63K mile grandma car

[Pat M.]

Hi, I was searching around and somehow found my way here...very informational but now it's spurred me to have more questions, thus the post.

Anyway long story short. I just got my first car from the mechanic three days ago and the vitals are...


1994 Buick Century 3.1L V6
63K miles
One owner, old lady

Came to me w/o most recent oil change sticker so I have no clue how it was maintained, I figure not so well, although it does have new brakes and apparently "good" trans fluid (According to Monro who said don't waste my money to change it)


So I have a few questions:


A.) I'm about 1/4 way through my 1st tank of gas and I put Chevron Techron in it, it idles pretty rough, should I do another run or maybe try redline? Also I had to get the EGR Valve serviced the day I got it, should I check the PCV Valve?

B.) My Mech changed the oil with 3rd party 5W-20, can I honestly help myself out by maybe changing my oil over to maxlife or M1 clean?

C.) Any car care tips you can give to extend the life of my car (looking for about 30K out of it)


Thanks again.

 

[Shaman]

http://theoildrop.server101.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=003718#000000

 

[BrianWC]

First of all,

You should be fine with the techron, no worries. Everyone here is going to tell you to try auto-rx, so maybe research a few billion thread about it. By all means service whatever needs servicing....

You may want to go to the auto luberication general topics and sem what oil people are using in that GM 3.1 V6. I'm sure 5W20 is okay, but some may insist on a 10W30 or something.

 

[The Critic]

First thing I'd do is add 6 GM cooling system sealer pellets to a radiator hose. The intake mainfold gasket on these engines (3.1/3.4) are notorious for leakage.

If budget permits, replace the gasket ASAP with the updated GM or Feltpro part.

 

[rpn453]

I'd change out all the fluids and filters with whatever meets the manufacturers specs. I'd also check the plugs and wires and replace if necessary. That car is probably barely broken in, but in need of a little routine maintenance.

I'd use 5W-30 with that engine after this OCI; anything API SM.

PCV valve is easy to check, so that's not a bad idea.

 

[Ray H]

Grandma cars - the kiss of death. Doddering little old ladies who faithfully drive their car the half mile round trip to and from the corner bodega three times a week to pick up catfood for "Snookims". The engines' internals are probably in about the same state as their previous owners' vascular and digestive systems at the time of their demise - impacted & nasty.

 

[Clyde65]

Well I can say with a fair amount of certainty that 5W-20 is not recommended by GM for a that engine. 10W-30 is the right viscosity. Valvoline MaxLife 10W-30 would be an excellent choice.

p.s. My science is based on sound opinion.

 

[cousincletus]

I think 1994 used an aluminum intake manifold, so shouldn't have to worry about leaks.

 

[eljefino]

I agree with cletus, the intake manifold issues really started to take off in 1996.

Though it's prudent to watch an antifreeze level in any car as well as all the other fluids

The oil is silly easy to change yourself on this thing, look under the bumper, there's your filter, and your new hobby.

For the rough idle, you need to drive some more. Get it up to 80 on the highway and hold it there for a while.

 

[Pat M.]

Wow I came back to find much more then I expected from you guys. Thanks a ton.


Anyway I had forgot to mention i'm doing plugs/wires tonight anyway and I also picked up a PCV Valve for the heck of it too (It's only $3).

I'll prob take it for a hour or two on the expressway soon and see how that helps the idle.

I'm not experienced at all with cars but I'm looking to learn so I'll get myself on google about that intake manifold.


All your help is appreciated. Thanks again.


P.S - 26 more days on lemon law warrenty.

 

[m2200b]

Its the PCV grommet that needs replacing on a 12 year old car. THe old ones get hard and leak. JUst look for evidence of dirt near the PCV. That means there is a seal leak with oil mist and its the grommet to get a tight seal.

 

[Al]

Like I said Pat..I had a 92 and a 94 leak and had them both fixed. Had them done at two different dealers and both service reps told me (and this was in 2000) that the problem has existed from 1991 until the present.

If you go back on the board and look at used oil analysis, you will find that almost every one of the 3.1's has leaked or is leaking. Please do a UOA.


Unless you have changed a number of sparkl plugs on easy engines. Please don't attempt it on the 3.1. The back 3 are very difficult. I'm not saying you can't do them but its tough.

Post here if you are bound and determined to do it and I'll walk you through it.

 

[Al]

Other problems with this engine are altenator, ignition module, defective plug wires, egr, and auto tranny solenoid valves. (I have had them all)

 

[jdm90]

My grandma has a 87 Chevy Celebrity w/ 2.8 V6. Are they prone to antifreeze leaks? RayH, you are right,she did only drive it to the store. I had to lightly scold her because she went through 3 mufflers due to the car sitting up and condensation. You could see were moisture had formed and collected at the bottom of the muffler. She bought new tires at Sears years ago, well the car started riding so rough it was awful! I looked at the tires and they were so dry rotted it was unbleivable. I asked her if she ever had them rotated, she said,"You're supposed to rotate them?" Before anyone scolds me about not looking after her, she has 3 sons so, I thought they were doing it. NOT!!

 

[jdm90]

Oh yeah, her's just turned 50k. She is the 2nd owner, bought it from my aunt. I have done a few oil changes on it. AL, any solution or good brand of part for the auto tranny solenoid? I think she will need this replaced for the second time. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take over the post.

 

[MN Driver]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Clyde65:
Well I can say with a fair amount of certainty that 5W-20 is not recommended by GM for a that engine. 10W-30 is the right viscosity. Valvoline MaxLife 10W-30 would be an excellent choice.

p.s. My science is based on sound opinion.

---

The recommendation later changed to a 5w-30 for that engine so either 0w/5w/10w-30 would do it. If you only plan to keep it for until 100k miles and its been owned by a very gentle driver(old lady) then I am sure there would be no sense in changing the transmission fluid. Is this before they took out the dipstick? It wouldn't be too hard to see and smell it if you have a transmission dipstick. As others have mentioned a UOA wouldn't be a bad idea $20 from Blackstone Labs.

Give it a good wide open throttle runs to clean some of that granny carbon out of there, it could do it some good, it's a pretty fun engine to have in that car.

Lemon Law warranty, is that a standard New York thing or was there something that went wrong with it repeatedly?

 

[SSDude]

You should put 10w-30 in that engine. I once put 250,000 mile on a GM 3.1L. I wish I had known about the head gasket problem. Yes, it blew a head gasket. The thing would still be running if only I had known.

 

[Al]

quote:

---

Originally posted by jdm90:
My grandma has a 87 Chevy Celebrity w/ 2.8 V6. Are they prone to antifreeze leaks?

---

I don't know about the 2.8. I don't think there were any problems. Tranny solenoid-I bit the GM bullet on that one.

That year had a dipstick. You can get 2 quarts out of it by siphoning with a tygon 3/8" approx tubing down the dipstick tube. If you can get in on a ramp it works great. I'd do a couple of drain and fills. The pan is a beech bc a crossarm goes over it. It can be done though.

 

[Pat M.]

Ok guys thanks again for all the additional help.


I did change the plugs...rough idle nearly gone and the power is definatly up. Along with the plugs and wires I changed the PCV valve, I'll grab a grommet tomorrow.

I saved all the plugs and noted their cylinder of origin, i'll post pics soon. Yes indeed it does say 5W-30 not 5w-20

so do you guys think maxlife 10W-30? I'll look into the oil quality check also.

And yes NYS Lemon Law is given on used cars under 100K miles from dealer (My mech is technicly a dealer)

 

[m2200b]

Both the trannie and coolant work best with 35K changes or every 2-3 years.

Do mark the level on the coolant level with a sharpie so you are monitoring potential coolant leaks even if you don't UOA the oil next change.

I did get some more power out of similar 1996 with 40K by one ARX treatment and techron.

Don't forget the fuel filter.

A despite all the posts here these are well built long running cars.