It is a good idea to change the fluid and filter in a automatic
transmission, I think the interval is around 35000 miles, but I would
imaging more is better, if It is a manual, all that needs to be done is to
change the oil in the tranny. I have heard good things about Redline Fluids.
As for flushing a Automatic transmission, I have never heard anything good
come from this, at the best, nothing will happen, at the worst, you will
loosen up 145000 miles of crud to flow around in the tranny. I don't know
about the fuel service, sounds like snake oil to me, if it runs good, keep
changing the fuel filter when it needs it and enjoy.

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Fin Beven
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 3:02 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: JiffyLube, extras

Full confession....  I have virtually no expertise when it comes to the
care-and-feeding of engines.  But I do change my oil frequently.  I bought
my 1990 just one year ago, it now has about 145,000 on the original engine
and trans, and I have no record of what service it had before that (there
were several owners).

Today I was at my local Jiffy-Lube, and they offered me two "extras":

  1.. Flushing and re-filling the Automatic Transmission Fluid.  They wanted
$89.99 for this.
  2.. "Fuel System Cleaning".  They were to put some sort of additive into
the gas-tank, then open up one of the vacuum tubes and drain some sort of
cleaning fluid into the system.  They wanted $59.99 for this.
My impression is that shops like this use the oil change as the inducement
to get you into the shop, then "get you" with the extras.

Does anyone have an opinion as to whether either of these processes are
necessary, and if so, how often they should be done.

Thanks,

Fin Beven
1990 Carat, Custom Camper Conversion
Pasadena, CA