I am over due on schedule maintenance on my duramax and I know it is going to cost in getting eveything up todate. For the last 3 year I was to worried about "Making Marines," that I forgot about taking care of my truck. I have about 77k and I need to do everything from the last 25k miles. I just moved to Oceanside, Ca from Beaufort, SC and need to know a good place to take it. Or I guess I could take it to the stealership.

You may not be as bad as you think you are. These diesels are pretty forgiving. It is time to change everything from front to back though.

..what fluids / filters should he replace?

engine oil and filter - i'd probably feel guilty if i went 25K without an oil change, so i'd probably treat the truck to some synthetic. i'm sure you'll get a trillion recommendations for what oil to use, so i won't bother.

fuel filter - definately

front diff - maybe (probably?) not required, but i'd do it anyway

transfer case - maybe (probably?) not required, but i'd do it anyway

rear diff - maybe (probably?) not required, but i'd do it anyway

transmission - definately a spin-on. i'd probably change the trans fluid but don't know if its required

grease chassis

air filter - maybe (probably?) not required, but i'd do it anyway

anything else?

almost forgot... do the work yourself. all the work above can be handled with a couple of wrenches, a grease gun, and a set of rhino ramps. you'll save yourself a pile of money (i'd estimate to do all the work above at a shop would be at least $500, whereas parts would be around $200) and you'd know the work got done right. i simply have next-to-no experience with a 'good' mechanic / dealership. they nearly all lie, cheat, and above all else, are inept. i know there are good mechanics out there, but they are, IMO, the exception rather than the rule.

ahm

Go hug up on a few of the amtrackers. They have great shops and you could probably get it done for nothing but the price of the filters and fluids you'd have to provide. At least they would show you how. May cost you a few cans of coffee but that's as good as a gold bar for barter in the shop.

..what fluids / filters should he replace?

engine oil and filter - i'd probably feel guilty if i went 25K without an oil change, so i'd probably treat the truck to some synthetic. i'm sure you'll get a trillion recommendations for what oil to use, so i won't bother.

fuel filter - definately

front diff - maybe (probably?) not required, but i'd do it anyway

transfer case - maybe (probably?) not required, but i'd do it anyway

rear diff - maybe (probably?) not required, but i'd do it anyway

transmission - definately a spin-on. i'd probably change the trans fluid but don't know if its required

grease chassis

air filter - maybe (probably?) not required, but i'd do it anyway

anything else?

Everything mentioned Front & Rear Diff, Trans, T-Case, Engine, Oil Filter, Air Filter, Fuel Filter, Spin on Trans.

Put synthetics in and not worry about going too long on the next one if you do.

Where are you now? Camp Pendleton? Id assume so if your living in oceanside. I was stationed the Naval Special Warfare Command in Corranado for about 6 years.

I don't work the truck I have pulled my 30' gooseneck every once and awhile. I did change the oil, oil filter and spin on fuel filter back in Aug before I left S Carolina myself. I would like to do most of if not all of it myself if I can. Thanks for all the input guys. And yes, I'm stationed a Camp Pendleton.

You may not be as bad as you think you are. These diesels are pretty forgiving. It is time to change everything from front to back though.

Yea, spending enough time around these sites will make you feel like your truck will completely blow up if you don't change everything when your supposed to. It's not quite that bad if you let things go just a bit. Not knocking the guys who are right on top of it though, for the most part I'm one of them. Definately time to get in there though.

Don't forget to rotate your tires also. Check your upper radiator hose when cold and if it is collapsed, replace the coolant overflow cap.

Should be a auto hobby shop at Pendleton. Usually one of the duty guys is also a mechanic who can help you out or tell you how to do something if you get in a tight.

Yeah, they have a hobby shop on the base. I'm due for a oil change, drain & fill tranny fluid, drain & fill radiator and lub the suspension.

Lake Chevrolet in Lake Smelsomore has an awesome deal right now. $120 for three oil changes. It may not be Synthetic, but it's GM recmended oil for diesels. Not sure about the tranny and diff? but maybe they have pretty good deals on those too. The Fuel filter is $115, maybe a little pricy for me so I do that one myself. Would love to do the others too, just have no connections of diposing the left over oil.

as far as disposing of used oil, walmart (if they have an oil change bay) takes it. they always look at me funny when i bring in 10 gallons :)

ahm

Also Auto Zone, Pep Boys, and many others that sell oil take used oil. Check your local parts house and see if they take it. Its no charge to take the oil they were mandated to be able to take used oil by the state. Something like if they sold it they had to take it.

Also Auto Zone, Pep Boys, and many others that sell oil take used oil. Check your local parts house and see if they take it. Its no charge to take the oil they were mandated to be able to take used oil by the state. Something like if they sold it they had to take it.

Correct. Last I knew, most around here have a 5 gal limit per return.

Correct. Last I knew, most around here have a 5 gal limit per return.

Really? I didn't know that. I took 10 gal to my Auto Zone and they didn't say anything. With the dirtbikes and the truck we accrue oil fast.

The civic we go 25k miles on so don't get much from that. Once every 6-8 months maybe.

Ok, while I'm doing this is there anything I should upgrade while I'm at it?

Now's also a good time to lubricate the hood, door and fuel door hinges and latches as well as treating the door gaskets (seals) with a light film of dielectric grease.
There was an article on DP in the DIY section a while back showing the tools and recommended fluids necessary to do a complete fluid change from front to rear. You can find it by searching that section. http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=198162

If you've not done so yet, the PCV re-route is an important mod - your IC will thank you.

RKeithDavis, thanks for the link! This will surely help.