I have my new AirAid C.A.I. ready to install, but before I do, I want to get the truck running perfect. It's time for an oil change anyways.

What all can be tuned or have lubricant changes (engine, tranny, rear-end, etc) and what brands/types (conventional, synthetic) are the best to use? I do know it has never had new plug wires since it was bought in '99. I'm sure it needs new plugs, too.

 

Basic summary of what I do:

Fuel filter - filter is about $15, and you need $5 tool from auto parts place to remove old filter. Every 30K miles.

Oil - I use conventional Havoline or Pennzoil 5W-20 at 5000 mile intervals.

Oil filter - Motorcraft FL400s, or Advance Auto house brand.

Coolant - at least drain and refill radiator once a year or every 30-40 K miles is what I do. Be sure to use proper coolant (Green or Gold)

Plugs and wires - every 2-3 years or 70,000-80,000 miles. I stick with Motorcraft. I always put a small amount of Anti-Sieze, or No-Alox on the plug threads

Auto transmission- drop the pan, replace filter and then refill with Merc V fluid, about every 30,000-40,000 miles. Filter kit is about $15 and fluid is about $4/qt.

Manual transmission - drain and replace fluid. I did it about every 50,000 miles when I had the 2000 model. 5 qts I think, of Merc III ATF I think.

Rear end - Not called for unless it gets submerged. But if you choose to: about 3 qts of fully syn 70W-140 (if memory serves me correctly)

Flush brake system with new fluid - DOT 3. One quart should do the job.

Power steering fluid - siphon out the tank and refill with ATF. That is not a complete fluid change but if you do it once a year, that's all I've ever needed.

That's about all I can think of.
I don't believe in overkill, but do believe in basic routine stuff.
Servicing at too short intervals wastes time, money and resources and does nothing to improve reliability and vehicle life.
Servicing at too long intervals does not guarantee problems, but increases the likelyhood.

Good common sense and KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) seems to be all that is needed.

Thanks!

 

One suggestion - don't do everything at once unless you are comfortable with it all.
If you do many things at once, and then have a problem, where do you start ???
For example: If you do plugs, wires, air filter and auto-transmission, and then you have a miss/stumble, it'll be harder to figure out what is going on.

Do one thing, or several that are not related, drive it around and make sure all is OK, then do some more.

Have fun. It's nice to be able to do it yourself, save money (in some cases a good bit) and know your truck better in the process.

 

i just bought a 2001 F150 4.2 V6 with 102.000 on it. it was pinging in less you had the good gas in it 92 octane and it only got 12 MPG after i installed new plugs and wires the pinging went away i can now run 87 octane fuel and geting 17 MPG and much more power that is mostly in town driveing some hiway but i still have the valve train noise when its cold 30-35ferinhight for about 5 minuets till it warms up some does any one know what i can do to fix it ?