97 6 SPD Preventative Maintenance
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 96
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From: Millersville PA
97 6 SPD Preventative Maintenance
I was wondering if you guys could help me out with my 97. I just got this car at the begining of summer and loving every minute of it. I have put on some bolt on parts - air intake, and B&B Bullet Exhaust. I have taken it to the local drags and enjoy "playing" with the car. I just want to make sure nothing breaks! What kind of PM can I do on the car? I already keep the oil changed regularly - but what else can I do? Thanks.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 18
From: Santa Fe TX
Suggestions for maintenance:
$75
Change the transmission oil and rear differential oil.
I recommend Royal Purple 75w90(?) gear oil for the rear and RP MaxATF or SynchroMax for the Manual Trans, but any good oil will be ok. Good Synthetic better. Not sure I'd mess with Automatic Trans Fluid, sometimes that causes more problems than it solves on older cars.
$40
Inspect and if necessary replace serpintine and AC belts (use goodyear gatorback replacements from autozone)
$20
Drain the coolant from the radiator and replace with new 50/50 dex-cool.
$0
Clean the grounds (electrical information sticky).
$5
Unbolt the swaybar bushings and grease them with some white lithium grease.
$15
Change the fuel filter (they eventually leak).
$15
Change the spark plugs
$10
Use the "Ranger Method" (search term) on the clutch fluid to prevent and clutch sticking in the future
$10
Change the PCV valve or add a catch can setup to prevent ingestion of oil and/or buildup of crankcase pressure.
$30 Inspect brake pads and replace if necessary.
Prices are parts/DIY prices.
Suggestions for Mods:
B&M 45044 shifter, or Hurst shifter <-- More precise shifting feel to prevent "misses"
C6Z51 sway bars
(recent price reduction on gmpartshouse.com) and excellent improvement in handling.
LS6 intake manifold <-- Better Throttle Response
$75
Change the transmission oil and rear differential oil.
I recommend Royal Purple 75w90(?) gear oil for the rear and RP MaxATF or SynchroMax for the Manual Trans, but any good oil will be ok. Good Synthetic better. Not sure I'd mess with Automatic Trans Fluid, sometimes that causes more problems than it solves on older cars.
$40
Inspect and if necessary replace serpintine and AC belts (use goodyear gatorback replacements from autozone)
$20
Drain the coolant from the radiator and replace with new 50/50 dex-cool.
$0
Clean the grounds (electrical information sticky).
$5
Unbolt the swaybar bushings and grease them with some white lithium grease.
$15
Change the fuel filter (they eventually leak).
$15
Change the spark plugs
$10
Use the "Ranger Method" (search term) on the clutch fluid to prevent and clutch sticking in the future
$10
Change the PCV valve or add a catch can setup to prevent ingestion of oil and/or buildup of crankcase pressure.
$30 Inspect brake pads and replace if necessary.
Prices are parts/DIY prices.
Suggestions for Mods:
B&M 45044 shifter, or Hurst shifter <-- More precise shifting feel to prevent "misses"
C6Z51 sway bars
(recent price reduction on gmpartshouse.com) and excellent improvement in handling.
LS6 intake manifold <-- Better Throttle Response
Last edited by jedblanks; Jul 16, 2009 at 09:25 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Suggestions for maintenance:
$75
Change the transmission oil and rear differential oil.
I recommend Royal Purple 75w90(?) gear oil for the rear and RP MaxATF or SynchroMax for the Manual Trans, but any good oil will be ok. Good Synthetic better. Not sure I'd mess with Automatic Trans Fluid, sometimes that causes more problems than it solves on older cars.
What do you think "MaxATF" is?
The MM6s COME from GM with ATF. That's what the "Dexron III" label on the side of the trans means. The only question some folks have is as to synthetic vs conventional ATF, but ATF is still ATF, not gear lube. I used Red Line D4ATF in my original '99 6 speed with good success. I now use Amsoil Torque-Drive ATF in my beefed up 6 spd. tranny, also with good success.
Change the fuel filter (they eventually leak). A good idea, but I don't know why you say "they eventually leak". Most here, including myself have never any fuel filter leakage at all.
$75
Change the transmission oil and rear differential oil.
I recommend Royal Purple 75w90(?) gear oil for the rear and RP MaxATF or SynchroMax for the Manual Trans, but any good oil will be ok. Good Synthetic better. Not sure I'd mess with Automatic Trans Fluid, sometimes that causes more problems than it solves on older cars.
What do you think "MaxATF" is?
The MM6s COME from GM with ATF. That's what the "Dexron III" label on the side of the trans means. The only question some folks have is as to synthetic vs conventional ATF, but ATF is still ATF, not gear lube. I used Red Line D4ATF in my original '99 6 speed with good success. I now use Amsoil Torque-Drive ATF in my beefed up 6 spd. tranny, also with good success. Change the fuel filter (they eventually leak). A good idea, but I don't know why you say "they eventually leak". Most here, including myself have never any fuel filter leakage at all.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 41,020
Likes: 9,775
From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Not sure what you mean by regular oil changes. On the 97 using Mobil 1 you can go up to 10K miles or 1 year between changes unless the oil life monitor indicates the oil should be changed sooner. You don't need to follow the 1960s 3 mo/3K rule with newer cars. I ran my 97 in quite a few HPDEs per year for 6 years and only changed the oil once per year. I do the same now with my 03Z which has been doing many HPDEs per year since I got it in June of 03.
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
From: Millersville PA
Thanks everyone for the ideas. I just got the column by-pass as it has started giving me issues - its going on this weekend. I liked some of the other items and will look into them soon as well. Is it ok to use the synthetic in the 97 6 speeds?
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 5
From: Holly, Michigan
I assume you mean trans fluid. For 97-00 6 speeds, synthetic ATF is not reccommended (deteriorates the paper blocker rings). Some debate that there are a few synthetic ATF's that are safe with the paper blockers...
01-04: Synthetic ATF is fine due to the switch to carbon fiber blockers
01-04: Synthetic ATF is fine due to the switch to carbon fiber blockers
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 5
From: Holly, Michigan
Another maintenance suggestion:
Look in the radiator shroud. C5's are like vacuum cleaners and a lot of junk/dirt accumulates in the shroud area, eventually causing overheating...Pull out the junk and suck/blow out debris...
Look in the radiator shroud. C5's are like vacuum cleaners and a lot of junk/dirt accumulates in the shroud area, eventually causing overheating...Pull out the junk and suck/blow out debris...
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,526
Likes: 18
From: Santa Fe TX
What do you think "MaxATF" is? The MM6s COME from GM with ATF. That's what the "Dexron III" label on the side of the trans means. The only question some folks have is as to synthetic vs conventional ATF, but ATF is still ATF, not gear lube. I used Red Line D4ATF in my original '99 6 speed with good success. I now use Amsoil Torque-Drive ATF in my beefed up 6 spd. tranny, also with good success.
Nice catch - I guess I should have been more clear. What I meant was that there is an option to put MaxATF or SynchroMesh in the MANUAL 6-SPEED Transmission. There is some debate as to which is best. I wouldn't change the fluid AT ALL in an AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, which the OP does not have (I should have read more carefully).
Change the fuel filter (they eventually leak). A good idea, but I don't know why you say "they eventually leak". Most here, including myself have never any fuel filter leakage at all.
Even if they don't leak, changing the fuel filter on a 97-98 is still good cheap preventative maintenance.
Nice catch - I guess I should have been more clear. What I meant was that there is an option to put MaxATF or SynchroMesh in the MANUAL 6-SPEED Transmission. There is some debate as to which is best. I wouldn't change the fluid AT ALL in an AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, which the OP does not have (I should have read more carefully).
Change the fuel filter (they eventually leak). A good idea, but I don't know why you say "they eventually leak". Most here, including myself have never any fuel filter leakage at all.
Even if they don't leak, changing the fuel filter on a 97-98 is still good cheap preventative maintenance.
See Above - Many people have used Gear lube in the M6 with good success (esp in hotter climates, with performance driving). It may cause shifting issues in cold/freezing weather.
FWIW I have had no issues with either synthetic (ATF or gear) in my M6. 2nd gear was "fixed" by a previous owner, so maybe the paper blocker rings were changed?
Last edited by jedblanks; Jul 16, 2009 at 01:44 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
See Above - Many people have used Gear lube in the M6 with good success (esp in hotter climates, with performance driving). It may cause shifting issues in cold/freezing weather.
FWIW I have had no issues with either synthetic (ATF or gear) in my M6. 2nd gear was "fixed" by a previous owner, so maybe the paper blocker rings were changed?
FWIW I have had no issues with either synthetic (ATF or gear) in my M6. 2nd gear was "fixed" by a previous owner, so maybe the paper blocker rings were changed?
As I indicated, I used Red Line D4 ATF in my MM6 for many thousands of miles before I pulled my entire drive-train to upgrade everything. Never once had any issues with it. I would NOT recommend gear lube. By that I mean gear lube as most people know it, i.e. 75W-90, 75W-140, of a GL-5 type, etc.