Hi I just purchased a new to me 06 LBZ with 57 K miles, this being my first diesel I am lerning on the go. Other than checking motor and trany fluid.
can anyone help in telling me what preventitive maint I should be doing ???

on board diaognostics tells me motor and tranny fluid still has over 80% (must have been changed not to log ago ?? or should I change all fluids on spec ???

Congrat's on the new purchase. I'm a bit partial to the '06 LBZ myself! I bought mine in February (78k miles), and after a summer of towing the travel trailer and general use, it has exceeded my expectations in almost every area. I hope you're as happy with your's as I am with mine.

First, I wasn't aware diagnostics measured tranny fluid life. What are you referring to? Do you mean fuel filter? As far as I understand, transmission fluid is just a mileage-based scheduled maintenance.

Anyway, IMO, it isn't crucial, but I changed out all of my fluids at the first convenient opportunity (except the engine oil, which was changed and documented by the dealer at the time I bought it). Differentials (Mobil 1 Syn. gear lube, 75-90), transmission (Mobil Delvac Syn. purchased from Allison dealer, drain & fill x 2 + spin-off filter and new magnet), and t-case (Mobil 1 Syn. ATF). I did this mostly so I knew what was in there, and so I could track what was done and when. As far as I could tell, all the fluids looked fine when they came out, not burnt or anything, but I was worth it for peace of mind and tracking maintenance schedules.

If you have any basic mech. skills (which describes me), it is a very easy job. Everything has an easily accessible drain plug, even the diffs (don't have to take the covers off!). Probably took me 90 minutes to do all of that, and would have been less if I had invested in a decent pump to get fluids from bottles to filler holes. Spent about $60 on the Mobil 1, $140 for a total of 4 gallons of Delvac, and $7.80 for the Allison spin-off filter.

Good luck!

Make sure you grease all of the steering and suspension points, see the link below for more info:
http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=176&highlight=lube+points

Congrat's on the new purchase. I'm a bit partial to the '06 LBZ myself! I bought mine in February (78k miles), and after a summer of towing the travel trailer and general use, it has exceeded my expectations in almost every area. I hope you're as happy with your's as I am with mine.

First, I wasn't aware diagnostics measured tranny fluid life. What are you referring to? Do you mean fuel filter? As far as I understand, transmission fluid is just a mileage-based scheduled maintenance.

Anyway, IMO, it isn't crucial, but I changed out all of my fluids at the first convenient opportunity (except the engine oil, which was changed and documented by the dealer at the time I bought it). Differentials (Mobil 1 Syn. gear lube, 75-90), transmission (Mobil Delvac Syn. purchased from Allison dealer, drain & fill x 2 + spin-off filter and new magnet), and t-case (Mobil 1 Syn. ATF). I did this mostly so I knew what was in there, and so I could track what was done and when. As far as I could tell, all the fluids looked fine when they came out, not burnt or anything, but I was worth it for peace of mind and tracking maintenance schedules.

If you have any basic mech. skills (which describes me), it is a very easy job. Everything has an easily accessible drain plug, even the diffs (don't have to take the covers off!). Probably took me 90 minutes to do all of that, and would have been less if I had invested in a decent pump to get fluids from bottles to filler holes. Spent about $60 on the Mobil 1, $140 for a total of 4 gallons of Delvac, and $7.80 for the Allison spin-off filter.

Good luck!



thanks for the info

Change the t-case fluid and maybe consider installing an anti-pump-rub wear plate from Kennedy or Merchant. I drained my t-case fluid out of my 2005 at 55k miles and it was REALLY bad. Come to find out, all the metal in the fluid was from the pump rubbing on the inside of the case. Over time it will rub all the way through and the fluid will drain out, then BOOM goes your t-case. Unrelated, my LBZ blew the t-case from lack of maintenance at 94K miles, right after I bought it!

For the allison -- 2 gallons for a quick drain and refill, 4 gallons if you flush it. I recommend flushing it because it's so easy and it gets almost all the old stuff out.