Preventative Maintenance on High Mileage engines?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,923
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From: Hot Springs AR
Preventative Maintenance on High Mileage engines?
My LS-1 is getting a bit o' mileage on her (115K+ and counting) and I'm trying to find out what kind of things do I need to be looking at for replacement before things get entertaining? These are things that aren't in any documentation I've looked through (i.e. service manual, internet, questions to "professionals", etc.)
Examples are: when to change the timing chain? Valve springs? Water pump? Fuel injectors? Anything else?
This is stuff that's not trivial for the DIYer that I am, but are doable.
TIA, and have a good one,
Mike
Examples are: when to change the timing chain? Valve springs? Water pump? Fuel injectors? Anything else?
This is stuff that's not trivial for the DIYer that I am, but are doable.
TIA, and have a good one,
Mike
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 124
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Re: Preventative Maintenance on High Mileage engines? (VetteDrmr)
You never really know whats going to break, I keep a crystal ball on my tool box but it's fuzzy at best. The common problems I have seen on high millage C5's are a/c belt tensioners,belt tensioners,p/s pumps,balancers separating causing oil leaks,wheel hubs going out,A4's slipping, and rear ends leaking but that looks like a common c5 option.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
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From: Spring, TX
Re: Preventative Maintenance on High Mileage engines? (VetteDrmr)
OK at about 100K my water pump died. I replaced it. I think the issue was really the 97-98 water pump gaskets which are a carbon impregnated paper and are crap. The new ones are metal with a plastic o-ring. So that is one issue. I just started replacing my F45 shocks today. You won't have that problem. So having said that I have just encountered my first major driveline failure. The Harmonic Dampner seperated. The outer ring split from the center through the rubber section and has moved back into the front cover of the engine. This damaged the front cover and seal and I now have a large oil leak. So since I have to take all this off to fix the dampner and replace the engine cover and seal I am installing all everything listed in my sig. I am also replacing the valve seals as well. I will have an entirely new valvetrain except for the lifters and rockers.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Aurora Colorado
Re: Preventative Maintenance on High Mileage engines? (gonbad)
Were you picking up a vibration before your balancer seperation ?
I have a vibration from 2700 - 3000 rpm. It's more prominent on deceleration
:confused:
I have a vibration from 2700 - 3000 rpm. It's more prominent on deceleration
:confused:
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,452
Likes: 3
From: Spring, TX
Re: Preventative Maintenance on High Mileage engines? (James G)
No I didn't have a vibration. What I did have was a bad belt squeal caused by the pulley moving out of alignment. I just thought it was the belt squeal everyone talks about with the AC Delco belts. Well it wasn't!
If you have a higher milage car (although this has happened to lower milage cars too) take a look at you balancer. If any of the inner hub is showing past the outer ring or the outer ring is out past the inner hub then the balancer has seperated. The outer ring, rubber layer and inner hub should be flat. My outer ring (inertia ring) moved back at least 1/2 inch.
If you have a higher milage car (although this has happened to lower milage cars too) take a look at you balancer. If any of the inner hub is showing past the outer ring or the outer ring is out past the inner hub then the balancer has seperated. The outer ring, rubber layer and inner hub should be flat. My outer ring (inertia ring) moved back at least 1/2 inch.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,923
Likes: 1,884
From: Hot Springs AR
Re: Preventative Maintenance on High Mileage engines? (simplyred02)
You never really know whats going to break, I keep a crystal ball on my tool box but it's fuzzy at best...
So, maybe I should ask the question this way: are new engines non-interference from the standpoint of the valves/pistons?
I know I'm paranoid, but am I paranoid enough? :skep: :skep: ;)
Thanks for the replies, and have a good one,
Mike
