Maintance - High mileage preventative maintence?

[sierra97]

Hi guys, new the to forum, did some searching around but could not find any other threads discussing this topic, anyways, i have a 1997 5.7L vortec, 4L60E tranny, push button transfer case, and the truck has 470 000kms on it ( roughly 290 000 miles). Engine is original, runs like a top, lots of power, always starts, tranny has atleast 100 000 miles on it, and i was just wondering if anyone on here has hade any high mileage issues? I've heard of the oil cooling lines letting go, loosing oil pressure, killing the engine, but other than that i have not heard much about any obvious weak points on these vortec 350s. Any recommendations on what to watch for/ fix before it lets go? Any info would help

 

[great white]

Oil cooler lines if you have 'em.

If they go, main bearing death is swift and painful.

6.5 diesels are also subject to the cooler lines. Just about any GMT400 with the oil cooler is.

I do believe the only other real "issue" specific to the vortec engines is a leaking fuel injection spider manifold.

You've still subject to all the other GMT400 niggling faults like the ignition switch, headlight switch, HVAC head, broken power wires in the door jambs, breaking door handles, oil leaks, etc....

If it's a "new to you" truck, do a standard tune up, grease al the points, change the fluids, keep them topped up and change them on a regular schedule. Keep a log to track the time and mileage for your changes.

Then ride 'er till she bucks!

 

[sierra97]

whats the side affect if the truck has a leaking fuel injection spider manifold? Will it cause other things to fail also? and hade the truck since I was 17, never hade engine issues (knock on wood), just 2 tune ups every 100 000 km, and i have fixed the interior up as best as i can, picking thru junk yards all over southern Ontario, but these trucks are hard to find in good shape now up here, the scrap yards crush and get rid of anything 8 years or older, so no more stock pile of old chevy trucks, they've all rotted out (damn salt)

 

[sierra97]

haha just seen that your from canada too

 

[great white]

Ah, another Canucklehead!

from Ontario no less. Couple of you guys on the forum.

symptoms can include one or all: misfire (and usually misfire codes), hard starting, rich running, poor idle, very poor mpg.

 

[sierra97]

alright thanks for the heads up, just trying to look things over before heading west for the summer

 

[michael hurd]

If you haven't replaced any coolant hoses, it may be a good idea, as well change the belt, and give the tensioner pulley and idler a spin when the belt is off. If they feel rough at all, go ahead and replace them as well.

I would probably just do the upper and lower rad hoses, and the short bypass hose, if you lose a heater hose on the trip it's not the end of the world if you have a splice, a couple of clamps, a knife and some coolant with you, just loop them. Replace the thermostat at the same time you have the system open. If the truck has never had a water pump, it would be great to do that as well.

Check over the tires before a trip like that, as well as give all the brake lines a once over. Blowing a brake line away from home is usually not a fun time.

Jack it up, pull the wheels and have a look at how much brake pad material you have remaining on the front, as well as if the pads are evenly worn. If they are not, you may as well toss a set of calipers on it at the same time. A dragging caliper costs you mileage, as well if it decides to stick on you, not a good time. Pull the back wheels off, remove the drum and give the rear a once over, if no leaking seals or wheel cylinder, adjust up the shoes so they are just touching the drums.

 

[sierra97]

thanks for the heads up, in the 6 years i've owned this truck, everything you have mentioned has been looked at / replaced. only odd thing i hade go on me that is coolant related is the heater hose that loops into the intake of the truck, the connection at the intake was leaking, and when we noticed it leaking we tried to see how loose it was, and it blew completly off the intake (engine was warm and running) Because i did not have the funds at 17 to take the engine apart and put a new intake on it, dad and i picked a thread-on connector out of a 84 monte carlo with a 305 in it, put lots of teflon tape around it, lined it up as best as possible, and threaded it in. It has been 210 000 kms since that was done, so almost half the life of the truck, and it still holds up. Kinda redneck i know, but it worked

 

[eric.s.t]

Hey! Ontario fello! Where you from? Im from Sudbury lol

 

[sierra97]

Kincardine Ontario, right by Lake Huron