Tow Vehicles: K&N Intakes

[seabob4]

My opinion Scott, just treat the motor right.  Regular oil changes, good, PROPER plugs for the 5.3 (some motors like some plugs better than others), good plug wires, the "normal" chit.  Oil cooler and tranny cooler for towing, a GOOD cooling system clean out, basically make the motor feel like she is new again by providing her with what she needs.  Today's motors (and yours is considered a "today" motor) can run for several hundred thousand miles given that she is cared for.

Not sure that I believe your mechanic in that the same results of chipping can be obtained by running 93.  If that were the case, there would be no chips out there.  JMHO...

[seabob4]

Oh, and BTW.  Since this is your thread, I can de-rail.  Tell your Wolfpack to put a hurtin' on Syracuse today, huh??    

[gran398]

I would like nothing better than to see the Wolfpack pull the upset. They are actually capable of it. If Warren gets hot, no one in the country can stop him.

On the other hand, and what we're famous for.....when the going gets tough, we fold like a K-Mart lawn chair!

Re the Tahoe, she's been maintained. Oil change every 3,000, plug wires at 80,000, plugs, etc. Changed the rear differential fluid before the haul to your place. Been a great truck, no issues, no problems. 166K happy miles so far.

[seabob4]

I would like nothing better than to see the Wolfpack pull the upset. They are actually capable of it. If Warren gets hot, no one in the country can stop him.

On the other hand, and what we're famous for.....when the going gets tough, we fold like a K-Mart lawn chair!

Re the Tahoe, she's been maintained. Oil change every 3,000, plug wires at 80,000, plugs, etc. Changed the rear differential fluid before the haul to your place. Been a great truck, no issues, no problems. 166K happy miles so far.

Well there ya go, sounds like you are doing the right things!!!  

[gran398]

Bob, the Wolfpack couldn't get out of Raleigh...game time now 7 PM....ck it out

[seabob4]

Bob, the Wolfpack couldn't get out of Raleigh...game time now 7 PM....ck it out

Yeah Scotty, tonight we have that game, the pitiful Illini host the Buckeyes, and at 9...Gators in Rupp arena!!!

[Circle Hooked]

I have had a K&N filter in my truck for almost it's whole life,13 years and never a problem, the key is when you service it don't over oil and let it dry before you put it back in, I serviced mine in Dec and because I forgot, it sat in the garage for two weeks before I put it back in and I did notice my mileage suffer, that's what reminded me to put it back in.

[fitz73222]

Yep, K&N on my ''02 GMC since new and that filter came from '99 Silverado when it was new! So they do last! No problems ever. Scott, save the money on a cold air intake at 166,000 miles. You wouldn't know the difference. Get the engine decoked and injectors cleaned. It's full of carbon. That's what is eating up HP. Your truck ran fine, just needs Maintenance. Oil changes by themselves aren't maintenance. You're probably still running original plugs. Plug wires @ 80K, wrong Tahoe, you have coil over plug on a 5.3 like outboard ignition. The wires are about 6" long. I've never seen them go bad. 5.7's are a different story.

[seabob4]

Which kind of goes along the line I was getting at before in regards to chips...if this stuff didn't work, people wouldn't buy it.  With the availability of GOOD info on the internet, if something is junk, it will soon be found out.

After I had the Maxima (5-speed) for some time, I decided it was time to change the gearbox oil.  Did my research...Amsoil, Royal Purple, Redline, etc.  Settled on Royal Purple 75W-90 full synth.  Yeah, pricey ($15/qt), but let me tell you, that gearbox shifts like butter!  Even had some guy on the Maxima forum tell me that GL-5 spec oil was no good for Maxima synchos...geez, I guess my car doesn't know that!  50K miles on the oil and she shifts awesome...

I might try a K & N drop in air filter, but from the research I've done, the CAI is of EXTREMELY little benefit to my Max...

[seabob4]

Farley, was kinda wondering if Scotty's 5.3 had coil-overs...thank God my vehicles don't!!  Single coil, single dizzy with normal wires...

[gman 82 aquasport]

There are guys up this way(lots of Nascar guys) 8)  who can custom program your computor controls for the engine...adjust shift points, convertor lock-up points, timimg etc...program for mileage or for power I have seen some kits advertised that will let you adjust some of these on your own to fit the type driving your doing at the time..cruising down the interstate vrs towing..

[gran398]

Yep, K&N on my ''02 GMC since new and that filter came from '99 Silverado when it was new! So they do last! No problems ever. Scott, save the money on a cold air intake at 166,000 miles. You wouldn't know the difference. Get the engine decoked and injectors cleaned. It's full of carbon. That's what is eating up HP. Your truck ran fine, just needs Maintenance. Oil changes by themselves aren't maintenance. You're probably still running original plugs. Plug wires @ 80K, wrong Tahoe, you have coil over plug on a 5.3 like outboard ignition. The wires are about 6" long. I've never seen them go bad. 5.7's are a different story.

Thanks Farl. I think to be honest I got this one mixed up with the other one, the '95. I paid to have plug wires replaced at 80K.

So on this one...get it decoked and injectors cleaned....is this all the same process? I remember looking into it a good while back, but forgot what they said.

The plugs....what should the replacement interval be?

Thanks

[gran398]

There are guys up this way(lots of Nascar guys) 8)  who can custom program your computor controls for the engine...adjust shift points, convertor lock-up points, timimg etc...program for mileage or for power I have seen some kits advertised that will let you adjust some of these on your own to fit the type driving your doing at the time..cruising down the interstate vrs towing..

Thanks Garry,

Saw those kits too, seems like you worked them off an I Pad, etc.?

Kinda shy about buying stuff like this...a bit out of my realm of familiarity  

[ceejkay]

scott look into a blackbear tune. its in the neighborhood of 250$ but for 500$ you can have them do a ride along. they will see how you drive and make a custom tune on how "you" drive. ive had a k&n drop in on my truck since i bought it. i clean mine about every month and lightly oil it. i drive on the beach a lot so it gets dirty easy. i put a cherry bomb muffler on my 5.7, its basically a flowmaster 10 series. its loud enough for me but quiet enough that i cant really hear it when im cruising. also look at tahoeyukonforum for other little tips and tricks. i go by the same username over there as here.. good luck

[seabob4]

So anybody up for Scotty doing the Seafoam treatment on his 5.3?