New Sierra 1500-Maintenance Recommendations

[B.Ikard]

I wound up with a new GMC Sierra 1500 this weekend, I was dead set on the Tundra but found the GMC was a LOT of truck for the money. Big improvement from the 70's-80's trucks....my first new truck and first GM vehicle.

 

Mine is basically a standard cab work truck with a few bells and whistles. 4.8 and automatic....

 

I worked in automotive maintenance about 25 years ago, and work in the diesel/power generation field today. I plan on purchasing the service library from helm as in my other vehicles and performing my own maintenance and repair when the warranty expires.

 

I'm the type of owner that keeps a vehicle 10+ years and plan on using the truck to commute 80 miles daily.

 

Basically I am looking for a maintenance schedule suggestion from a technician, one they would perform on their vehicle if they planned on owning long term...

 

Oil changes....miles/hours or the sensor?

 

Is 5w30 really the best oil for hot wearher freeway operation?......several conflicts of interest such as CAFE and emission standards by manufacturers in my opinion might determine recommended oil. In the diesel world 15W40 is a mainstay and many foreign makes do not recommend 5W30 at warmer temps ????

 

Trans fluid changes

 

Dex-Cool and cooling system servicing.....I have heard horror stories about this stuff-even that GM has returned to "green" yet my truck has orange coolant.

 

Looking for maintenance recommendations/suggestions...

 

Any weak points on the 4.8 engine or powertrain? Any design problems with the vehicle or problem areas?

 

I really like the truck, cant get over how much you get in a basic truck and the drive quality is unreal...

 

Any thoughts/experiences/suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Brent

[C & A s Dad]

Brent, I am not a tech but do work in the Auto Parts Industry and like you I keep my vehicles a min of 10 years.

 

I will see if I can answer your questions or at least offer my opinions.

 

5W30 is the way to go. I questioned this also but after some research and talking to the folks at Amsoil, I was convinced it is the right oil. Shoot, I ues 5W20 in my company owned Dodge Caravan.

 

If using dino oil, change at 3,000 miles. If you use syn, you can go longer and there are many opinons about this. I use Amsoil Syn and still change mine close to 3,000 miles. Some call this a waste, I just like doing it. Oh yea, no Fram filters. There are many good filters out there, but you will find on this forum that Wix or AC are the favorites. If you have a CARQUEST store near you, their filters are supplied by Wix, just get the Blue series as they are the premium filter while the Red boxed ones are Wix's Protec, economy filter.

 

I would service the trans at 30K. I personally flushed mine and replaced it with Amsoil Syn. If your truck does not have an aux trans cooler, I would add one, even if you are not planning on towing. If you are not going to tow, use a good stacked plate design cooler, just like the factory cooler about 5" tall by 11" wide. If you are planning on working the truck, I would use an 11" x 11" stacked plate cooler. Make sure you do not use a tube and fin design, they are ok but the SP is much better.

 

The 4.8L is a strong engine and you will be happy that you bought the GMC. I know the Tundra is a good truck but I just cannot bring myself to buy a rice burner, even if it built in the USA.

[B.Ikard]

Brent, I am not a tech but do work in the Auto Parts Industry and like you I keep my vehicles a min of 10 years.

 

I will see if I can answer your questions or at least offer my opinions.

 

5W30 is the way to go. I questioned this also but after some research and talking to the folks at Amsoil, I was convinced it is the right oil. Shoot, I ues 5W20 in my company owned Dodge Caravan.

 

If using dino oil, change at 3,000 miles. If you use syn, you can go longer and there are many opinons about this. I use Amsoil Syn and still change mine close to 3,000 miles. Some call this a waste, I just like doing it. Oh yea, no Fram filters. There are many good filters out there, but you will find on this forum that Wix or AC are the favorites. If you have a CARQUEST store near you, their filters are supplied by Wix, just get the Blue series as they are the premium filter while the Red boxed ones are Wix's Protec, economy filter.

 

I would service the trans at 30K. I personally flushed mine and replaced it with Amsoil Syn. If your truck does not have an aux trans cooler, I would add one, even if you are not planning on towing. If you are not going to tow, use a good stacked plate design cooler, just like the factory cooler about 5" tall by 11" wide. If you are planning on working the truck, I would use an 11" x 11" stacked plate cooler. Make sure you do not use a tube and fin design, they are ok but the SP is much better.

 

The 4.8L is a strong engine and you will be happy that you bought the GMC. I know the Tundra is a good truck but I just cannot bring myself to buy a rice burner, even if it built in the USA. 

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

Trey,

 

Thanks for the reply !

 

I had the same ideas as you suggested, I am old school on maintenance.

 

I hear lots of folks that used to be 3000 mile oil changers going to 5000 miles on the newest modern vehicles. They do run hotter and the fuel injection does not contaminate oil like the old carbs did. I will be driving mostly highway miles and wanted a few opinions if I should abandon 3000 mile oil changes.

 

I did find out yesterday the dealership uses bulk 10W30 in all vehicles.

 

I did not know if there was an initial oil change required around 1000 mi to get rid of shavings, etc. The owner's manual is vague.......

 

I basically did not want to waste money

 

 

Guess you can tell I don't buy too many new vehicles

 

 

I have heard all the horror stories on Dex Cool too. Was corious when a cooling system flush/fill would be best. Kinda cringe at 5 yr/ 150,000 mi.

 

Thanks,

Brent

[C & A s Dad]

Brent, I have not personally owned too many new vehicles but have driven many new company owned vehicles and have always done the first oil change around 1,000 to 1,500 miles.

 

As far as the Dex Cool coolant, you could read opinions for days about this. We have sold enough DexCool to float a battleship and to my knowledge have never had one claim against it. When it first was introduced some of the vehicles did have a problem with allowing air into the system and the Dexcool does not work well with air in the system. You will have no problems with this as long as you keep the system up the full mark. I too agree that 5 years/150K is too long and I flushed mine when it was 3 years old with 45K on it. I would not touch it for at least 2 to 3 years and 40 to 50K. I would suggest you add a bottle of Kool It from Lubegard, part # 96001. This an excellent product that is recommended by Modine Radiator co. and it will eliminata all Chemical Electrolysis. This is one of the few chems that I believe in adding to any system.

[gpace1]

Hi, I am new to this forum. I couldn't figure how to start a new topic so I hope replying to this one helps.

 

I drive a '03 Sierra 1500 HD 4WD with a 6.0L and AT. She just turned 48K. I am on my THIRD heater core in two months. After the second one, the GMC dealer shop called GM engineering. Egineering said I have excessive electrolysis. (5.8) Dealer replaced core, added two ground straps to core necks, drained and refilled coolant and added a box of baking soda.

 

OK. I jumped on the internet and learned all about electrolysis. Most all of what I read sez electrolysis readings should be well below .2VDC measured with a DVM. After repair, mine read 4.5 VDC. Reading was same whether engine was running or not, all accessories off or on. Shop sez I will be ok. I am not confident. Anyone have any insight to this???

[ZZ327]

I would stick with the 5w30, Go for synthetic so you can run longer between changes. Sometimes I even let the oil life monitor go off before I change it, I Look at the periodically check the oil and it seems to be pretty accurate. My dealer recommended a 1500 mile oil change for the first one.

 

Dont even worry about the rest, You have the superior 100k mile warranty if anything breaks!!

 

If you dont have a trans cooler and want one, Have the dealer put it on. That way if the trans takes a Sh!t you wont be screwed out of warranty