Greetings Scotty,
I just bought a 2013 Silverado single cab with 4.8 v8 "the non-DOD engine", 4l60e with a stick shift 4x4, and a g80 locker, it has 70K miles and 2700 engine hours. It was a company fleet vehicle and had all of the maintenance done at the dealership. I paid $13k for it... did I get a good deal?
Also, I plan to use the truck as an off-road vehicle on sand dunes, how frequently should I change the engine oil and drive-train fluids (transmission-transfer case-differentials)?
Thank you and best regards,
You didn't do too badly. The fit & finish isn't the best, but that's fine since it's a dune truck not a pavement princess. Beware of electronic gremlins though. Hopefully it didn't come with too many doodads and gizmos.
It's easy to wrench on and parts are cheap and plentiful (at least in N.America).
70K miles and 2700 engine hours
that's an average of 25 mph, so mostly city driven.
I plan to use the truck as an off-road vehicle on sand dunes,
A full size truck being pulled by 4.8L will be a bit gutless. I hope it has low gearing. Don't put oversize tires.
how frequently should I change the engine oil and drive-train fluids ?
It's a good thing it's a stick shift. Transmission will last longer and maintenance will be much lower.
Every 50k - 60k for fluids
Do not hammer on the throttle, neutral drop, do burnouts, or similar such party tricks if you don't want the G80 to puke parts. Easy does it.
It's not a stick shift. He said he has a 4L60E trans. The transfer case is stick shift @mmj.
derrrr... I missed that. Thank you Doc. I was thrown off by the "stick 4x4"
Yeah be careful with that 4L60. From the factory, it's reliable for the street. But add a V8 and offroading to the mix, and it'll get roasted quicker. Add an auxiliary ATF cooler and change the fluid often . Lets say 40k - 50k. Avoid abusing it.
I almost did too. I got excited when I thought it was a manual. No such luck. Good advice, Joe.
The truck was kept stock without any modification, even the bed had zero scratches and it was without a bed liner, other trucks with the same milage sold for $16k and up this one was reasonable in comparison, yet I thought it was higher than the norm thanks to the nonsense that is happening today.
I was thinking to change the ATF every 20-25K since I will be revving it high in the sand, but don't know much about diff and transfer case, most people I asked said to never change it and I just didn't buy their advice, that is why I came here to ask the experts.
Also, it has a factory auxiliary cooler for the trans but I did notice the temp going up to 180 while on the highway at noon, any recommendation for a better cooler?
I know that the 4l60e is going to leave me stranded one day, I just want to make the most use of it before it kicks the bucket, and I do plan to convert the truck to a manual transmission once that happens.
Thank you, I really apreciate your advice.
did I get a good deal?
You got a reasonable good deal- a tad high but that's our market today.
I would not use that for off-roading. I would use it as a regular work truck. Change the oil every 5k miles, the transmission fluid every 30k miles. If the transmission fluid hasn't been changed, do it now.
I know it isn't the best off-roading rig, it is one of the main reasons I bought it in the first place. As for the fluids, I did change the transmission and transfer case fluids, thank god they were clean and didn't have any burnt smell on them.
Thank you for your help.
I plan to use the truck as an off-road vehicle on sand dunes
In the Middle East heat?
Yes!
Most of the year the weather is acceptable, it is mainly the summer and especially at noon-afternoon, avoid the sun and it is okay. I live in Riyadh which has similar weather to Austin, but when I go off-road it is mainly up north of the country where the weather is much more tolerable.
Fantastic! Follow the severe usage maintenance schedule, in your owner’s manual.
I totally forgot about that!
Thanks.
I did notice the temp going up to 180
F or C?
any recommendation for a better cooler?
I think stacked plate coolers offer the best cooling capacity.
For example: Long Tru-cool LPD 4590
Dissipates 24,000 BTU of thermal energy.
Install in series with, and downstream of the factory cooler.
180 F, sorry that I didn't mention it earlier, most information online is from the US so I always convert my readings to Fahrenheit and Imperial.
My truck has two coolers already, one is in the bottom of the radiator, and the other is an auxiliary unit mounted on the grille support. So what I understand is I should ditch the factory auxiliary cooler and install a true cool in its place instead, right?
If you already have two then just stop there. You do not want to remove the factory cooler.
175F to 195F are the optimal operating temperature range for the transmission, so you're fine. You only need to worry if it climbs above 220F for long periods of time.
Good to know, hope it keeps this temp range in the sand.
Thanks, Joe!
have fun