New Burby

[gmfan24]

So, I kinda started this in another topic titled Bargain Week, after a series of unfortunate and painful events. The abridged version goes like this...
Exactly one week after I got my supercharger installed on my cherry, one owner 2004 Suburban, I was on my way to the hospital to tend to an infection in my arm when a drunk driver turned left in front of me, totalling both vehicles. I was mostly unscathed from the incident, just a bruise on the soft tissue between the kneecap and top of the tibia on my right leg where I slid forward into the knee bolster on impact. My old laptop was not so lucky, however, as it was also traveling 35-40mph and was not wearing it's seat belt. Luckily, I had all of my important stuff backed up on a flash drive.
Why was I taking my laptop to the hospital? Because I had the exact same infection in my arm last summer and I had to stay in the hospital, being pumped full of Zosyn and Vancomycin. Heavy duty stuff. My laptop charger was in my coat pocket, because I knew I would be staying.
Speaking of eradicating the source of the infection in my arm, if a doctor ever says "debridement and irrigation", run. As fast as you can, in any direction. Just run. The source of the infection that spread from the back of my hand, all the way up my arm, and down past my armpit in 36 hours, was a felon infection in the middle finger on my right hand. Debridement and irrigation was determined to be the best treatment for it. Saturday morning in the emergency room, Sunday afternoon in my hospital room, and yet again Tuesday morning, also in my hospital room. I was in the hospital from Saturday morning until Wednesday afternoon, because of the infection. My finger got train wrecked 3 times. I missed over a week of work, my baby got totalled, my plan to be 100% debt free at 35 got ruined, and I had to learn real quick how to use my left hand for everything in the bathroom.

The flip side of the coin. There are no windows in the observation ward where I spent 4 1/2 days, and I firmly believe that there is a minimum hotness level for the nurses there because of that. Let's see...I now know what stainless steel instruments scraping on my bones sounds like. Did I mention that I was awake for all 3 operations on my finger, and my airbag hit me in the chest, so I got to watch my laptop launch like a rocket while simultaneously watching my cherry sheet metal crumple and fold?
Anyway, I now have a new laptop and a newer truck. Crazy laptop. Aluminum case, touchscreen, and the screen is folds all the way around behind the keyboard. But this isn't Acer-computers.com, now is it? I couldn't stand not driving a Burban, so I went shopping. Looked at a 08 Tahoe LTZ, and and 07 Yukon Denali. Didn't do it for me. Not even the 380hp Yukon. So I found this on autotrader, and proceeded to fall in love with it on the test drive. $17,000 later, and I am back in a Burban. Plenty more pics to follow.

[Black02Silverado]

Nice Burb! We really like ours.

[gmfan24]

Every time I go somewhere, I love mine more.

[gmfan24]

Every time I get behind the wheel, its a totally different driving experience. I feel bad seeing my old Burby go away.

[gmfan24]

Changed the oil and filter tonight. Boy, did she ever need it. I added a quart of transmission fluid to the engine oil this morning to kind of loosen up the scum inside. Glad I did, because what came out was pretty nasty. I'll do it again next oil change too. Had an inexpensive red oil filter on her. Not sure of the brand. Didn't feel like cleaning the crude oil looking nasty off of it after it went in the drain pan to find out. Gross. It has a PF48E on it now. Crankcase has 6 quarts of Mobil Super High Mileage 5w-30, which by the way not only meets GM specs, but is recommended by ExxonMobil. Not sure what was lubricating my baby's engine before, but she starts faster, runs smoother, and is generally quieter now. I might change the oil again at 50% oil life on the monitor, just to see how much nasty comes out, and to get a good look at the oil and see if anything is in it that shouldn't be. Still shows >40psi idling in gear, fully warmed up, so I don't expect to find much. Monday when I got the oil and filter, I also got a bottle of Lucas Deep Clean Fuel System Cleaner and put in the gas tank, which I had filled on my lunch break. I think with some new 41-110 plugs and AC Delco wires, she should be in tip top shape. Then I can service the drivetrain. Convenient that the transfer case takes Dexron VI now. At least according to the owners manual. I still have a power steering service kit that I was going to use on my old Burby. I think I will use it on this one, as the fluid is no doubt original. Still getting used to the rack and pinion. I still park like a jackwagon sometimes. The combination of the 3.08 gears and the 6l80e tell me that I still have excellent compression, as it likes 2nd gear better than first when accelerating from a stop. Never thought I could like a transmission without a direct drive ratio. Gotta change with the times I suppose. That's all for now. Getting late, and I get to work 7-6 tomorrow.

[dasimmon]

nice ride!

[gmfan24]

Thank you

[gmfan24]

Seems changing the oil may have stirred up some trouble. Went to work yesterday and all was well. She sat for 11 hours, until I left to go home. Started the engine and oil pressure was 10 pounds lower than 12 hours prior, when I left for work. When I got home, there were audible mechanical sounds, not unlike a rod bearing. Got in it today to go to the laundromat, 60psi cold, 35ish when it got warmed up. No scary sounds though. Oil pressure is 35-45 driving in town at operating temperature. Goes up to 50-55 if I jump on it. I'm thinking maybe some trash in either the filter bypass, pump bypass, or both. Perhaps another oil change sooner than anticipated is in order.

[muddkatt]

Read through this:

 

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/169782-attention-anyone-with-oil-pressure-issues/

[muddkatt]

Its also possible that someone filled it up with thick oil and STP

[gmfan24]

I do know this... I was not impressed when I looked inside of the PF48E. Looks like 2 anti drain back valves, one on the top and on on the bottom. I've just about had it with AC Delco oil filters. When I get this oil control situation handled, I might switch to Mobil1 filters.

[gmfan24]

Thats a good point Muddkatt. I pulled the oil dipstick before I left this morning, full and clean, no metal pieces or other junk. I try to be positive and hope that the bypass valve in the filter or the pump is not closing all the way.

[gmfan24]

I believe my first step will be to pull the intake manifold and replace the oil pressure sensor and the screen under it. Seems like that screen should be in a main oil passage, and whatever is/was blocking it up drained down overnight. We shall see...

[gmfan24]

Sounded fine when I left the laundromat. Just 35psi idling. No noises at all. Really makes me think that the little screen is full of trash.

[muddkatt]

After you check the screen, I highly suggest a second oil change and use a Mobil 1 filter. Those E core filters are junk in my opinion.