New Vehicle, New Maintenance Schedule & Products?

[Metalcolt]

To all a thank you ahead of time for taking the time to respond!

I am new to this forum and am still kind of new to using forums. I have recently bought a new vehicle and have a lot of regular maintenance items to take care of. I heard some say synthetic everything and some say synthetic for some things and not others.

I am also looking for opinions on brands for all items listed. I am planning on keeping this vehicle for a longtime. I am going to put a lot of info below because one thing that I have read from seasoned forum users is "provide more info, list more specifics". Also, I am aware that I may post this in the wrong place and ask questions that are answered often, I have done many searches and am still looking, if you know of a post or thread were there is info I am interested in, please give me a link.

Vehicle Make: Jeep
Year: 2004
Model: Wrangler X - Columbia Edition
Engine: 4.0L AMC Straight Six
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual (NV3550)
Mileage: 86,000
Primary Location: Denver, Colorado

Intended Use: Primary vehicle, on-road 85%, off-road 15%. No rock crawling etc... However, I may use it for occasional towing, but not beyond rated max (3,500 lbs. gross trailer weight).

I do intend to do a three inch suspension lift or 1.5 inch body lift. The recommended tire/wheel size is, 225/75/15 (28.3/8.86/15), I will be changing the tire/wheel combination to 265/75/16 (31.6/10.43/16). This will mean some amount of increased wear which I want to consider in my maintenance schedule and lubricant choices.

Intended Maintenance Schedule:
Every 3,000 miles: Engine oil and filter
Every 15,000 miles: Air Filter
Every 30,000 miles: coolant, both differentials, transfer case, gearbox and spark plugs.

Manufacture Recommendations: (for all lubricants I am looking for thoughts on synthetic vs. mineral)
Fuel: 87 octane
Engine Oil: SAE 10W-30, API Certified
Oil Filter: Brand recommendations?
Coolant: Thinking about adding Redline Water Wetter to recommended coolant
Spark Plugs: Any recommendations, other brands or better performing plugs/wires other than the general recommendations?
Gearbox Oil: Recommendations?
Transfer Case: ATF +4

Differentials: I would like to use the same type all the time, I will tow less than 5% of the time.
Front Diff. Regular: SAE 80W-90 API GL5
Front Diff. Towing: SAE 75W-140 Synthetic
Rear Diff.: Manufacture has same recommendations as for the front..

I do like BG products, does anyone have a schedule they like for 44k, MOA, 109 etc...


Thank you everyone for any suggestions or advice you impart.

-Metalcolt

 

[Nick1994]

Use Champion plugs, they run great on those OEM Champions. Plus they're only $1.99 each and easy to change.I've tried those fancy 4 prong Bosch plugs but eh, they weren't so great. In my experience the 4.0's run great on Castrol GTX HM 10w30, but I'd recommend a 5w30 for those Denver cold starts. I've used Valvoline 80w90 for the gear oil, and I assume it's doing fine. I also use auto parts store brand green coolant mixed 50/50 with Distilled water

 

[Nick1994]

Also, I always use Wix oil filters on them. They work beautifully. Part number for the Wix is 51085

 

[salv]

I like the Bosch 3402 filter I have on my 4.0 right now.

Coolant-Zerex G05

Engine Oil-Inexpensive blend or dino.

Plugs and wires-OEM with Campion coppers

Diffs-BG 75/90

Trans-BG Synchroshift II

Transfer case-cheap ATF +4

BG 44K or Fuel Induction every 15k, MOA every 5k.

 

[Eddie]

Looks like a good plan to me except, I don't understand why the increased tire size. Ed

 

[Metalcolt]

Thank you all for the input and suggestions.

Ed - The reason for the small lift and tire change is mostly astetic. I like the way the vehicle looks a bit higher with slightly larger tires and wheels, looks more proportional and balanced. Also, at approximately 100,000 miles the springs etc... are a bit loose so it is a good time to do it.

 

[Umibozu]

Originally Posted By: Eddie
Looks like a good plan to me except, I don't understand why the increased tire size. Ed


have you seen a lifted Wrangler without upsized tires...they look...awkward.

 

[Metalcolt]

Yes I have they look really strange. But I think they also looks awkward when on the stock tire & wheel combination.

I have a Ford F-250 that I am selling, which is another vehicle that looks odd on its stock tire & wheel combo.

 

[Umibozu]

The Wix Oil Filter is a good one.

You can't go wrong with Fram Ultra, Napa Platinum, or Purolator Synthetic. However for your oil change interval it would be some what of a waste since I consider those extended use oil filters.

My coworker uses a lot of amsoil products for his Jeep Wrangler. Similar driving situation as well. He seems really happy so far. I believe his OCI is 5k miles.

 

[Kuato]

Welcome to BITOG, and welcome to Jeep! I've owned several 4.0s - and the others that also own them may be along shortly.

You should be able to use any good conventional oil for at least 5000 miles. 5w30 or even 0w30 are not out of line, they will help with flow ay start up and I have been using both (usually 0w30) for several years. Got great UOAs with VWB, Amsoil, and even ST Syn, all in 5w30. One thing about these 4.0s is that they do NOT seem to like M1 products for some reason, so staying away from those would be a good idea IMO.

Wix filters are good, but some (myself included) have gotten startup clatter using these. Motorcraft FL400S are reported to work great (and are inexpensive), and M1 (filter, not the oil) and Amsoil filters are good for extended drain. For just 5000 miles a Pure One or Fram Ultra are probably good choices also.

For spark plugs replace with what is in there already. Two of mine had the Champions from the factory, and another had NGK, all ran flawlessly. As mentioned by Nick1994, getting fancy with plugs on this engine isn't necessary, and can cause it to run poorly.

For the fluids, I am partial to Amsoil for the differentials, Tcase and manual transmission.

For coolant, performing a drain and refill of the radiator every 2 years will keep that system in good shape. That model year some came with green and others with orange coolant; i have used the green AMAM(All Makes All Models) without issue or corrosion on that schedule.

I can recommend the Amsoil air filter for this engine; have had one in my 04 for awhile, advertised as good for 100k and you just vacuum it out every 20-25k, if that.

Lifted Jeeps are cool, but with the addition of larger tires (and with your plans to tow) you will likely want to regear your differentials. If you have the tow package you may have 3.73 but could have 3.55. There are numerous calculators online to find the correct gears to use for a tire size change; without it your Jeep will be very sluggish with the larger tires.

 

[The_Captain]

I also recommend switching over to synthetic oil for your differentials etc... M1, Amsoil, Red Line or even Royal Purple would serve you well. I would say a 5w-30 Syn-blend from Kendall, Pennzoil or Castrol. Run a good filter NAPA, Wix etc.. and do a 5k change interval.

 

[steve20]

I've never heard a complaint about Amsoil fluids for the gearbox and diffs, and use them myself in the Corvette. I do not use Amsoil motor oil, as I do not do extended drain intervals

 

[Zaedock]

I've had good results running Quaker State grp III syns (5W30) in my off roads rigs and recommend the same. Any SOPUS 5W30 syn oil would serve you well.

I recommend PZ Synchromesh for the NV3550.

Dexron III, Mercon, or ATF+4 is fine in the NV231 transfer case. I use Mobil 1 multi vehicle ATF in ALL of my chain driven T-cases (my trail Jeep uses a modified Dodge NP231HD 32 spline output 'case). ATF+4 is probably the best bang for the buck.

Axles: Regular 75 or 80W90 gear oil is fine. There is nothing special about your Dana 30 or 35. The X models typically came with 3.07's, so 31's are going to be about as big as you'll want to get. Also, the rear 27 spline Dana 35 won't like anything bigger without snapping a shaft. I recommend carrying spares and when it comes time to a gear swap, swap the entire rear unit for a Ford 8.8" axle. When you snap a rear shaft, you won't need to ask me why I recommend it.

 

[crazyoildude]

those jeeps especially the 4.0 can really run a long long time and are easy to fix and the parts are not expensive either..

 

[caravanmike]

i run penzoil syncromesch in a nv3550 i maintain (going on 8 years now). shifts great! if you don't want an expensive botique oil for the gear box it is a good option for 30,000 mile intervals.

 

[Metalcolt]

Well, here is the decision for now. I used Redline products in my 2001 7.3L F-250 and just realized that I have five gallons of ATF that I was intending to use for a transmission service in the future when it cam due, but I am now selling the truck. The shop is going to let me swap it for other Redline products so I am going to do the following:

Motor Oil: Redline 5w-30

Gearbox (NV3550): Redline MTL

Transfer Case (NV231): Redline C+ ATF

Front Differential, Dana 30 (currently 3.07 will change to 4.10): Redline 75w-90 GL-5

Rear Differential, Dana 35c (currently 3.07 will change to 4.11): Redline 75w-90 GL-5, maybe 75w-140 since I am changing the gears?

I have also decided that I will not use a K&N air filter. However, I am thinking about the Spectre cold air intake because the intake pulling from the cowl vent chamber seems like an interesting idea and it makes room for the lockable storage compartment that you can install where the factory air box is. Seems like a pretty interesting idea. Has anyone had any experience with this?