100k Mile Service Diy

[jordanlawson]

hello everyone, im coming up on 100k and am definetly planning to do it myself due to rediculous shop prices and cause i enjoy doing the work.

 

now i have a big concern on tranny and coolant flushes as ive heard two different ways to do them. so, is it true that just drop pan and adding new dex3 is harmful, that its nessesary to keep some old oil in there as well? ive read you should and ive read it doesnt matter. i need clarification...

 

same with coolant flush, can i go by my haynes manual and just flush the radiator with water, or do i need to gradually add the new dexcool.. as ive read both..

 

this is my list so far:

 

 

oil,filter

cabin air filter(got kn engine)

fuel filter

transmission fluid and filter change

rear differential fluid exchange

coolant flush and refill

change PCV valve

lube zerks 11?

change spark plugs and wires

 

brakes done myself @ 75k

tie rods done myself @ 80k(right went out, decided to replace both)

new s belt and alternator @ 50k

 

 

anyways any advice is truely greatly appreciated everything pretty simple im just worried about the transmission and the two different ways to do it. i know it hasnt been changed since 30k but there is no problem with tran.

 

thankyou very much in advance i hope to do this in the next couple weeks on day off.

 

^^also anyone know good place to get decent priced alum differential covers?

[Black02Silverado]

You got it all covered well.

 

As for the transmission. By the way you are telling us the fluid is in good shape so you should not have any issues by changing it over to dexron VI. It has been changed before at 30k so it isn't the original fluid 100%. I would change out the filter and then do the complete fluid replacement. I don't see any issues there. Now if the fluid was dark and has never been changed then you might run into an issue.

 

The coolant, just go ahead and flush it out with clean water and then refill with a fresh mix of 50/50 dexcool.

 

I wouldn't worry about the spark plug wires. Those do not need to be changed unless you are having problems. Just change out the plugs and you will be good to go.

 

PCV, pull it out and check it. If it still rattles clean it up with some carb cleaner and put it back in. They are not expensive if you just want to change them but if you can suck on it and it pulls air and then when you blow back into it and it will not let any air go past then it is still good. I still have the original in mine at 105k and it works great.

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

You got it all covered well.

 

As for the transmission. By the way you are telling us the fluid is in good shape so you should not have any issues by changing it over to dexron VI. It has been changed before at 30k so it isn't the original fluid 100%. I would change out the filter and then do the complete fluid replacement. I don't see any issues there. Now if the fluid was dark and has never been changed then you might run into an issue.

 

The coolant, just go ahead and flush it out with clean water and then refill with a fresh mix of 50/50 dexcool.

 

I wouldn't worry about the spark plug wires. Those do not need to be changed unless you are having problems. Just change out the plugs and you will be good to go.

 

PCV, pull it out and check it. If it still rattles clean it up with some carb cleaner and put it back in. They are not expensive if you just want to change them but if you can suck on it and it pulls air and then when you blow back into it and it will not let any air go past then it is still good. I still have the original in mine at 105k and it works great.

 

 

I would change all the fluid out, then drop the pan and replace the filter. If you replace filter first you run all the dirty fluid through a new filter its pointless. Also don't forget about the transfer case and front axle fluids.

[ChevyTech77]

If the trans had DexIII in it, I wouldn't go to DexVI after 100k miles. Keep the DexIII in it and pay a shop to machine flush it first, before you drop the pan and change the filter. You will get less than 1/2 of the fluid changed by just dropping the pan and last I checked, I don't change 1/2 my engine oil during that service either. Your transmission

is just as important.

 

If the engine doesn't have a mis-fire, I wouldn't bother changing the plug wires. Any aftermarket replacement you get won't be near the quality that your factory ones are. Use Delco plugs only, also.

 

I do all driveline fluids at 50 and 100k no matter what.

 

Flushing the cooling system with water is fine. The problem is keeping that water warm enough to keep the coolant

thermostat open so you get ALL the coolant out. Refil with Dex-Cool and you're fine.

[jordanlawson]

thankyou everyone for a fast respone.

 

great advice guys, i plan to use all GM parts and about the spark plug wires ive heard its easy to break the wire while pulling old plug out so i figured i should get some.

and pcv valve, they are inexpensive so might as well.

 

also plan to do power st. and brake fluid flush.

nessesary?

 

as far as the tranny fluid its a nice rose color checked yesterday.

so, that being said is it alright to drop pan and put new dex3 in?

"chevytech77"

should i still flush it then drop pan it at home??

 

and thanks for the tip on the hot water radiator flush, awesome.

should i switch to amsoil at all? or just stay original.

 

 

thanks in advance.

[jro909]

pcv valve isen't serviceable...

[jordanlawson]

another thing im worried about

 

 

is it better to drop pan and change the filter out then just add about 5qts new dex3 then in 10k miles do it again to slowly introduce the new ATF into the system since it hasnt been serviced since 30k..

 

 

or is this irrevelant and i should flush it then change filter at home.

 

 

 

thankyou guys.

[jro909]

if you truely want to change to dex6...flush and do pan drop with filter change...adding dex6 to dex3 won't hurt anything, you just won't get the full benefit

[txab]

pcv valve isen't serviceable...

No PCV to service. It's called a fixed orifice now and you're correct no changing is necessary. Nothing in there to rattle anymore. It can be removed and looked at though if you wish.

 

Fuel filter is in the tank and not serviceable until you swap pump. Don't think you've got a cabin filter either.

 

If yo haven't changed hoses and thermostat, now is the time.

[Black02Silverado]

You got it all covered well.

 

As for the transmission. By the way you are telling us the fluid is in good shape so you should not have any issues by changing it over to dexron VI. It has been changed before at 30k so it isn't the original fluid 100%. I would change out the filter and then do the complete fluid replacement. I don't see any issues there. Now if the fluid was dark and has never been changed then you might run into an issue.

 

The coolant, just go ahead and flush it out with clean water and then refill with a fresh mix of 50/50 dexcool.

 

I wouldn't worry about the spark plug wires. Those do not need to be changed unless you are having problems. Just change out the plugs and you will be good to go.

 

PCV, pull it out and check it. If it still rattles clean it up with some carb cleaner and put it back in. They are not expensive if you just want to change them but if you can suck on it and it pulls air and then when you blow back into it and it will not let any air go past then it is still good. I still have the original in mine at 105k and it works great.

 

 

I would change all the fluid out, then drop the pan and replace the filter. If you replace filter first you run all the dirty fluid through a new filter its pointless. Also don't forget about the transfer case and front axle fluids.

 

 

You will not run the dirty fluid through the new filter if you change it out and then exchange the fluid. Here is how you do that.

 

Step 1. change out the filter, clean out the pan and clean off the magnet inside the pan, install clean pan and pan gasket and fill back up with 5qts of new dexron VI

Step 2. Pull the transmission line that is the return line to the transmission off the transmission cooler and put a hose on it and direct it into a bucket.

Step 3. Have a friend start the truck while you hold the hose into the bucket, when the fluid starts to spit shut the truck off, add five more qts to the transmission, repeat process two more times. This will have exchanged all the fluid out, cleared it out of your radiator and cooler and the old fluid never made it back to the transmission so it never contaminated the new fluid or filter. When done put line back on cooler, top off transmission and check level, go for a drive and get transmission warmed up and recheck level. Done!

[txab]

You got it all covered well.

 

As for the transmission. By the way you are telling us the fluid is in good shape so you should not have any issues by changing it over to dexron VI. It has been changed before at 30k so it isn't the original fluid 100%. I would change out the filter and then do the complete fluid replacement. I don't see any issues there. Now if the fluid was dark and has never been changed then you might run into an issue.

 

The coolant, just go ahead and flush it out with clean water and then refill with a fresh mix of 50/50 dexcool.

 

I wouldn't worry about the spark plug wires. Those do not need to be changed unless you are having problems. Just change out the plugs and you will be good to go.

 

PCV, pull it out and check it. If it still rattles clean it up with some carb cleaner and put it back in. They are not expensive if you just want to change them but if you can suck on it and it pulls air and then when you blow back into it and it will not let any air go past then it is still good. I still have the original in mine at 105k and it works great.

 

 

I would change all the fluid out, then drop the pan and replace the filter. If you replace filter first you run all the dirty fluid through a new filter its pointless. Also don't forget about the transfer case and front axle fluids.

 

 

You will not run the dirty fluid through the new filter if you change it out and then exchange the fluid. Here is how you do that.

 

Step 1. change out the filter, clean out the pan and clean off the magnet inside the pan, install clean pan and pan gasket and fill back up with 5qts of new dexron VI

Step 2. Pull the transmission line that is the return line to the transmission off the transmission cooler and put a hose on it and direct it into a bucket.

Step 3. Have a friend start the truck while you hold the hose into the bucket, when the fluid starts to spit shut the truck off, add five more qts to the transmission, repeat process two more times. This will have exchanged all the fluid out, cleared it out of your radiator and cooler and the old fluid never made it back to the transmission so it never contaminated the new fluid or filter. When done put line back on cooler, top off transmission and check level, go for a drive and get transmission warmed up and recheck level. Done!

 

Flush procedure

[oldschool327]

That flush procedure is how Volvo factory recommends on my Wifes car. Has worked great for over 300K with no failures. Highly recommended!