2400 Mile Trip!! 2001 LS 5.3

[HanibalTheCannibal]

I am fixing to take a 2500+ mile trip all the way from south texas, to Illinois, back to Kentucky, then all the way to New Hampshire! I have a 2001 Silverado ext cab 5.3, with a camper shell. I was wondering what are the recommended maintenance items for my truck. I have right at 62,000 miles.

What I already have had done (by GM certified dealer)
1. Trans flush/filter 40K miles
2. 4 New Michellin Tires 50K miles
3. B&G decarbonization(?) fuel system treatment 40K miles
4. New Fuel Filter, air filter, Spark Plugs, ACDelco wires
5. Always change oil with Mobil1 synth, and Mobil1 filter
6. New Goodyear Serpentine belt 61K miles
7. New left front wheel Bearing
8. New cabin air filter


What else is recommended by GM (or from your experience) that should be checked? (ie coolant flush, diff fluid change, etc etc). I hear that GM recommends a new type (or gap) of spark plug, can you tell me what to get?

I am going to do all new brake pads in a week or two.

Please let me know if I am forgetting anything?

Thanks

[muff34]

holy Crap you should be good to go for along while................lol If more people would do what you have done ,there would be alot less junk sitting on the side of the road . Good luck on your trip

[HanibalTheCannibal]

Originally Posted by muff34

holy Crap you should be good to go for along while................lol If more people would do what you have done ,there would be alot less junk sitting on the side of the road . Good luck on your trip

Thank you! Do you know what the deal is with the spark plugs? I heard there was a new gap or something. I am going to change them out to some good ones.

[whitetrash982]

arent you sposed to change the rear diff fluid at 60k?

[rjeffery]

Yeah I would change the diff fluid.

Ask the dealer where you got your plugs installed if they are the right ones.

Hold off on the coolant flush. Not necessary till around 100K

[HanibalTheCannibal]

Would autozone carry the new spec plug for these trucks? I want to do the plugs myself this time ($$ $$)

From what I have found, GM now recommends iridium plugs gapped at 0.40, am I right?

What is a good all around plug to have? I had the carbon arcing problem before I cleaned the intake. The plugs looked like they had 200,000 miles on them, but the truck actually had 40K.

Any suggestions? (I will look into the diff fluid change).

[rjeffery]

I recently changed my plugs. Went to O'reillys and asked for OEM plugs. They gave me iridium plugs and said they were already gapped (not sure what at) and that I don't need to mess with them.

Diff change is an easy DIY.

[MT-2500]

Always check the latest AC Delco spark plug book for the correct plugs.
The one I have says 41-985 AC delco plat/iridium at .040 gap.
Also they are a preset gap. Do not try to regap them.
If the gap is off take them back and get ones that are right.
AZ may have them but watch AZ they may try to push Bosch plugs off on you.
Just tell them to stick the Bosch in the trash can and give you the good AC plugs.
The plugs from factory were AC 25171803 at .060 gap.
At 61K if you have not already checked them take a look at the front brake pads.
A good rule on the engine coolant service is 3 years or 50K.
And a new rad cap if it is weak.
Good luck and have a safe trip.
MT

[HanibalTheCannibal]

You say the factory are now acdelco plat/iridium? Is there a choice between platinum or iridium or is that a blend or something? I just want to be sure I understand.

I am going to do a complete brake pad change in the coming weeks.

[MT-2500]

The AC delco replacements in the AC delco plug book.
The factory specs and plugs have been updated on some years and engines.
The AC Delco spark book refers to them as Professional Platinum/Iridium
Which means either Platinum or Iridium depending on the plug no..
The Platinum usually have a dual Platinum tip or pad on both the center of electrode and tip.
The AC Delco Iridium plug Has a Iridium tip which has a higher melting point than the Platium tip plugs.
Ask your parts place to show you there AC delco spark plug catalog there is a lot of good and interesting info in it on the different AC delco plugs and the may even give you one of there old books.
And acdelco.com may have some info.

[HanibalTheCannibal]

Ok it looks like they have in fact changed the gap. 41-985 is now in order for me. Is that a15mm socket to remove the spark plug?


One more thing..... The AZ parts desk asked if I wanted semi-metallic or ceramic brake pads.....Which one is GM recommended?


Thanks so much for the help!

[chuck16]

I put iridium NGK TR55IX plugs in my truck and really didn't notice that much of a difference than the stock AC Delco ones that came out. I also changed the plug wires at that time as the last ones were a bitch to get out...

[jtc001]

You are doing all the right stuff.

Consider a rear differential fluid change. Look for a blue tag on the differential which indicates that you have synthetic differential fluid. The stuff is expensive ($25/quart). It will probably take 2 quarts.

I monitor tire pressure a lot.

Other than just addressing your problem as you see tham - have a great trip.

As for brakes, ceramic will stop you better, but tend to create more heat. I've heard that this can wear rotors faster. Changing to ceramic will not get rid of the silverado spongy brake feel!

[HanibalTheCannibal]

Originally Posted by jtc001

Look for a blue tag on the differential which indicates that you have synthetic differential fluid.

If I do not have the blue tag, can I go to synthetic, or am I forced to used conventional?

Thanks for the tips

[TexasF355F1]

Originally Posted by HanibalTheCannibal

If I do not have the blue tag, can I go to synthetic, or am I forced to used conventional?

Thanks for the tips

You should be good to switch to synthetic.

It looks to me like you covered all the basics. You may as well change the distr. cap too.

So why the long trip? Moving or visiting a bunch of peeps?