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VX 5.7L Maintenance Questions - What should i do upon receiving the car

Heffer_Slayer

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Hey all,
Hoping to pickup my 5.7L VX Berlina this week (Wooo!!)

But unsure of a few things as I am trying to compile a list to get a decent service done soon as I bring it home.

Have done a quick search, lots of different mixed opinions but wondering if I am on the right track to completing my list;

Engine Oil: 10w-40 - Also how many liters does it take?
Transmission Oil: Dextron 3
Diff: ???
Spark Plugs: ???
Coolant: Standard Nulon Straight mix at 50/50?
Power Steering Fluid: ???


Any other fluids/maintenance items I may have missed? Anything else that should be done as i am planning on doing coolant, engine oil + filter, air filter and probably look into the transmission oil later on when I have read into it a bit more.
Also are the VX Berlina's LSD factory or single?

Stay tuned for a build thread also ;)


EDIT: Found this:
10W - 30 ILSAC GF2 (Service Refill) - If unavailable, use SG, SH or SJ engine oil, with Viscosity of 20W/50 or 15W/40.
Pretty thick oils?
 
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ashbox

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depending on how often you feel like changing plugs.... The ngk bpr6ef's are a good alternative to the factory ones..
power steering fluid will be dex 3. diff i'm unsure what fluid...

i'm not 100% sure but i thought that anything with an ls1 had an ls1 fitted factory....this was changed at the release of the ve when it was only standard on the ss/ssv and caprice..
 

K-BAGZ

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My advice. Match the Kms to the service interval in the manufacturer's service manual.

And go to your favourite automotive and see what fluids and plugs they recommend, as there will be a few different opinions stated here.

But, it is your decision that counts the most. Do your research and trust your gut feeling.

I use Penrite oils.

Eng: 10W-40 / 5 to 5.5L service capacity
Trans: ATF DIII / 5L service capacity
Diff: 80W-140 / 1.6 to 2L service capacity
Pwr Steer: Either designated power steering fluid or ATF DIII
Brake: Super Dot 4
Coolant: OAT coolant, ethylene glycol based mixed at 50% dilution / 12L service capacity

LSD I'm not going to comment on as I don't know. But jack the rear end up and rotate one wheel in the forward direction. If the opposite wheel travels in the same direction, it is a LSD centre. If it travels in the opposite direction however, it is an open centre diff.
 

Heffer_Slayer

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Cheers for your input so far fellas!

Its going to be a bit hard to match the km's, because this motor has been rebuilt, sounds really tight when I looked at it.

Has anybody flushed out there transmission? As i hear just changing the fluid from the pan doesn't actually "flush" certain parts of the system?
One thing i am dreading, is doing the coolant. Two ecotec commodores i did the coolant on, all had brown/rust in the coolant. I found it impossible to flush it out...hoping this is not the case when i do mine on the 5.7L
 

goose202

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All alloy engine should help with the less rust bit...
 

accentstencil

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The LS1 came from factory with the red coolant, I suggest you use the red coolant when you change it.
 

mpower

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Hoping so!

The radiator is also alloy which is nice, :) the plastic tanks do crack though :( which is less nice.

The LSD requires an additive that some diff oils contain, most would recommend that or getting the additive separately. If you don't have it your diff can clunk for no apparent reason.
 
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FATMOE

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For the diff, use Castrol SAF-XA.
 

Heffer_Slayer

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Been doing some searching today re red coolant vs green.
Seems as long as either one has been flushed before changing over it should be fine.

that said, is there a benefit to running one over the other?

Also does the VX Berlina come with 2 keys or 3 from factory? Considering the fella im purchasing it from is the original owner...
 
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