Periodic Maintenance Questions

Herknav · December 31, 2005

Guys, please feel free to delete or move this if it doesn't belong here. This is something I would ask a mechanic I trusted. GM-Tech, thanks for your help.

I bought a 2000 K2500HD last year. It now has 30K on the odometer. I live in Anchorage, AK. The temps rarely get as low as -20F, and the truck stays in a heated garage.

1) I change the oil every 3K, but have not changed any other fluids. I am planning on changing all the fluids (coolant, trans, x-fer case, front/rear diffs) due to age. Any problem w/ that, or am I wasting my time & money?

2) I have heard that w/ an automatic transmission fluid you either want to change it every 2 years or don't ever change it. This doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Am I OK to change it?

3) Should I change the weights of any fluids to account for colder weather? This is a Texas truck, and I'm only going to be here for one more winter. I think I'm OK, but I wanted to check.

4) I am going to take a week-long trip later this month to Fairbanks, where it is more like -40F or -50F. I won't have a garage. Should I get a block heater installed, or will I be OK w/ an oil pan heater?

Thanks again,

Herknav

GM-Tech · December 31, 2005

My opinion is that you can't go wrong by following GM's recommended maint. schedule and using the recommended fluids.

GMCStepSide · January 1, 2006

Take it from a guy who grew up in Fairbanks, unless you have freak temps like it was three weeks ago when it was 37 degrees, you had better have a block heater. January and February are the coldest months in Fairbanks and I've seen it many times when the daytime temp never got above -10 degrees. Anyone going up there for anything over one night should have a block heater or it will mean a tow to the local Chevy dealer.

My truck also lives in the garage but I make the trip to Fairbanks every now and then...it has a block heater and I run Mobil 1 5W30 in it for those cold starts - even with it plugged in all night. You only have to hear that engine start up at -10 once with it not plugged in all night and you'll never go without a block heater and synthetic oil. And if the mercury dipped below -30, it may not start at all. And be sure to test your antifreeze before you go or you may be sorry.

dewfpo · January 1, 2006

I agree with GMCStepSide. Synthetic fluids all around, and an engine block heater.

DEWFPO

Herknav · January 1, 2006

My opinion is that you can't go wrong by following GM's recommended maint. schedule and using the recommended fluids.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Allow me to rephrase the question.

My owner's manual states only a mileage requirement (no time interval) for service schedule. The truck is extremely low mileage. The fluids are now almost 6 years old. Would changing them now serve any purpose or should I stay strictly based on mileage?

Thanks again.

StepSide, thanks for the inputs.

Herknav · January 1, 2006

I just read dewfpo's post. Any issues with switching to synthetic that I should be aware of?

GMCStepSide · January 1, 2006

Does the engine currently have any oil leaks or weeps? If so, you'll notice them more with synthetic. If not, I'd go for it. IMHO, in our conditions here in Alaska, you can never go wrong with synthetic. Especially if you don't have a block heater.