Overproactive maintenance? ‘11 Silverado

[bamafan76]

Last May, I purchased a 2011 Silverado 4.8L V8 with about 77k miles. I now have 79k miles, and was thinking about doing some maintenance items since I’m not sure if they’ve been done by the previous owner:

 

Serpentine and AC belt, tensioner, and pulley

 

Then I thought if I have the belts and tensioner out of the way, should I go ahead and change water pump and thermostat? I also thought since I’d do that to go ahead and do a full coolant flush?

 

is that being too proactive? I know how to do the work, and figured it’d be more of a safe than sorry reason since I’m doing other work and again, don’t believe it’s ever been done. 

 

[CamGTP]

If the water pump ain't leaking and the thermostat isn't showing any signs of failing, I wouldn't be doing the work. A coolant flush or drain and fill is a good idea though.

 

The pulley, belts and A/C tensioner are good idea's though, the A/C one always fails first.

 

Do spark plugs now, they are 13 years old at this point, easy to change. Flush the brake fluid and exchange the power steering fluid, suck the fluid out, refill and do it again after 20min of run time. Change the transmission fluid now too. That's 13 years of time, moisture build up and wear, again it's another easy thing to do.

[64BAwagon]

I like your list but I would not put a new water pump on right now. I would however change the thermostat. They arent real expensive and its definitely a proactive stance. 

[Grumpy Bear]

Coolant flush, transmission fluid, brake fluid swap, plugs, wires, filters all good and rightly proactive. A/C service by someone who has a clue not just someone who can. 

 

Is the belt cracked, dry rotted, slipping? Then change it and the tensioner together. No? Don't kick that sleeping dog. 

 

I'm not big on replacing parts because they are old or the 'might' fail. That is an argument that can be made day one. Wife makes it about me every day. I'm old and need replacing because I might fail. 

 

Point of proactive maintenance is keeping what you have working as long as possible. If just swapping out parts was proactive then no routine maintenance would ever be required, right? 

 

My 2 cents. YMMV.  

 

 

Edited July 23, 2024 by Grumpy Bear

[bamafan76]

Thanks for the replies. I’ve done the transmission fluid/filter change, spark plugs 2 weeks ago (see my other thread on that). I’ve not done the brake/power steering fluids change, or coolant flush. Those make sense. Should I remove the thermostat to flush or no?

[64BAwagon]

Only if youre going to replace it. I dont usually flush mine. I pull the lower hose or use the drain petcock if it has one. Once it stops flowing I put an air nozzle wrapped in a rag on the fill neck and lightly blow air in to push out as much water as possible. If you do the flush you end up with tap water in the system which isnt real bad if youre water isnt hard but I prefer distilled water or whatever you have thats as much free of minerals as possible.