Tune Up

MrBuck69 · December 13, 2004

I have a 2000 Tahoe 5.3 with 73,000 miles. When idling I feel a shake and it only happens when idling. I could open the hood and see the engine shake. Nothing hard but you could feel it when sitting at a red light. Sometimes you could barely feel it. When is the best time to tune this truck up? What should be definitely changed besides the plugs?

Valsport · December 13, 2004

fuel filter, air filter, check plug wires, clean out throttle body, get a bottle of Sea Foam and follow directions on bottle. it will clean out your valvetrain.

budhayes3 · December 14, 2004

Valsport pretty much hit it all...I'd also replace the PCV valve, you can switch to the fixed orifice style that's supposed to help with oil consumption. That Seafoam will clean the whole induction system pretty good...intake, valves, combustion chambers, etc.

MrBuck69 · December 14, 2004

I never used Seafoam before, where could I buy that from? Will it make the truck smoke for a while?

99-2door · December 14, 2004

Valsport pretty much hit it all...I'd also replace the PCV valve, you can switch to the fixed orifice style that's supposed to help with oil consumption. That Seafoam will clean the whole induction system pretty good...intake, valves, combustion chambers, etc.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Check your plug wires and make sure that they are on the plugs good on all cylinders.

My brother had a 2002 4.8L and the #8 cylinder wire would loosen itself from the plug just enough to cause rough idle.

His wife's 2002 Tahoe with the 5.3L also did this. The things are a bugger to get on the plug sometimes and even harder to pull off. He replaced the wires on both vehicles and never had a problem again.

budhayes3 · December 14, 2004

I never used Seafoam before, where could I buy that from? Will it make the truck smoke for a while?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

You can usually find it at parts stores, I get it at NAPA. It will smoke big time while you do it and for the first few minutes that you drive it after running it through the intake. Just be sure to follow the directions carefully and not to let it suck in too fast. I use the vacuum hose to the power brake booster, the one for the PCV is pretty good too. When you're done it's a good idea to change the oil since the vehicle will essentially be running very rich while you perform the service and some of this stuff may slip past the rings and into the crankcase. It won't harm anything, they actually say that you can pour it into the crankcase, but you don't want to leave it in there too long as the oil will be diluted. (Personally, the only thing that I pour into my crankcase is oil)