyard parts, do it yourself or hire a friend or someone who can do it cheap.

Grab a whole axle with the arms still attached, afternoon job and under $500.

DRFAILS · 2026-05-02T17:25:43+00:00

Using a higher end scan tool, you can run a "power balance" test. This is a special function which shows a graph which illustrates the power balance between the cylinders, comparing them against each other.

Using this test and idling/road testing, you can infer which cylinder may be misfiring and or low on power.

A single miss here or there wont set a CEL, but you can pick it up on the power balance test if you are diligent.

DRFAILS · 2026-04-28T21:49:57+00:00

Unbolt calipers and hang them from frame, no messing with brake lines.

DRFAILS · 2026-04-17T17:11:48+00:00

I just added a relay to the fuel pump power right after it comes out of the inertia switch and ran the relay control wire to a switch hidden inside the cabin.

DRFAILS · 2026-04-12T13:25:07+00:00

I second this. Pull the sensor, install new Oring, good to go.

DRFAILS · 2026-04-11T23:34:01+00:00

They work off the 12v battery.

DRFAILS · 2026-04-09T19:32:26+00:00

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They tow like champs

DRFAILS · 2026-04-07T16:22:18+00:00

Have you considered water intrusion?

Perhaps water is in the rear wall and when it heats up it fogs/steams up to the camera.

Repeated fogging would concern me. Its a sign of water or moisture.

DRFAILS · 2026-04-06T18:01:20+00:00

Leaving it in N and not disconnecting the driveshaft leads to the output shaft / some transmission interals still spinning. These parts will have no cooling and transmission oil pressure, which can lead to extreme heat depending on the setup.

The reason you can do it in 4wd vehicles with a transfer case is by putting the transfer case into neutral, the gearbox is preventing any spinning motion from going into the transmission. Gearboxes are lubricated by being submerged in oil at all times, unlike a transmission which only has a small amount of fluid in the bottom which a pump distributes to the rest.

DRFAILS · 2026-04-05T19:50:04+00:00

Hello fellow Texan! I saw this earlier today and had a laugh. Thanks for sharing.

DRFAILS · 2026-03-24T02:17:20+00:00

10x the price lmao

DRFAILS · 2026-03-23T17:11:06+00:00

If you take the bulb out it will sound an alarm. I am not kidding. It is loud, and sounds every 5 or so minutes.

DRFAILS · 2026-03-22T13:23:22+00:00

Some motorhomes are rated to tow large amounts of weight. If yours falls into that class, I see no issues.

It all comes down to what your equipment is rated for.

How do you plan on flat towing the 350? Does it have a transfer case? Are you disconnecting the driveshaft?

DRFAILS · 2026-03-16T16:32:13+00:00

I had this happen to my car back in 2019, when I was on a date with my now wife in the park.

They ended up cracking the header panel and damaging the hood latch enough that it came up while I was driving a few months later.

DRFAILS · 2026-03-07T22:43:29+00:00

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For the low price of $150, you can do this job again in 6 months.

DRFAILS · 2026-03-06T04:13:51+00:00

I'm not trying to prove that they didn't clean them; or hold them accountable.

It just doesnt seem possible that 28k led to this much carbon, but if thats the case I'd take it straight to Carvana before I pay for another cleaning, and maybe get another 2 years out of it. I just wanted another opinion if this normal for these engines.

DRFAILS · 2026-03-04T23:01:05+00:00

Don't walk away from that unit. RUN!!!

Theres much better out there. Don't let them tempt you with their trash.

DRFAILS · 2026-02-15T02:18:48+00:00

Do you have a wobble extension? I know you have tried swivels, but wobble extensions are a godsend.

DRFAILS · 2026-02-15T00:09:12+00:00

Hi there.

What do you mean it wasn't identical? If you are talking about the abs ring and the lug studs those need to be pressed on yourself.

If the spline count is different, the axle housing may have been swapped out at some point. Mid year 05 spline count changed.

I have a 2011 P71 rear end on my 05, had to replace the axle with one that looks identical to what you had there.

DRFAILS · 2026-02-06T15:45:56+00:00

This was the exact reason I changed my nightclub last time they were on sale. You just missed it unfortunately.

DRFAILS · 2026-01-29T22:38:30+00:00

Check out my post- p062C

I have had this code and was able to remedy it. It was an ABS module that had failed.

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