metomeya

Okay I have a 2003 Chevy Impala with about 65,000 miles on it,

I'm wondering from you other owners, What should I be expecting to replace soon. Also what can I do to keep it in tip top shape.

Is synthetic really better than standard oil? It is true you can get 25,000 miles instead of 5,000? Is there anything like special spark plugs, and such that will help to prolong the life of my car, and keep up its value?

Thanks!

bigrod118

well what you will need to replace varys. some people have evrything break on their cars, some have no probelsm whatso ever.

as far as oil. I run synthetic, but no matter what the oil calims it can go for, NEVER LET IT GO 25,000. I belieev the longest lasting oil is mobuil1 and thats advertised to run til 15,000. but I wouldnt. synthetic is better, helps protect better, but is more expensive, and if your looking for longer life, dont let it go longer. it designed to be better, and to be able to stay in longer, but it's still not good. I run synthetic and I still change it when my car tells me too, around 4000 miles. some people let it go longer, but I say, it helps protect it better, so I put it in, but I still change it like regular oil. its only going to help.

and for the wires, I am one that HATES dealership and stock parts, if I can get aftermarket I do. but surprisingly enough the GM ignition coils and wires are very good. people that tune there cars and mkae then very powerful, still use stock coils and wires because there so good and reliable. they have a very very low failure rate.

oh yeah, if you dont ow if the last owner had the tranny flushed, you might want to do that. its recommended to be done at 100,000 miles, or 50,000 if its been under police.taxi or hard driving conditions. but you dont know wht the last person that drove the car drove like. plus tranny work is expensive, so its better to spend the $60-$90 on a tranny flush and filter if you want.

metomeya

me know nothing about a cars!

Seriously what is a tranny flushed? Is that where they flush the oil out? Do they use water for that (doesn't water and oil not mix? maybe mineral spirits instead?). Also isn't there a problem that after a flush it is hard to get the oil to spread throughout the engine? So the first time starting the engine from a flush it can do damage to it? If so, is there anyway to protect against that?

Also where would you recommend to get it flushed, will wal-mart or SAMS do a okay job? Or should I go somewhere that only does that type of thing?

spacemoose39

AAAAHHH!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!!!

Dude, tell me your joking!

run far far away from walmart auto shops. Ever wonder why a oil change is so cheap? not just cause they hire third world children to make their products, cause the oil and filters they use are absolute bottom of the barrel brand.

Take it to a real shop like your freindly neighbourhood GM goodwrench shop.

bigrod118

no your car has an engine, which you nkow, and a transmission(tranny) you motor takes motor oil, your tranny takes tranny fluid. NO DONT TAKE IT TO THOSE PLACES. if you have a oil change place around you like valvoline or mobil. take it to them. that hook up a machine to it and push out the old fluid with new fluid. then they make you hold the brake and go thru the gears to make sure there is fluid between all the gears and moved arund where it needs to be

PLEASE sont tell me that you get your oil chagned at walmart either. there oil changes cost like $12.. and thats more than what I pay just for materials when I change my own. so they must use really cheap oil. please if you want it to last, have someone you nkow(and trust) do change it for you, or take it to valvoline or mobil or whatever your "20 minute" oil chagne places around you are.

if you ahve anymore questions about anything just speak up. were always here to help.

oh yeah, since you probably bought it used, have someone check the air filter, tire pressure, and you might want to have your fuel filter replaced. some of these things may end up being expensive(im not sure I do all my own maintenence) but they are thigns that will help it last longer, run better, and get better gas milage.

bigrod118

lol, you posted before I did.... I guess im not the only one who think that way.

but its the truth.

MoNsTeR`ImPaLa

Seriously whats wrong with the walmart oil change ?????

sometimes i go for a good ole walmart oil change ................ i always supply my own oil and filter and i have one guy do it all the time and i stand there and watch come on give the little guy a chance every once and a while lmao

metomeya

Uh, ya getting it changed at walmart isn't that bad, its not exactly rocket science, but you do need experience and with all the cars they do they should have that, I probably wouldn't take my car there for something else though.


Anyways, so I should have checked out my air filter, tire pressure, fuel filter replaced. I should I worry about having my transmission fluid replaced also? Are there any other type of fluids I should worry about?

bermis519

Well for the tranny flushes...they recommend 30.000 miles intervals, 30k, fluid flush, no filter, 60k fluid flush, no filer, then at 90k, fluid flush and filter..i think thats what the chevy dealer told me....

mike

bigrod118

well when I went to get mine done thats what th guy that worked there said too, 30K. but then I went home and looked in the manual and it said 100,000 for normal use or 50,000 for police/taxi/hard driving. and other casr I have owned said around 70K or so. so its really up to you. a filter cost $12 for them, but you would have to have it done somewhere since you dont know a lot about cars.

phewop118

If I'm not mistaken, GM manuals say nothing about tranny flushes! Only to change the fluid and filter every 50,000 under hard driving and 100,000 under normal conditions. A tranny flush can cause problems with the tranny. Just go with a fluid change and filter every 50,000 miles, as it can change only abou 3/5 the fluid each changes, as nothing is pushing it all out.

MCO_Death

Keep the fluids well and on top of any problems that arise really. If it wears anything like my 2000 does, expect needing a front end overhaul between 100-150k mile mark. (Ball-joints, wheel bearings, control arm bushings, tie rod ends etc)... I'm finding I'll replace one set just to have the next thing in line bite the dust a few weeks later. At least I know most of those parts are now new / warrentied for at least a year.

MoNsTeR`ImPaLa

ussuly when im replacing ball joints i do upper and lower, while im at it since your going to need an alignment might as well do the rest. And I change the rotors with every brake job. the way i drive i figure might as well cause there aint many other people as hard on there brakes as me .....Well maybe Andy Pilgrim or Tony Stewart at sonoma

bad brake rotors can cause huge damage to your front end parts if not delt with ASAP

Doug Vann

Actually one thing I forgot to mention in a previous post was any time you are re-installing your wheels make sure you torque the wheels nuts. I was told about 95 pounds.
Anyway always keep the fluids topped and use synthetic oil - especially if you live in a very cold or very hot area. A guy from Penzoil was on TV demonstrating the difference at cold temps - the synthetic oil poured and the regular oil was like molasses. His comment was that synthetic lubes much better especially at cold starts and does not break down at the highest temps like regular oil can.
Just keep in mind that synthetic oil should be changed just as often as regular oil since it can also get dirty...... I change mine about every 6 weeks.

RahX

mileage is better to change fluids by. oil 3-5k. synthetic oil is good stuff, lots of benefits with no drawbacks other than price. as for tranny flushes. they work and get the fluid out of the converter too. the only way a tranny flush harms a transmission is if the trans hasnt been regularly serviced. then when you flush it everything holding it together is now gone and yea. 30k on the fluid and filter. the filter should be changed sooner but honestly ive never seen a filter cause a problem. they only let me know there was a big problem because it was clogged full of metal and clutch material but thats not the filters fault, its just doing what its supposed to. 100k/50k on a trans flush is bad stuff. the gm manual may say that but look at it this way, when does your warranty run out? would you say gm gives a rats ass about your car after the warranty? ok and ok on those. also make sure you flush the coolant every 2 years/30-40k. that dexcool gets nasty if you dont keep up with it. do a tire rotation every other oil change. that will help extend the life of your tires greatly. cross the dead and bring the drive tires straight back. so you would take the left rear and put it on the right front. right rear to the left front. and then the front tires straight back. get em balanced every 15-20k. get an alignment once a year-18mos. plugs and wires at 60-75k. hmm if i think of anything else ill add it.