I have a 1997 GMC Sierra that is a garage queen and is mint inside and out. It seems maybe 1,000 miles a year and sits in the garage most of the time. When I do drive it, it sees at least 50 miles and is fully heated up before being parked in the garage and shut off till next time. I'm wondering when I should change all the fluids other then the oil(which is changed once a year) and also the various filters? I flushed all fluids(front, rear diff, T-case, auto transmission, P/S, brake, coolant) back in 2011 and then again in 2017 so 6 years on those fluids but only 6,000-7,000 miles. The fluids all looked brand new but had 6 years on them. When would be a good time to flush these fluids for this truck based on how it sits a lot? Also how about the engine air filter and fuel filter? The air filter(Napa Gold) also has 6 years on it and still looks good but I'm concerned about the paper starting to age and break down? When should this be changed to keep things safe and protected? Fuel filter...It was changed back in 2011 and I have no idea when I should change it again. Thanks for any advice and help!
Changing fluids on truck that sits for long time!
- Thread starter Chris B.
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I have experience storing vehicles. Amond several others, I stored Dads 1997 Chevy pickup until my son was old enough to drive it. Far and away, the most pressing concern is the freshness of gas and the fuel system. The rest of the fluids you mention should be perfectly fine. I would wait at least 10 years before considering changing out any of those. Even the oil would be good for a solid two years here.
Gas is the most important by far!
Gas is the most important by far!
I have a vehicle which sits unstarted from Nov- early May since 1987.. I put about 1000-1500 miles a summer on it. I change the oil/filter every 3 years or 3000 miles. A couple of oil analysis done says I could go longer but I don't. Transmission fluid filter changed last year. Prior was 1993 or around 35k miles. I flushed brake fluid last year and prior was 2002. Cooling system flush every 5-7 years.Gas filter was done at 10- 15k mile intervals. All I do is keep the battery charged, a full tank of frsh/stablized fuel in the tank. I inspect everything each spring and have had no issues at all.A lot depends on what conditions you store it at.
I have a truck which is a working truck during the summer. It sits DEC-April since 1997. I put about 3k miles on it a year. Except for oil/filter done yearly, I follow the same schedule.
Worst thing you can do is let the car sit idling in the driveway in the middle of winter just to run it.
I have a truck which is a working truck during the summer. It sits DEC-April since 1997. I put about 3k miles on it a year. Except for oil/filter done yearly, I follow the same schedule.
Worst thing you can do is let the car sit idling in the driveway in the middle of winter just to run it.
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Originally Posted By: gfh77665
I have experience storing vehicles. Amond several others, I stored Dads 1997 Chevy pickup until my son was old enough to drive it. Far and away, the most pressing concern is the freshness of gas and the fuel system. The rest of the fluids you mention should be perfectly fine. I would wait at least 10 years before considering changing out any of those. Even the oil would be good for a solid two years here.
Gas is the most important by far!
Is there a way to keep it fresh? Do the gas stabilizer products work?
I have experience storing vehicles. Amond several others, I stored Dads 1997 Chevy pickup until my son was old enough to drive it. Far and away, the most pressing concern is the freshness of gas and the fuel system. The rest of the fluids you mention should be perfectly fine. I would wait at least 10 years before considering changing out any of those. Even the oil would be good for a solid two years here.
Gas is the most important by far!
Is there a way to keep it fresh? Do the gas stabilizer products work?
JHZR2
Staff member
I have a 98 chevy truck that sees the same type of situation. I do as you and assure it gets heated up...
Running as is important, fuel quality is important. Ive shifted to Pennzoil Conventional and a FU every other year.
Coolant is important due to corrosion.
Ive found that other fluids need not be changed but by reasonable mileage, so I use 24-36k.
Use a fuel,stabilizer or two stroke oil every fill up!
Running as is important, fuel quality is important. Ive shifted to Pennzoil Conventional and a FU every other year.
Coolant is important due to corrosion.
Ive found that other fluids need not be changed but by reasonable mileage, so I use 24-36k.
Use a fuel,stabilizer or two stroke oil every fill up!
Originally Posted By: camrydriver111
Originally Posted By: gfh77665
I have experience storing vehicles. Amond several others, I stored Dads 1997 Chevy pickup until my son was old enough to drive it. Far and away, the most pressing concern is the freshness of gas and the fuel system. The rest of the fluids you mention should be perfectly fine. I would wait at least 10 years before considering changing out any of those. Even the oil would be good for a solid two years here.
Gas is the most important by far!
Is there a way to keep it fresh? Do the gas stabilizer products work?
Stored a vehicle for a couple years (outside even). It started right up no problems. I dosed with marine stabil, TCW3 oil at 1 oz per 5 gal, and most importantly premium ethanol free fuel.
Originally Posted By: gfh77665
I have experience storing vehicles. Amond several others, I stored Dads 1997 Chevy pickup until my son was old enough to drive it. Far and away, the most pressing concern is the freshness of gas and the fuel system. The rest of the fluids you mention should be perfectly fine. I would wait at least 10 years before considering changing out any of those. Even the oil would be good for a solid two years here.
Gas is the most important by far!
Is there a way to keep it fresh? Do the gas stabilizer products work?
Stored a vehicle for a couple years (outside even). It started right up no problems. I dosed with marine stabil, TCW3 oil at 1 oz per 5 gal, and most importantly premium ethanol free fuel.
Originally Posted By: gfh77665
I have experience storing vehicles. Amond several others, I stored Dads 1997 Chevy pickup until my son was old enough to drive it. Far and away, the most pressing concern is the freshness of gas and the fuel system. The rest of the fluids you mention should be perfectly fine. I would wait at least 10 years before considering changing out any of those. Even the oil would be good for a solid two years here.
Gas is the most important by far!
You'd leave brake fluid 10 years?
I might leave oil 10 years but I wouldn't deliberately do it with brake fluid unless I was parked up in the Attacama.
EDIT : Ah Texas. I suppose maybe that comes fairly close.
I have experience storing vehicles. Amond several others, I stored Dads 1997 Chevy pickup until my son was old enough to drive it. Far and away, the most pressing concern is the freshness of gas and the fuel system. The rest of the fluids you mention should be perfectly fine. I would wait at least 10 years before considering changing out any of those. Even the oil would be good for a solid two years here.
Gas is the most important by far!
You'd leave brake fluid 10 years?
I might leave oil 10 years but I wouldn't deliberately do it with brake fluid unless I was parked up in the Attacama.
EDIT : Ah Texas. I suppose maybe that comes fairly close.
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A few years ago. I had a car that sat for about 6 months. I was driving a truck for work then.
I would go out once a week and start the car and let it run about 5-10 minutes.
Hello when I started driving it regularly again, I changed the oil n filter. Ran a tank of premium gas through it.
No problems whatsoever with the car.
I would go out once a week and start the car and let it run about 5-10 minutes.
Hello when I started driving it regularly again, I changed the oil n filter. Ran a tank of premium gas through it.
No problems whatsoever with the car.
Originally Posted By: Chris B.
Thanks gentlemen! So how about the paper engine air filter? When should they be replaced time wise?
I would say at least check them for mice nests or mice damage. Checked my old 97 subaru that I let sit for a week and the mice tore a huge hole in the filter paper leaving just the heavy screen to filter the dust! Yikes!
Thanks gentlemen! So how about the paper engine air filter? When should they be replaced time wise?
I would say at least check them for mice nests or mice damage. Checked my old 97 subaru that I let sit for a week and the mice tore a huge hole in the filter paper leaving just the heavy screen to filter the dust! Yikes!
Originally Posted By: fordman65
I would go out once a week and start the car and let it run about 5-10 minutes.
Yeh, my dad got someone to do that for the car they kept at their holiday place. Couldn't reason him out of it, though I tried.
I would go out once a week and start the car and let it run about 5-10 minutes.
Yeh, my dad got someone to do that for the car they kept at their holiday place. Couldn't reason him out of it, though I tried.
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