What Fluids?

[smoothstroke]

I have a Daihatsu S81P with a 550EB engine. Can you help me out as far as the recommended fluids, weights, types, for the truck, engine oil, Diff oil etc. Thanks :)

[chadhite]

Smoothstroke,

Here is what you can use and your truck should be fine:

Oil standard 10w-30, start checking your dip stick after you add the 2nd quart. Your truck shoulld take somewhere between 2 and 3 quarts of oil. Try to stay recomned not using synthetics for your truck ONLY because the manuals for these trucks recomend 10w30,
10W40 or 20w40.

Brake Fluid, check your cap, it should be a DOT 3 or DOT 4. Your cap will say.

For your Transmission and Diff fluids Standard weight 85 gear oil will work.

Anitfreeze, check to make sure your truck has anti freeze. I have had several trucks that came over with water only in the radiator and they were rusty.

[Wolfman]

OK, I now have a question. I run synthetics in all of my vehicles. Why should one avoid them in these trucks? Their high revving nature seems a natural for an oil with better lubricating properties, and resistance to thermal breakdown.

[chadhite]

Wolfman,

I rephrased my last post. I read it and I sounded like a jack ass before I changed it. The only reason is what manuals I have for these trucks say to use the weights above. That would be the only reason.

[Wolfman]

I didn't feel that the post was crude in any matter. It just raised a question with the recommendation to avoid them. Mobil has 5w30, 10w30, 10w40 and 15w50 versions of Mobil 1 synthetic. I used 15w50 based on not having any other resources to go by, and only the recommendation of another local owner. I've noticed my wet finger on the rim of a crystal glass noise has seemed to go away since the oil change. However, I was not too thirlled with the 30.6 mpg calculation of my first tank of gas - even with the time spent playing around on the yard, and heavy "city" type driving.

If 10w30 or 10w40 is what's recommended by the manufacturers, this is what will go back in on the next change. It's hot enough down here right now, to go ahead and leave the heavier oil in the engine for now. I like to take care of my stuff, and want to do what is proper for this truck.

[Ichabod]

"However, I was not too thirlled with the 30.6 mpg calculation of my first tank of gas - even with the time spent playing around on the yard, and heavy "city" type driving."

I think this is going to be the norm for these trucks and the claims of 40 - 50 mpg on a lot of sites is pure BS.

Ichabod

[chadhite]

I think some people get miles and km mixed up. They are figuring on KPG instead of MPG and then they post these trucks as getting 40-50mpg.

If you take 50KM that is equal to 31miles.

[Wolfman]

That very well may be. That said, these engines are smaller still, than the ones that were used in the Chevy Sprint, and later the Geo and Chevy Metro. Low to mid 50's, was the norm for these cars at sane (55 mph) highway speeds. I know that these trucks are not exactly geared to be running at highway speeds. However, from an efficiency standpoint, My expectations were a bit higher. I'm still going to go through the truck a bit more, give it a good tune up, as it's idling a bit lumpy anyway, and get a cruise control installed, since I tend to vary on my speeds by a pretty wide margin. I know that alone is costing me alot.

Still, I cannot argue with the flexibility of this little truck. I will probably look into getting a much nicer, and newer one in a couple of years. I still believe that the EPA, and the automotive industry in general, is completely ignoring an entire viable vehicle segment here.

[smoothstroke]

Thank you Very Much

[Colin]

http://www.gassavers.org/garage/viewgaslog/666

Thirty MPG sounds about right - that's about what I'm getting.

The gearing of these trucks has a HUGE affect on their mileage. I may be turning 4,500 or better at highway speed (can't tell, no tach.) I figure a 1.3L engine turning half that should get similar mileage, as long as its efficiency is similar. What are the 1.3L Geo guys getting for mileage?

Colin

[Cape Ape]

I have a customer who runs rural dirt roads (un-governed, though we don't endorse that sort of thing) to work in a '95 Sambar. She has reported 38 mpg, which is the best I have heard. Again, I will need to ask her if she rembered to convert!

[IndianaJason]

I get between 37 and 41 mpg out of my 93 Geo Metro with 246,000 miles on it.... I can run it 70+ mph and never get less than 37 mpg.... Just to answer your question on the Geo's..

[d rock]

don't forget these trucks are shaped like bricks which will adversely affect mileage (along with gearing). running synthetic is FINE, and in fact BETTER.