Sounds like you're all stocked up with good oil & filters. As far as cleaning is concerned, you might run 1 round of Auto-RX. With 72K miles on it, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt.
Thoughts on GM Vortec 4200 engine
- Thread starter Drew99GT
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Yes, they sure do. Congrats on the purchase. Oil/filter changes are pretty easy on the 4.2L. You may find a square plastic access door to remove on the plastic belly pan to get at the drain plug and filter. My door left me some time ago.
G/luck
Joel
I did an oil change on the Envoy I drove a month or two ago. I don't remember the exact position, but I don't think it was anything major. I want to say it was towards the front of the engine up about half-way. Sat at an angle possibly. I just unscrewed and removed it. No big deal.
The oil filter is somewhat awkward at first on the 4.2L. You arm/hand has to go kinda over and up, it's not a clear shot out. It is mounted vertially, open side up, rt side of the block. It is mounted above some chassis and front drivetrain components, so it's removal is not mess free. My 2005 has a plastic 'drip director' up in there that catches the drippings from the filter and sends it in close proximity to the drain plug stream. I have to raise the front end to get my plus sized chassis under! Another item to address is the throttle body. These engines use an electric throttle by wire system. If your idle ever gets funky, get a $3 can of throttle body cleaner and clean around the throttle bore. The TBW system needs to make minute changes to the throttle plate position to maintain idle speed. Sometimes a dirty bore prevents this. The I6 should idle so low and smooth you dont know it's running!
G/luck
Joel
G/luck
Joel
NP! Have you decided what oil/oil filter you're going to go with yet?
I wouldn't get too excited about the 4200 I6 yet. It's looking like they're going to start having the same head gasket problems and stripped threads in the blocks that the Caddy Northstar engines have been plagued with.
The company that makes the "fix-it" thread inserts for the Northstar already has a thread insert kit for this engine too.
http://www.timesert.com/html/gm.html
The company that makes the "fix-it" thread inserts for the Northstar already has a thread insert kit for this engine too.
http://www.timesert.com/html/gm.html
I have a 4.2 in my wife's trailblazer. Horrible gas mileage (about 14) decent but not exciting power at high RPM and not much torque to pull you off the line, and I assume towing would have to be all high RPM stuff. I think they claim 270 hp, same as my 4.8 silverado. Silverado will blow it away, and gets better mileage too.
I've had the Vehicle a day now and everyone in the family loves it. Being an Oldsmobile, it has all the creature features.....more things to go wrong I know, but boy when they work 
. Smooth ride, quiet, good acceleration. Will do an oil change this weekend and check mileage after that. I know it won't do as well as my regal GS but I won't have to pump in high Octane either.
. Smooth ride, quiet, good acceleration. Will do an oil change this weekend and check mileage after that. I know it won't do as well as my regal GS but I won't have to pump in high Octane either.
Yes the 3.42 gears are too tall for these trucks. They make off the line and low speed driving feel sluggish and dont seem to help the MPG's at all. Most have the 3.42's including mine
G/luck
Joel
VNT, do you know off hand if your BIL gets his MPG figure off the dash computer (if so equipped) or is he calculating it out over a full tank of gas? It seems most of the MPG complaints on these trucks stem from what the computer says for MPG figures. Calculated it out: miles driven / gallons pumped & he will be much happier with the numbers. All TB’s have a tow package. Even the ‘base’ model is rated to tow 4500lbs.
Joel
Joel
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