General Opinion

[dbrawner]

I just purchased an 03 impala this is my first domestic car and i just wanted to get feedback on what people thought of the car and i have the 3.4 engine also i want to change the oil and was wondering if it would be better to use synthetic or conventional and the best kind of wires and plugs to use

['97ventureowner]

Welcome to AF!
It is generally recommended to use A C Delco plugs and wires in your GM vehicle. I've used them on all my GM vehicles for the past 20+ years with no issues. Here is a link to a thread that has some info that also pertains to your car as the part numbers are the same for your ar for the plugs and wires:http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=759766 .
I'd keep an eye on your coolant level as the 3.4s were known for faulty intake manifold gaskets. GM did release a "revised" version of the gasket in the summer of 2002, so it would seem that the '03 models would have the newer gasket, but it still would be a good idea to keep an eye on your coolant level just to be sure. From my experience, the problem usually shows up anywhere s from 60,000 to 125,000 miles.
On the subject of what oil to use, the best thing i tell customers is to do some research and it's mainly a matter of personal opinion. You can look at all sorts of threads on this site that debate which oil is best, but it boils down to personal opinion. I have started to convert most if my vehicles and small engines to synthetic oil. I have done some research and like the pros for using this oil, including better protection properties, and longer change intervals. I usually leave my oil in for 10,000 to 12,000 miles and just change the filter only and top off if needed at 5,000 miles. One added bonus I thought of for using synthetics is with the longer change interval we end up using less oil overall on an annual basis, and that means a reduction in the dependence on foreign oil. And, since we are using less, that means we also will have less (quantity wise) to worry about when recycle the used product. There are certain circumstances where one may not want to use synthetics which includes higher mileage,older vehicles. Synthetics have a cleaning effect inside the engine and can dissolve sludge, which can cause an older engine to develop oil leaks,(because the sludge that was present holding back the oil from leaking out is no longer present.) Cost can also be a detriment for one to use synthetic as it is more expensive, but in the long run if you figure it out , it can either cost less due to extended change intervals, or you may break even. If you want to do some research, it can help you make better informed decisions.