Maintenance

[harveyt]

Hi all, I got a VT acclaim has 152000 on the clock. Brought it 2 years ago. only have service every 6 month as I don't drive it a lot. Do I need anything like fuel filter , air filter, trans service,timing belt, spark plug etc...and howlong before it needs replacing? I wanna keep the car for few more year so would like to keep it in good condition. Any comment would be appreciated.

[Shounak]

Fuel Filter - 40,000km (I think)
Air Filter - Just keep checking it.. Not a hard job, nor is it expensive
Timing belt - I think it's 100,000km.. I need to get mine changed soon..
Spark Plugs - 40,000km.. or 80,000km for Iridiums..

Do all this stuff, it's simple.. Also keep upto date with oil changes.. 6 months OR 10,000km.. Whichever comes first..

I've seen oil that's 9 months, but 8,000km old.. It's not pretty..

You're knowledge of cars doesn't sound extensive enough to be fully aware of everything and when it needs changing (no offence to you, I'm the same).. Just take your car to Ultratune or Holden for a full safety check.. T

ell them to cehck everything.. But also tell them that they change NOTHING without your approval..

That would make your car last.. Oh and act on their advice if it sounds reasonable..

[harveyt]

Thanks Shounak. do you have any idea how much am I suppose to pay for a standard check up in those places.

[Shounak]

Ok, I wouldn't recommend Holden.. They quoted me $105.. Whereas Ultratune will do a BETTER job (I'm 110% certain) for about $40..

Tell em to check EVERYTHING out..

If you want to prolong the life of your car, take care of basic service items yourself.. It's easy and if you're new, you WILL do a better job then a mechanic..

I say this because an oil change for a newbie will mean about 1 hour and you'll check every single box when doing it.. An oil change for a mechanic will mean 5 minutes..

Don't believe me.. Just watch a mechanic do an oil change..

[gogoboygareth]

Are you sure about the belt though? I haven't seen anywhere that it should be replaced at 100,000km?

[Shounak]

Nope, I'm not 100% sure.. That's why I said "I think" it's 100,000km..

I'll check it out though..

[Shounak]

I stand corrected.. The timing chain doesn't need changing on the VX V6..

[VTSSDUDE]

Only the overhead cam motors or any engine that uses a rubber belt for their cam timing chains that need changing every 100,000km.The steel timing chains I haven't heard of breaking in the V6s.

[Aggro_VE]

As a guide, check your manual it tells you at each service interval what needs replacing. I do tend to agree with shounak on going elsewhere to get your services done, I'll only go to holden if its a recall or warranty job or re-cal of the PCM.

[gogoboygareth]

Here's what I do with my VXII V6...


Oil + Oil Filter - every 10,000km or 6 months, whichever is sooner
Air Filter - every 20,000km (or sooner if very dirty)
Fuel Filter - every 40,000km
Spark Plugs - every 40,000km
Coolant - every two years
Brake fluid - every two years
Transmission service - at 110,000km according to the manual.

I haven't had the power steering fluid changed yet, and no idea if needed either!

My car is now 4 years old and has 110,000km on the clock (so I've just had the transmission serviced).

Mind you the brake fluid has now hit two years and I haven't replaced it yet... I'm waiting till I need new pads The car's running great.

- Gareth

[holden#1]

I agree with shounak; change oil and stuff yourself...

every so often take it to the 'experts'.... they may find something you have overlooked...well us novice mechanics anyway!

[clixanup]

Also keep upto date with oil changes.. 6 months OR 10,000km..

Personally, I've changed the oil & filter every 5,000km in every car I've ever owned. And none of them have (or had) ever blown smoke or had engine problems.

[holden#1]

got to agree... overkill is good with this sort of thing...

[deserthead]

The only thing I'd add to all the above is service your auto boxes every 20k or once a year.
I went by the book in my old VS and was on my third box by the time I retired the car. Not from floggin it either.
I'd rather be out of pocket 120 odd bucks than $1500.

Just my 2c anyway.

[Shounak]

$120? Do it yourself.. It's shit easy.. I just finished my tranny box..

Pull off the bolts, get all the oil out, give the pan a good wipe out, pull out filter and put new one in, reseal with new gasket, fill up with fluid..

$50 did it for me.. I was quoted $160 to get it done by Ultratune..

[Shounak]

I haven't had the power steering fluid changed yet, and no idea if needed either!

My car is now 4 years old and has 110,000km on the clock (so I've just had the transmission serviced).

The PS fluid should be flushed and refilled every 40,000km.. Holden quoted me $97 for the job..

Tranny is 110,000km.. But I'd rather do it every 40,000km myself.. It's such a simple procedure and a tranny f*cking up can means thousands gone, instantly..

[Shounak]

Personally, I've changed the oil & filter every 5,000km in every car I've ever owned. And none of them have (or had) ever blown smoke or had engine problems.

I do that with my parents Corolla.. I run GTX2 (possibly 3, the red one) through it and after 5,000km it's all black and sludgy..

I use semi synthetic Penrite Gas 10(w-50) in my car.. Unlike mineral oils, the oil manufacturer recommeded change intervals for semi-synthetics is 10,000km..

Even after 10,000km, the Penrite is still a nice honey colour and looks good enough to cook my chips in..

I think it has a lot to do with me being on gas.. Unlike petrol, LPG doesn't leave black carbon deposits in my engine oil.. They say oil change intervals are lengthened significantly with LPG systems..

So if anything, I'm going overkill..

[gogoboygareth]

Unfortunately changing the oil every 5,000km's would be too costly for me, as I drive between 30,000km's - 40,000km's a year. A *lot* of highway driving mainly - I have my 10,000km service roughly every 3 to 4 months.

Thankfully because it's pretty much all highway driving, and I only ever use semi-synthetic - the oil always looks pretty darn good at each service.

I will definitely look at doing the tranny myself from now on! I had no idea it was that simple!!!

I also have no idea if the power steering fluid was changed, but I'm guessing it has been if it's normally done every 40,000km's. Can I do that one myself too?

Ideally I want to learn how to do the following things myself:

- Service tranny
- Change brake fluid + pads
- Flush radiator
- Change power steering fluid
- Clean throttle body

Hopefully there are guides on this forum on how to do it... or hopefully someone can write them.

[gogoboygareth]

Shounak,

Quick question - was just looking at the pics of your car. Does the ram air pod make any noticeable difference? I have a VXII exec...

Your car looks better than mine, as some f*cktard keyed my front right quarter panel at the watergardens shopping mall (west suburbs of melbourne)... just wish I could repsray the car for a good price! One day anyway

[Shounak]

I will definitely look at doing the tranny myself from now on! I had no idea it was that simple!!!

It really is that simple.. Send me a PM if you need any help..

I also have no idea if the power steering fluid was changed, but I'm guessing it has been if it's normally done every 40,000km's. Can I do that one myself too?

Yeah, you most certainly can.. It's really not a hard job at all


- Service tranny - Simple
- Change brake fluid + pads - I've never done this myself, I'm not going to attempt it until I get some who REALLY knows what they're doing to show me
- Flush radiator - Piss easy.. Instructions are all over the forum
- Change power steering fluid - YOU CAN DO IT
- Clean throttle body - Again, it's piss easy.. Just pull it out and clean it.. Instructions all over the forum..

My first advice for you is to buy a Gregory's manual.. That should be the starting point.. Use the forum for additional advice, more for specific items..

But go for it..

[Shounak]

Shounak,

Quick question - was just looking at the pics of your car. Does the ram air pod make any noticeable difference? I have a VXII exec...

Your car looks better than mine, as some f*cktard keyed my front right quarter panel at the watergardens shopping mall (west suburbs of melbourne)... just wish I could repsray the car for a good price! One day anyway

The Pod made a huge difference.. The car is smoother, goes better with fuel consumption and is f*ckn unbelievable in high end revs..

This may be because my car's on gas, I'm not entirely sure..

The thing only cost me $50..

[Shounak]

Your car looks better than mine, as some f*cktard keyed my front right quarter panel at the watergardens shopping mall (west suburbs of melbourne)... just wish I could repsray the car for a good price! One day anyway

If you're not doing it through insurance, you could get a bare metal respray for the guard for $300-400.. I have a friendly panel beater who could probably do it cheaper then most..

But damn, the bonnet and the guards are what people first look at when they see your car.. I wish I could kill the little f*ckers who go around doing that shit..

What colour's your car?

[gogoboygareth]

They did the right front quarter panel and right driver's door My car is metallic green, so any scratch always comes up a noticeable bright white.

I painted in the keyed lines myself (with some tough up paint I picked up from Holden) - and I do have the car fully insured, but I just changed a to AAMI a few months back (I've only been in Melbourne a few months) so I'll have to get some "rating 1 for life" protection before having it done via insurance.

My car has lots of small scratches though, so I'm thinking of just holding off and getting a body kit for the car, then having it resprayed - all depends on cost really.

I'll pick up a gregory's though - many thanks for the advice!!!

[holden#1]

I do that with my parents Corolla.. I run GTX2 (possibly 3, the red one) through it and after 5,000km it's all black and sludgy..

I use semi synthetic Penrite Gas 10(w-50) in my car.. Unlike mineral oils, the oil manufacturer recommeded change intervals for semi-synthetics is 10,000km..

Even after 10,000km, the Penrite is still a nice honey colour and looks good enough to cook my chips in..

I think it has a lot to do with me being on gas.. Unlike petrol, LPG doesn't leave black carbon deposits in my engine oil.. They say oil change intervals are lengthened significantly with LPG systems..

So if anything, I'm going overkill..

i see exactly where you're coming from..

i used to own an old xf foulcan on gas. had the engine reconditioned, after that the oil stayed the colour of honey, oil change to oil change. must be the gas being free of carbon as you say etc...