A couple questions from my oil change yesterday

[rgaffney]

As usual they tries to get me to have several other things done and I would just like to know how important or how beneficial it would be to do any or all of these things in the future. He said my brake fluid was dark and it is supposed to be clear. Getting it done there would be a couple hundred dollars so i said no but this sounds like something I need to get done at some point. They also suggested a transmission flush and fill, valv P/S flush kit?, and fuel system procs?

So any input as to which of these are the most important or if any are frivolous is appreciated. I don't want to spend too much any time before xmas because I am getting rims and tires when my semester at school is over.

 

[Rivieraracing]

Whenever I get a used rig, I like to do all those things to it right off the bat whenever I can, since I don't fully know the history of the truck and when stuff got done to it!! Check the levels of everything and make sure they are full, check the tranny fluid and make sure it doesn't smell burnt, if questionable, drop the pan and change the filter as well as the fluid!! Brake fluid you could change, it's not that hard just takes a bit of time and is easier with another person! Power steering fluid, you can change it out, it's not that hard either but at least make sure it is full if anything. Doesn't hurt to change out the fuel filter too!!

 

[Cartwright]

Need some more info bro. What year and how many miles it has.

 

[rgaffney]

Its a 2003 and i have 187,000 miles

 

[Travieso]

i would do the following ASAP

1. Drain Transmission fluid with new filter and fresh tranny fluid
2. Drain break fluid and refill with new one
3. Differential oil change
4. replace Gas filter
5. Replace air filters
6. Do a major tuneup
7. Replace radiator fluid

 

[Cartwright]

Id do the Tranny, front and rear diff(Front if 4wd), Brakes, Cooling system, and would also look at the front end.

 

[rgaffney]

so i would be doing major damage by dragging my feet with any of these fluids?

 

[pittmanb8]

No one can say that you are doing X damage by not changing these fluids within Y days, however, the fluids are there to keep your parts from being damaged. Therefore, you / previous owner have already done extra wear and tear by not changing any of the mentioned fluids within the last 187k miles.

Agree with 06Tahoe's list- probably do multiple drain and fills on the transmission to get a higher percentage of fresh new fluid. Differentials and transfer case also a must if you have 4wd.

 

[BOSS]

No one can say that you are doing X damage by not changing these fluids within Y days, however, the fluids are there to keep your parts from being damaged. Therefore, you / previous owner have already done extra wear and tear by not changing any of the mentioned fluids within the last 187k miles.

Agree with 06Tahoe's list- probably do multiple drain and fills on the transmission to get a higher percentage of fresh new fluid. Differentials and transfer case also a must if you have 4wd.

x2.

Those listed above are all must haves, but more importantly can be done with a little time in the driveway and some pans/bottles. I used a garden hose to flush out my coolant system. Worked like a charm, but I had to catch all that fluid and it took a while. Those services can run you a pretty penny, mostly because people don't want to deal with em.

Re: tranny
Do NOT do a "chemical" tranny flush of any kind, unless you rebuild it. Unless you know the tranny was rebuilt at ***-miles, I wouldn't risk aggravating any particulates that may be embedded into your trans case etc by doing that flush. Changing the fluid is still a little risky - that trans has gotten used to shifting with that fluid and if you change the fluid, you change the pressures and dynamics. You may find yourself with a tranny problem just by changing the fluid. That's my experience anyway.


B

 

[WHITEOUT]

BOSS has a good point. My buddy use to work at a lube shop, and he always told me, not to mess with the tranny fluid unless totally burnt!!! Like BOSS said, you can do damage. But, at the same time, your manual tells you the intervals, and they know what they mean, except for certain things, ie: oil changes(whenever you feel it needs it, i mean earlier is better), air filter( I live in AZ and clean my air filter refularly), cabin filter, again do alot, spark plugs,( I found stock to be the best, Got Quad Platinums and they sucked big time). Fluids are meant to be changed though, so keep up on them, and like everyone else said, If you get a new vehicle do the major tune up ASAP, you never know what previous owner did to it.