Major Service Question - Gen3 2.2 5sfe

[unkit]

Hi guys

My Aus built Gen3 has ticked over to 262 000km. The books I have show that the last major service done on the car was at 160 000km. I figure a little preventative maintainence might be in order. (when i got the car it was in pretty bad shape, i assume the previous owner was quite bad with their servicing). I'm having the oil and filter changed every 5000km and Transmission fluid every 20 000km - to prevent any further damage. I need the car to last me atleast another year.

I was thinking that I should have the following done.... Is there anything else i should consider at the same time?

*spark plugs with replaced with OEM ones 10 000km ago
*Timing belt
*Idler pulley
*Tensioner pulley
*Cam shaft Oil seal
*Harmonic balancer oil seal
*Oil pump seal
*Water Pump
*Diff oil change (not sure how regularly I am supposed to have this done)
*P/S oil change (how often I am supposed to have this done?)
*Air Filter
*

The car manual only recommends a Timing Belt change for "harsh driving" conditions at any service interval...so not sure what to trust.

I cleaned the throttle body - when i took of the pipe, it seemed shiny clean inside.... i sprayed it anyways, but no difference and no smoke.

I also sprayed some into the brake line booster (we don't get seafoam here in asutralia), but NO smoke came out the exhaust.

Need this car to last me for another 1.5 years so happy to do any preventative maintenance.

Oh and another question: What is upper cylinder lubricant? (I've had my car converted to dual fuel so that it will run on both LPG and petrol). I was wondering if there was a way to periodically add upper cylinder lubricant rather than buying a fancy kit that puts it in automatically.


Sorry about the long post

[Hajoca]

PS fluid change (with Dex III or comparable) I would just do it once now, if you have not in the past.

Your upper cylinder area that needs lube are the valve seats and the valve's sealing face. The valve stems are oiled with motor oil.

Is Lucas's upper cylinder lube available in AU? or comparable product? you run that in your gas (petrol) once in a while in between using propane.

[Kep]

I'm not sure that I would bother with the oil seals (oil pump, cam shaft, harmonic balancer), unless they are leaking, unless you just want to go the extra mile while you have the TB out. The manual should give you a mileage to change the diff fluid. I would imagine that it is about every 30,000 miles (60,000 km?).

Consider replacing the brake fluid. Clean the PCV valve. It would be interesting to pop the valve cover and determine if you have any sludge concerns (though I haven't taken my own advise on this yet). However, this could cost you the price of the 5 gaskets on a 5SFE.

Kep

[unkit]

Thanks for the advice guys

I bought Castrol Transmax M - It says its the Dexron II replacement, and i figured that since the manual recommends Dex II, thats what i should stick with. Should i go back and change it? or is Dex III the next best thing?

I'll get my mech to check for sludge.
I think the brake oil was changed when the pads were changed, but i'll have him check it out.

The seals are like $20 and there is no extra labour charge, so i figured might as well have them done... just incase.

Can you give me a little bit more advice on the PVC valve? what does it do?

Thanks so much for your help guys. I really really really really appreciate it.

[Kep]

The PCV valve is a Positive Crankcase Ventilation valve. It keeps the pressures inside the engine from building up too much. It is pretty much a piece of plastic tubing with a ball bearing in it that allows excess gas to flow out of the crankcase. To check them you remove the valve (mines a plastic elbow) and shake it. If you hear the ball bearing rattling then all is well. If not you clean it with throttle body spray (usually effective) or replace it (mechanics often prefer putting new equipment on so it doesn't come back on warranty).

Before you tell him to check for sludge, ask your mechanic what he will have to charge to do this. It isn't bad as a DIY but it might be pricey with a mechanic.

Kep

[unkit]

Thank you very much for that. Really appreciate it.

[Kitto]

Dex III supersede Dex II, so Dex III is better than Dex II. If I were you, I will go back and change it.