Just rolled over 200,000 miles on my '98 1500, 5.9L QC. I'm on my third transmission, but other than that have not done much to it but change oil regularly, change transmission filter, plugs and batteries. I did put in a K&N filter several years ago. It's still running pretty good, power when I step on the gas on the highway has decreased noticably from when it was newer and idle is a little rough sometimes. Defrost doesn't work that great, either.

My question is...what kind of work should I be planning on doing soon to make sure my good ol' truck keeps running for another 200,000 miles? Any preventive maintenance I should be doing to help keep something major from happening?

Thanks,
Jason

 

Plenum if you haven't already done so.

Timing chain and gears, along with the water pump.

 

Thanks. I forgot, I did have to replace the water pump last summer after it gave out in my parking lot at work.

Also got a new radiator with external cooler as part of my last transmission replacement. I am losing a small amount of coolant over time, but never seeing any of it under the truck.

 

Mine was doing that for a while too.... until the leak finally got bad enough that I could actually SEE where it was coming from..... Freeze plug under the drivers side engine mount. Dirt and crap gets trapped in there, and the plugs rust out..... was a simple job to replace it though. Probably took me all of 45 minutes.

 

Plenum and timing chain/gears are the #1 thing you should focus on...

I have 208,525 miles on my truck and she runs strong....second trans, second transfer case, new front end...well about 7K in parts (do my own repairs) alone the past 2 years

 

Do all of the 100,000 mile periodic maintenance from the factory service manual. Don't neglect replacement of the oxygen sensors -- they spend quite a lot of time being wrong before they fail completely.

You might consider making your next transmission a PATC Viper or Mega Viper -- it'll go at least as far as your last three transmissions combined, so in the long run you'll save money.

If it hasn't been done already, you're probably due for a set of new suspension bushings all the way around. Maybe not -- just take a good look at them and decide.

Congrats on reaching that milestone!

 

Thanks, I'll focus on those things this summer.

I believe, though I have no proof, that the reason I'm on my third transmission and not my second is because of the dealer. At just under 60,000, took the truck in for service and the dealer changed the transmission filter. Amazingly, the transmission failed a few thousand miles laters, all gears, only had overdrive left. Of course, it was out of warranty, but the dealer offered to rebuild it if I bought the parts. I firmly believe they did that because they did something wrong, but have no way of proving it. Long story short, that one lasted less than 100,000 miles before going out again. Third transmission was whole rebuilt from a local trans shop and installed by someone. Have not been back to the dealer since that fiasco.

 

210,000 miles here.. basic maintenance here 170,000 replaced water pump and radiator.. radiator i cracked after running over a tree after a lady pulled out in front of me in the pouring rain and stopped in the middle of the road. i had to go in the grass and when i passed her and got back on the road my *** end went in front of me and spun me over the intersection and over the medians tree.. no outside damage just cracked radiator. replaced rear pumpkin seal when i got rear ended and the seal broke. replaced freeze plug leaked. radiator flushed as well as tranny with new filter. every oil change on time. been awhile since a tune up due for one of those. also due for a gonverner preasure sensor mine is bad..