100k Observations

[CapnDean]

The good capn is getting the fever.... Thought I would share the history of my 2001 GMC Ex Cab SLE w/leather 2wd 4.8 on it's 100k anniversary.

 

This past week in honor of it's milestone: I replaced all 4 rotors, all brakes, 8 spark plugs (yes they lasted 100K miles no foolin) and plug wires.

 

Coulda got away without replacing the wires but I have ruined many a plug wire trying to change plugs so I went ahead and did it. To my surprise I managed to get em all off without destroying the old ones thanks to the metal cover that comes on them.

 

In my 100K trek I have been very satisfied with this truck. I still have the original windshield in it with only a few fish eyes. Have swapped tires twice, once at 45K and at 90K with factory Goodyear ST's. Replaced shocks at 75K. Changed oil every 3000K (yeah I am old school) with 5W whatever brand they had in the barrel at my local carwash/oil change joint. Flushed the tranny & replaced fuel filter at 45 and 90K.

 

I drive 17 miles each way to work every day...9 of em on interstate. I get 17 mpg on the head. On a lengthy road trip I will get 20 and swear I once saw 22 mpg with no a/c in use. The lack of a tune up had no effect on mileage but the new plugs did improve my acceleration (according to my butt dyno).

 

One battery, 2 air filters and one set of cabin air filters later I can say that the cabin air filter gets a heck of a lot dirtier than does the engine air filter...don't ask why...I don't smoke in it or anything.

 

Had that rack TSB done when it was new and the tailgate cables replaced....other than that -- No issues there.

 

I do use a quart of oil between changes and it has done this since day one....I don't usually add any..but I do keep an eye out for it. If I tow a heavy trailer long distance it will use 2 and I will have to add some.

 

Immediately after Hurricane Katrina I did get a tank full of crappy gasoline (out of a 55 gallon drum that I had pumped out of a boat) that cost me a fuel pump, a pair of injectors and a fuel rail.

 

Otherwise....No noticeable start up knock no performance problems a very solid truck since day one. The throttle body needs cleaning every now and then because it makes the accelerator stick if I don't.

 

I wish I had bought two and saved one. $22K out the door when the sticker was just shy of $28K was a decent price.

 

It's skinned up a little now, got a bent bumper and where a few cans of beer bent up the back fender but otherwise it's in great condition.

 

If the 2008 Crew Cab is anything like this one ... I might just have to go ahead and pull the trigger. If I were to buy another 2wd extended cab..I'd stick with the 4.8. I do like the giddyup in my wife's 5.3 yukon though. Just doesn't get the mileage that I like.

 

As I said....I am getting the fever...but my truck is still good as gold (and I have been without payment for 4 years now).

 

Naybe I will go another year, maybe I won't. Who knows. If someone kicks up a group purchase they can holler at me.

[slimjim2525]

That's aweome, congrats, and great write up. I'm a relatively new GM onvert in 04 when I bought a silverado ext. cab. It was an excellent truck, so I went and got he truck listed below. It's a great truck. If you have no payments, and happy with the truck, I say wait unless you're really itching.

[00'Yukon]

nice...glad to see your happy w/ the ol' truck. I have a 2000 yukon w a 5.3 and 120,000 miles. runs strong as ever, havent even replaced the plugs yet and it runs like a champ still. synthetic all its life and ive only had to replace the FPR. Very happy. these era gm trucks may not be high up on the interior quality list but their powertrain/exterior is unbeatable in my opinion.

[chakis24]

good to hear. another satisfied customer. if i were you though, i would wait. gm has a bunch of truck tech coming out in the near future. including 6 speeds, a 4.5L diesel, and the 6.2L replacing the 6.0 in the vortecmax, and the two-mode hybrid is supposed to be coming next year as well. that would be the truck to get- the two mode is mated to the 6.0 its in the new tahoe and that thing gets 20 in the city! thats my next truck right there.

[davidhughrose]

Great writeup and thanks for letting us know. I'm following similar maintenance habits and hope to get similar service out of mine. I hope Chevrolet reps read these forums periodically to see how their products are performing and what keeps us satisfied (I'm sure the foreign manufacturers keep tabs on this and other similar sites). I think the US media has a bias against the Detroit iron, GM in particular, and it's only thru word of mouth and forums like this that word gets out to people who need more than marketing schtick to convince 'em of a good product.