Advice about 50K tune-up

[psyflyjohn]

I have an '04 Sea Breeze with an 8.1. She's about to turn 50K, with absolutely no trouble so far.(aside from a bad starter and a/c)

I'm wondering if I should change-out the plugs and wires, and what other preventative maintence to do. Any ideas?

[Knightly]

I have a 2007 Itasca, also with the workhorse 8.1, W24 chassis. My manual indicates that at 50,000 miles, the only maintenance required is to change the automatic transmission fluid and filter. The spark plugs do not need to be replaced until 100,000 miles and the spark plug wires require inspection only. I would think that your mx schedule should be similiar. The only problem that I have had was premature failure of the #2 spark plug wires, caused by over heating. Workhorse installed the air duct kit and I haven't had a problem since.

Derek

2007 Itasca, 35', W24 chassis, 31000 miles so far.

[JonBrazel]

My recommendations:

Replace spark plug wires and spark plugs (the 100,000 mile recommendation SHOULD NOT apply to motorhomes IMO), replace fuel filter (recommend the OEM-Engineering Fuel Block), Replace air filter and clean mass air flow sensor behind air filter. Those are going to be your main tune-up components unless you are having other problems. If you need any help or tips on doing anything just let me know, and we also stock all those parts as well.

[Arch Hoagland]

I just turned 50,000 on mine. Changed transmission fluid at 25,000 and 50,000. Air filter at about 35,000 as well as the serpentine belt.
I'm leaving the plugs,wires and fuel filter alone. They are working just fine. My wires are coil over plug.
Lube and oil/filter changes at about 4,000 to 5,000.

[DriVer]

Aside from a routine "LOF", a Dexron fluid/filter change is recommended. There isn't any other recommendations for the 50,000 mile break.

That said, by 50K miles I had introduced synthetic transmission fluid and did a filter change. I changed my plugs for a different heat range and I replaced my engine coolant. My fuel and air filters were also changed as well.

[max49]

[QUOTE=I changed my plugs for a different heat range /QUOTE]
Interesting! Did you go to a colder or hotter heat range? If colder. Does that help with the burnt wire syndrome? What plug are you using?

[DriVer]

Interesting! Did you go to a colder or hotter heat range? If colder. Does that help with the burnt wire syndrome? What plug are you using?[/QUOTE]Max, I use the plugs that are recommended with an Ultrapower Tune. The plugs were run on a dyno and they appear to work better. I do not immediately have the AC Spark Plug number but Oemy knows! The plugs that I have I believe have been supplanted by Iridium plugs so there's yet another number change.

[txdutt]

I pulled my "100k" miles plugs out when we bought ours this summer with 35k miles on it. Couldn't believe how nasty they looked with deposits on the insulators, changed them out ASAP!!

[monarchman53]

Don't forget about changing the rear end fluid. It's not so much the mileage but the age. I've heard a lot of different opinions about this, but for my money, running with clean fluid back there is better

[Noleakman]

When should you change the serpentine belt Do you go by looks or time or miles?

[stubeje]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noleakman When should you change the serpentine belt Do you go by looks or time or miles?

Changed mine on the side of the road at about 30,000 miles...

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Noleakman When should you change the serpentine belt Do you go by looks or time or miles?

I'm on my 3rd belt none of which previously broke. Due to modifications, it just worked out that way.

[Davel]

Changing the plugs at 50k miles makes sense. The plugs are considered 100k mile items on a car that gets 3 times the mileage and spends much more of their life at low RPM. A better measure of when to change plugs might be the amount of fuel used by the engine. My guess is that our 8.1's spend more time at high RPM than the average car. Climbing hills and gearing down on hills force us to spend a lot of time at 3,000+ RPM. I don't spend very much time at engine speeds that high as even my Malibu would get me pulled over. Another point is that plugs that are contaminated have much higher resistence which makes the coils work harder and could accelerate their failure.

Just thinkin' out loud,
Dave

[DaveFL]

Quote:

Originally Posted by txdutt I pulled my "100k" miles plugs out when we bought ours this summer with 35k miles on it. Couldn't believe how nasty they looked with deposits on the insulators, changed them out ASAP!!

I would want to know why they were nasty, carbon buildup from unburned fuel or white residue due to lean mixture. If the gap was correct or getting a good spark? Changing out without finding the cause, it will do it again, I pulled the plugs had carbon, did computer check and found a O2 sensor was malfunctioning.