Need Maintenance Advice . . .

kashrahman · September 9, 2009

So we bought my father-in-laws 2005 Tahoe last year. 5.3L V8

Had 21000 miles at that time, now it's at 25000 miles.

I plan on averaging 5-6K miles/year.

I've read the owners manual and searched through the forums.

My question is: What kind of maintenance should I be doing and WHEN if I want this truck to last a long time?

I don't have the service records, but I will assume it's only had 2 oil changes. Last oil change was a year ago.

Currently, the oil life monitor says 50%.

The owners manual has mostly mileage based recommendations. Spark plugs at 100K? It will take me about 12 more years to get there!

I'm thinking:

q 1 year synthetic oil change

q 2 years air filter

q 4 or 5(?) years: brake fluid, coolant, transfer case, power steering, differential

when to do trans fluid/filter? spark plugs?

thanks! Kash

Bish · September 9, 2009

My 2 cents...I had an 01 Tahoe I got rid of 1.5 years ago with 225K miles.

Change the oil regularly whether or not you run synthetic or not. I run Amsoil 8-10K miles per change.

Synthetic in diffs I did every 50K but I also towed. I ran synthetic front and rear. SOme of the earlier vent tubes in front didn't like synthetic but my 01 never had an issue with it.

Air filter once a year...they are cheap. I had a washable filter on an intake.

Flushed the brakes every year. T-case every 50K blue Auto-trac II only.

Trans I changed the filter at 50K then dropped the drain plug every other oil change and put 4+ fresh qts in. Much more difficult if yours doesn't have a drain plug.

LUBE THE CHASSIS (all 11 zerk fittings) at least every other oil change unless you want to be replacing the front end.

Coolant I did at 50K as I never trust coolant for 100K

Spark plugs I did every 50K-75K. No problem letting the platinum plugs go over 100K but if you don't pull them and put no-seize on them they may be VERY difficult to remove after 100K.

Treat it well and there is no reason the motor won't go over 300K. The trans on the other hand has a lot to do with how you drive, the phase of the moon, etc.... Some lase a long time under hard driving, some fail with babying. Go figure.

Oh yeah, don't forget to clean the throttle body, blade, and idle air control every 40K or so. They will get very dirty.

tramz · September 9, 2009

What he said.... I had an '82 with 267K when I sold it in '97. Got a '97 and sold it last year with 198K. Bought an '05 four years ago and has 83K on it right now. synthetic oil and lubes, regular changes at 4 month intervals (regardless of what oil life monitor says) quality filters, and don't drive it like you stole it. My major repair expenses on the '82 and '97 were; water pump, serpentine belt, alternator, battery, and fuel pump.

Spurshot · September 9, 2009

I'd recommend you buy the Helm (OEM GM) manuals for your vehicle and follow the recommended schedule for maintenance. Keeping it garaged will go a long ways toward keeping it looking good and saving plastics and rubber. Given that you're not going to put 100,000 miles on it, There's not much special you need to do to make it last 10 yrs. I put over 200,000 miles on my 99 2500 in 9 yrs and it didn't need much other than tires, lubes, and a couple of front wheel hubs (bearings).

kashrahman · September 9, 2009

thanks for the advice! It stays garaged, so that helps. I think I will stick with synthetic fluids and stick with a time interval instead of mileage, ie synthetic oil change once a year; not every 2+ years like the OLM is telling me. thanks! Kash

Spurshot · September 9, 2009

Kash,

Changing the oil every year sounds like a good idea. I believe the manual has calendar limit on oil change intervals as well. But, it's been a while since I looked as this is not a concern of mine with my 22,000 + miles a yr driving habits.

jpk · September 10, 2009

Another thing you can do to keep the battery alive is get an automatic trickle charger to keep the charge up. At 5000 miles a year, it sounds like this doesn't get driven every day.

I'll often go a week or two without driving my truck, and the battery is going on 9 years now.

Bish · September 10, 2009

Another thing you can do to keep the battery alive is get an automatic trickle charger to keep the charge up. At 5000 miles a year, it sounds like this doesn't get driven every day.
I'll often go a week or two without driving my truck, and the battery is going on 9 years now.

Excellent suggestion with that kind of mileage. With all the electronic drains, lots of sitting can equal a weak or damaged battery. BatteryTenders rock!

05silvycrew · September 10, 2009

my dad's 99 has 195,000 miles on it.

he changes the oil (dino), filter, and greases the front end every 3000, changed all the fluids and spark plugs at 100,000 miles and the thing still runs like a top.

my trucks has 90,000 miles on it.

Change the oil (synthetic), filter, and grease the front end every 4,000 miles. I changed all the fluids at 75,000 and I'm getting ready for plugs/wires and new shocks.

These engines were built to last as long as you follow basic maintenance