Just passed 50,000 miles

[stick99]

I own a '03 Ion manual tranny, everything stock and I recently passed the 50,000 mile mark. I'm just wondering if there is any maintenance that is recomended. Most of my driving is on the freeway to work driving causally, but I like to drive hard at times.

Here is a list of what I'm planning on doing, any advice/comments will be greatly appreciated:

• Engine flush
  I will do this by changing the oil and filter, and adding an off-the-shelf engine cleaner (any recomendations on what kind?). Then I will run the engine for about 5-10 min and finally change the oil and filter again.
• Coolant change
  Do I need to drain just the radiator? or should i run the engine with the radiator plug open to drain the coolant in the engine also?
• Replace brakes as needed (and possibly upgrade from stock rotors to slotted in front)
• Drain break lines and replace with new break fluid

Thanks for your help,
Isaac

[PlayStation3]

you could try a piston soak, or change tranny fluid

[stick99]

What's a piston soak, and where can I learn how to do it?

Also, it's a manual tranny, I thought the gear oil lasts the life of the tranny. Would it be beneficial to change it?

[PlayStation3]

piston soak you might have to go to a dealer to buy the stuff for. all you have to do with a piston soak is let the engine get warm take out the spark plugs and put the stuff in the spark plug hole then put it back. but i forget what you do after that.

i really don't know much about manuel tranny but it probelly could not hurt.

[sierrap615]

1. engine flush - i have seen research and my personial experance that they are not effective and can in turn even cause damage, i will never add a oil additive again unless recommended by the manifactior.
2.dexcool has a service interval of 5 year/ 100k miles, to long for me. drain the radiator and look for a drain plug on the block near the lower radiator or thermostat housing, may or may not be there. do not run the engine while draining coolant, you can possiblely damage several things, mainly the water pump.
3. brake fluid - have you bleed/flush brake fluid before?
4. manual trans fuild - i would recommend changing the fuild sooner or later, i don't have any facts to back this up really, but the internals of a manial trans do wear a little(depending on how well you shift). and some cars on the road have 300K,400K, 500K or even more. if you had a super high milage car, do you think the orginal fluid would still be effective? check your owners manual for schedule maintance interval, if it says nothing, i say about 100K is a good interval

[stick99]

I have bleed break fluid before. Thanks for your help.

[PlayStation3]

Originally Posted by sierrap615

1. engine flush - i have seen research and my personial experance that they are not effective and can in turn even cause damage, i will never add a oil additive again unless recommended by the manifactior.

yea i was reading the back of a couple of engine treatment/flush and they basicaly said that after you put that stuff in you have to change every filter/ replace all fluids.