maitnence ideas

[xvr843]

What could i do to make my engine last atleast to 300k? i do alot of traveling on weekends and i always change my oil every 2500 miles.

[99bonnieSE]

Basically, just keep up on your maintanence. Keep your oil changed on time, Keep a clean air filter in it, keep your spark plugs/wires up to date, not sure the mileage on plugs/wires. i'm sure someone will chirp in with the common maintanence sticky.


One thing I like to do in the old S10 we have is dump a can of seafoam in the tank every once in a while (we usually do it once in the summer and once in the winter) seafoam is known to save ALOT of headaches. Particularly on snowmobiles i have the best experience with. Any kind of moisture in your fuel at all, can cause damage to an engine. Seafoam takes care of that and does tons more. some people even dump it in their oil... i've never done that before. Claims to clean out a lot of many different things.

http://www.seafoamsales.com/how-to-use- ... tment.html

[Mechanical Mike]

Change the oil every 4 - 5 thousand miles. Yes, I'm saying you’re changing it too often. Let the controversy begin! Keep the outside of the engine clean. Degrease it every year or two.

Have the lower intake gaskets & upper intake manifold been changed?
How many miles on it now?

[00Beast]

This:

• 1987-2005 Bonneville / Buick 3800 Maintenance List
  
  Run Seafoam, Chevron Techron or Gumout Regane through gasoline every 5,000 miles.
  
  Grease: Ball Joints, Tie Rods Every 8-10k ( Green Grease or Amsoil Grease recommended)
  Air Filter Every 15k (Amsoil EaA, Purolator PureONE)
  PCV Valve Every 30k
  MAF Sensor Element Cleaning/TB Cleaning Every 50k viewtopic.php?f=48&t=1661
  Fuel Filter Every 15-25k (Purolator, AC Delco, WIX) http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... 45&t=23215
  Spark Plugs Every 30-50k (NGK TR55, AC Delco 41-101 or Autolite 605) (Never Bosch)
  Ignition Wires Every 30-50k (Napa Belden, AC Delco, Autolite Pro, NGK) (Never Taylor or Bosch)
  Oil & Filter Every 5-6k or Every 6 months (Valvoline SYNPower, Pennzoil Platinum, or Amsoil )(Mobil1, Purolator PureONE, Amsoil EaO, K&N or WIX) (Never Fram) viewtopic.php?f=45&t=214
  *Conventional Oil Every 3k/3 months(API SM/SN rating) (WIX (Napa), Delco or Purolator filter)
  Tires: Check Inflation Pressure & Visually Inspect Monthly Rotate Every 6-8,000 Miles
  Transmission Flush or Pan Drop Every 15-20k (Always make sure filter is changed when flushed) viewtopic.php?f=45&t=10193
  Cooling System Flush Every 25-50k or 3-5 Years (Peak or Prestone Mixes-With-Any Coolant Only) (Never Dexcool)
  Oxygen Sensor Every 80-100k (30k for non-heated) (AC Delco or Denso) (Absolutely never Bosch) viewtopic.php?f=48&t=794
  Accessory Belt Inspect every 15k, replace every 100k, or as needed
  Cabin Air Filter Inspect and Replace every 15k, or as needed in dusty conditions. (Note: 00+ Only) viewtopic.php?f=45&t=13626
  Evap Core Cleaning Whenever Needed (Note: 99 and older only) viewtopic.php?f=45&t=2432
  Brake Fluid Flush 3yr/50k
  Power Steering Fluid Replacement/Flush Every 100k or 5 years
  
  *Special Considerations*
  All Series II/III 3800's RPO's: L36, L26, L67 & L32, especially important on vehicles factory installed with orange Havoline Dexcool Antifreeze/Coolant: http://www.dex-cool.net/
  Lower Intake Manifold Gasket Replacement, every 80-100k (ignorance of this can allow coolant to enter your engine oil, this happening can cause irreversible lower engine damage, requiring replacement of subject engine)
  
  Series II, Naturally Aspirated, RPO:L36:
  Upper Intake Manifold Plenum Replacement, Every 80-100k (ignorance of this can allow coolant to enter your intake manifold, possible damage to occur can be hydrolock, irreversible damage to emissions devices, misfires, etc. Most times, engine replacement is required if ignored long enough.) viewtopic.php?f=53&t=1061
  
  Series I, II, III RPO Code L67 & L32:
  Change Supercharger Oil; Every 30-50k. (Intense Racing or GM Dealer) viewtopic.php?f=56&t=1690
  Supercharger Belt; Inspect Every 15k, Replace Every 100k or as needed.

1/1/2012 by 00Beast

[Bob Dillon]

What could i do to make my engine last atleast to 300k? i do alot of traveling on weekends and i always change my oil every 2500 miles.

Bump it up to 3K and change the filter every time, too. 223K here, no loss of compression, nor oil usage, between changes.

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, makes an engine last like changing the oil and filter much more frequently than recommended.

My dad, from whom I inherited my '72 Pontiac convertible in my sig, did that. I tore the engine down in this car for rebuild when it finally needed a set of rings at 298k. The crank miked at standard/standard and just needed a light polish, and there was hardly any wear or taper on the cylinder walls. My machinist said it could have easily done with just a honing. Went .030 over anyway because I had a set of forged TRWs for it.

[johnrich]

00Beast I am not sure were to post. I do want to thank you for your work and the sharing of your findings! The article on the Dexcool and intake manifolds on the L67 saved an engine in a very pristine SSEi. I just want to get a thanks to the author. If it is you thanks, if not can this be passed on? Again what an awesome site!!!

[Blown93SSEi]

You can also use 4.5-5k intervals on full synthetic oil. I go this route.