I picked up my new truck last Friday, and I have nothing but great things to say for it. I am taking it easy for the first 500, and at the rate I am going, I will be there in no time. This thing has been a real attention getter among family and friends, and I noticed that the first thing to get dirty was the area of the hood near the release latch. There are a ton of fingerprints on there from where everyone wants to see the LLY! In fact, after riding with me in the truck, Dad and one of my buddies are both going to look at new trucks this week. They loved the interior, and even more, the feel and ride of the truck. Heck, everyone on here talks about how much this truck eats into their pocketbooks for mods, but in my case it is getting into everyone else's pockets so they can get one too! I am sure that will change soon, because I already am planning to add secondary filtration and other goodies, along with running boards, bed rails, tool box, tailgate guard, etc.


Anyway, my question is what is recommended to be done to it at 500 miles? I am planning to change the oil (I am going with Delvac 1300 and Baldwin filters). But, is this a good time to change differential fluid, or should I wait until I have towed with it some? When is it best to change the Allison spin on filter? Also, is there something else that I am forgetting that I should check/change? If it is better to wait on some of this, then that is fine, I just don't want to miss a recommended step. I know that all of this is out there somewhere, but through doing searches, I did not find anything that gave me definitive answers to break in periods for the various components. I am sure that others could benefit from this also.


I have learned a great deal from reading this website for the past few months, and now that she is here, I feel a lot more confident about doing some of the maintenance work myself (a huge thanks to Eric for posting his Maintenance list). Thanks in advance for any help you can offer, and I look forward to being able to help out more now that I have the truck to learn from.

Congrats! I just got a similiar GMC LLY last week. Love the seats, the smoothness of the engine and trans.


I just hit 500mi, and I will just change the engine oil and filter.

you guys are doing oil changes at 500 miles????http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif I never even did that on my gassers!! I have 1500 right now and the only thing I did so far was the diffs and transfer case because everyone's is low!! I'm not touching the engine or tranny until 5000!! I did add a Nicktaine at 500 though!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Big Smile.gif


Congrats on the new truck!! I can't tell you how many people compliment me on mine!! One day I went to Home Depot, parked FAR away from everyone and when I came out there was a truck right next to me with a guy in it!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Angry.gif I was ready to start brawling with this guy for parking right on top of me!! Well, it turns out the guy was parked there admiring my Dmaxhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Embarrased.gif!! He jumped out of the truck and started asking me about it! He said he loved the way mine looked and has been contiplating whether or not to buy one! After talking to me, he looked like he was ready to head straight to the dealership!! It gives you a great feeling when people are envious of your truck!!http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Evil Smile.gifhttp://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Approve.gif

Check the rear differential fluid level, it might be down almost 2 quarts. Don't change it until 500 miles of towing, just have the dealer top it up if necessary.


Enjoy.


Jim

Congrats and welcome to the fam damliy. First thing is check the rear diff. Mine was atleast a qt low. Went ahead and changed front and rear diff. to Mobil 1 Syn 75W-90 gear oil. Changed my engine oil at 500 miles. Went with Baldwins too. Just wanted to get the factory crud out of it as soon as I could. Changed the Allison spin on at 1500 for the same reason. Be sure and clean the filter magnet that sits on top of the Alli spin on. Mine was covered with metal filings. The drain plugs on the differentals have magnets on them as well.


Hope this helps. Just hang around here and these guys will keep you in line. Here is a link to the place I by my Baldwin filters from.http://www.adiesel.com/


Post a pic when you get a chance.http://dieselplace.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=184&PN=1

Are these great trucks or what? Never had a finer automobile. Love to punch the pedal and pull this sum'bitch up and down the highway! The Ford and Dodge boys may sit higher stock, but they have nothing on the Chevy drive train. This truck is the boss hog.

The only reason to change the oil at 500mi is if they didn't clean all the parts throughly before assy. So for 99% of the motors, you are fine changing at the regular interval. But if you are the 1%... http://www.dieselplace.com/forum/smileys/Confused.gif

Don't forget to beat on it on break in. ***** the breakin, ***** truck in the end. Give it a 1,000 miles first, then hammer it . Enjoy.

Thanks for the input guys.


Topgas, that sounds about right for my break in. I am taking it easy for a bit to let the Allison break in and try to keep the heat down in it. I am changing the oil at the 500 mark just to get out any possible manufacturing residue, and also because some guys were reporting higher levels of silica from block casting and other trace metals from the break in. Do that and wait until about 1000 miles, then it's hammer down. Also by then, it should be time to start taking feeder calves to the sale barn, so I should be able to give it a good break in pulling a trailer.


As far as the differential fluids, I had the dealer check them before I left. They looked at me like I was crazy, and said it had been through PDI. However, the technician had a pretty surpirsed look on his face when he crawled out from under the rear and went to grab two quarts of oil! I was surprised to hear from them that they did not recommend "that expensive GM gear oil", but instead recommended Valvoline Synthetic 75W90. I was thinking of using Mobil1 75W90 Syn gear oil, and they said that was good with them. I am lucky to have a service writer and diesel tech who are both very reasonable and level headed. I cannot say enough great things about this truck, and having dealt with this dealer before, I feel good about them being there after the sale also.