ken56
Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 01/12/2013
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
 Offline
|
I have a 2016 GMC 2500 HD and just did a 'tune up' on it. Tune-ups today consist of new spark plugs and wires ($175) and sometimes new coils ($145). I started my little project at about 1pm and by 5pm I had 5 of them done...OMG, you can't see a spark plug hole to line up the new ones to start the threads. The engineering is not self-maintenance friendly at all. This morning I did the last 3 that took another 2 hours.
I am sore, cut up and bruised from the contortions needed to get in position to reach the plugs. Is it any wonder why tune-ups at a dealer or other shop are 500 bucks? After a new air filter the total was $205 and change. Ah yes, the satisfaction of saving 300 bucks and now I actually can tell it runs better. The last new plugs were at 100,000 miles and its at 148,000 now. The plugs were visibly worn (NGK's). Put in AC Delco iridium plugs. (12 bucks each).
Oh yeah, don't forget to do the injector cleaner service.....another 289 bucks.
|
pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
Senior Member
Joined: 12/18/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
Personally I'd pay for the plugs. The other stuff isn't so labour intensive.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
|
Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/06/2013
View Profile
Offline
|
Never thought LS engines were terribly difficult to access spark plugs. But haven’t changed them in a newer pickup.
But it’s a good reminder how much $ you can save by doing the simple stuff like a tune up, yourself.
2016 Ram 2500, MotorOps.ca EFIlive tuned, 5” turbo back, 6" lift on 37s
2017 Heartland Torque T29 - Sold.
Couple of Arctic Fox TCs - Sold
|
Valpo Camper
Valpo, Indiana
Senior Member
Joined: 10/01/2005
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Youtube video says to put it on jacks and take off the wheels to remove the inner fender liner for access.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFp2WQsf4qY
2005 Gulfstream Conquest LE 28 foot
2018 Wrangler JLU - pulling duty as a daily and toad
2012 Audi A7 - daily fun car
|
ken56
Tennessee
Senior Member
Joined: 01/12/2013
View Profile
Good Sam RV Club Member
Offline
|
Valpo Camper wrote:Youtube video says to put it on jacks and take off the wheels to remove the inner fender liner for access.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFp2WQsf4qY
That would be nice if I had a lift to put it up on. Having to disassemble the front end to change spark plugs is a bit over the top IMO.
|
|
|
msmith1.wa
Tacoma, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/10/2014
View Profile
Offline
|
For those old enough to remember the Chevy Monza. To change the driver side plugs on the V8 model It was recommended to remove the motor mount bolt on that side and jack up the engine for access.
2003 Silverado 2500HD 4x4 8.1l
2016 Evergreen Amped 28FS
|
Turtle n Peeps
California
Senior Member
Joined: 06/23/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
I had to take the throttle body off of this little jewel the other day. What fun it is working on a Ford van! I never thought I would wind up a a Ford mechanic.
![[image]](https://i.imgur.com/F0i9yXpl.jpg)
~ Too many freaks & not enough circuses ~
"Life is not tried ~ it is merely survived ~ if you're standing
outside the fire"
"The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly."- Abraham Lincoln
|
Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/06/2013
View Profile
Offline
|
ken56 wrote:Valpo Camper wrote:Youtube video says to put it on jacks and take off the wheels to remove the inner fender liner for access.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFp2WQsf4qY
That would be nice if I had a lift to put it up on. Having to disassemble the front end to change spark plugs is a bit over the top IMO.
Don’t need a lift….but yes that simple task of removing the fender liner may have saved you hours of work.
For the ole folks here. That’s one of the pluses of newer vehicles with the plastic fender wells. Almost universally, they remove easily and make life a lot easier working on the side of an engine.
|
Grit dog
Black Diamond, WA
Senior Member
Joined: 05/06/2013
View Profile
Offline
|
Turtle n Peeps wrote:I had to take the throttle body off of this little jewel the other day. What fun it is working on a Ford van! I never thought I would wind up a a Ford mechanic.
Lol, we all doo things we’re not proud of sometimes….glad you have the courage to come forward and share your shameful experience with the group….
Haha cheers man.
|
Cummins12V98
on the road
Senior Member
Joined: 06/03/2012
View Profile
Offline
|
Diesel doesn't look so bad after all. Fuel filters, oil and air filters and oil. OH yea that's maintenance. Tune up, what's that????????
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"
"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600
2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable
2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD
|
|
|
