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Revised Maintenance Schedules with Mods

6.9K views 16 replies 12 participants last post by  Hotrod-Realtor  
#1 ·
Trying to get a handle on the revised maintenance schedules for those who have modded their rides. What's your new routine?

1. Oil Changes - Every 3-5K, especially for Meth injection? Does synthetic brand matter given the frequency of the change?

2. Tranny Fluid Change -

3. Differential Fluid Change -

4. Coolant Change -

5. HX Coolant -

6. Catch Can - Check regularly at every 2-3 fillups

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
1. Oil Changes - I do every 3,000 miles here. I usually use Synthetic QS. (I know I can go longer, I just don't)

2. Tranny Fluid Change - I don't see a reason to crack the tranny pan. Trans fliud is usually good for around 75,000-100,000 miles. Now if you are Auto-X'ing, I would cut those miles in half.

3. Differential Fluid Change - If you are DD and 1/4 mile, I would go no more than 25,000 miles. If you Auto-X a lot, I would look at around every 10,000 miles.

4. Coolant Change - Once again, I don't see a reason to change this.

5. HX Coolant - ^ See above.

6. Catch Can - I think I check mine about every 2 weeks.

Disclaimer: Info above is from my personal experience with auto racing over the last 15 yrs. So don't ask for techincal data to back it up.:D
 
#6 ·
I do brake fluid at least once a year if only to keep the water out. More frequent if tracking.
 
#10 · (Edited)
Trying to get a handle on the revised maintenance schedules for those who have modded their rides. What's your new routine?

1. Oil Changes - Every 3-5K, especially for Meth injection? Does synthetic brand matter given the frequency of the change?

I'd go by the OLM.. Even Modified. The variables it monitors do not change with modifications. A lot of people on BITOG reccomend castrol 0W30 for LS engines, since it's a thicker 30W and burns off less, but some of the vette guys use M1 OW40 for their track Z06's with sucess, even if there's no reasonable support for the heavier weight. The bearing tolerances in the LS engines at least support a 40W oil.
if you're running meth, I'd do an UOA before running off the OLM to see if there's any significant leakage in the oil.

2. Tranny Fluid Change -
6L90E; every 30-50K unless you have an external cooler, This trans runs decently Hot. Even for synthetic Dex VI. You're more worried about gunk accumulation here. Before I gave up my Auto, I was planning on 30K flushes to keep her running
TR-6060- Every 20-30K, and I'd use the Dino GM stuff, I wouldn't use any synthetic Amsoil or ect.. oils.

3. Differential Fluid Change -
Every 15K w/o a diff cooler if you track, every 30K if you just putz around and floor it once in a while, I've no idea why it has such a pitiful capacity for such a large car.. my S4 Rear diff held more oil that this one.
4. Coolant Change -

Every 50K. Although, I think GM is finnaly using phosphate free coolant similar to G12++ these days, (it's pink, not orange) so this may not be totally necessary. I do know that the old Deathcool has tendances to lead to lots of galvanic corrosion, so frequent changes are necessary
5. HX Coolant -

Every 50K see above.

6. Catch Can - Check regularly at every 2-3 fillups

Depends on how often you're keeping it in the upper RPM bands where there's more blow-by. Once an oil change is all that's needed typically, espically if you're doing super-short OCI's like 3-5K. Thanks!
How about brake fluid?
Once a year if you're a light autocrosser or are using some super-high boiling point fluid. They absorb moisture at a faster rate than the super DOT-3 that comes with the car. it's a good practice to do as a 'start of the season' change if you auto-x frequently too. Along with your Diff/trans and engine fluids.
 
#14 ·
keep tabs on oil also...if it starts smelling like gas around 1500~2k miles from running rich/big injectors/e85 or all three, change it.