[Chris]

Chief, I know that I have spoken to you in the past about your Suburban and how you kept it in near pristine condition. Can everyone share their tips and insight on keeping their trucks/SUVs in tip-top shape with regard to interior cleanliness, washing/detailing etc? Do you have a routine detailing schedule?
I am looking to put Husky type liners everywhere on this vehicle -- from cargo to front and back floor liners. Any thing else to consider? It is running with GTX 10W30 --- any reason to convert to synthetic blend or Mobil 1/Amsoil? It has ~20K miles and runs extremely well. (as expected) -- Any tips for driving with kids and keeping the mess down? 8 year old and 18 month old? I am thinking about banning food from truck.

Thanks again for any/all insight.
Andy

 

[Stewart]

Just keep a decent shop vac handy. We have ours detatiled when we get the oil changed as well. They do a great job for not too much money. I just touch it up between oil changes. I have the oil changed every 3000 miles. The book on Fords says that it is not required untill 5000 for regular duty vehicles. I think it is better safe than sorry. I run Pennzoil 5W30 and have never had a problem. I have it changed because I hate the mess and don't want the hassle of disposing of the used oil and filter. Not to mention the mess in the garage if I goof up. My oil filter is behind the front bumper so part of the mess of it mounted on the block is fixed. Hope that helps and Happy Motoring!
:captain:

 

[Chris]

Wow only 1 response... Amazing.


Andy

 

[jbetts13]

we've got the boss mad :worthy: l don't have a truck but it you want it to look shine S J is your man

 

[jodyand]

I try and wash mine every week and the leather seats i put conditioner on them once a month. But with kids good luck outlawing food in the truck:lmao:
Jody

 

[Argee]

Mine gets washed whenever it happens to be parked outside and it rains. As for the interior, I've got the rubber instead of carpeting...if you open both doors, you can hose it out in a hurry.:lmao:

 

[guest2]

Andy
Catch-all has some nice mats for the front and rear floor areas and the cargo area as well. They have these little screw in type anchors that stick to the rug. I didn't use the anchors in my tahoe as I didn't want to "screw" up the carpet. I just put these mats over the OEM mats and it works fine.

 

[bear]

i'm like argee my trucks are bought for work not to be pretty i change oil every 3-4000 miles and keep them up mechanically but washing happens when it rains

 

[Live Oak]

Sorry I didn't get back to your post sooner! I was hauling firewood since I had the kids to help me.

Andy, I would have to say that the first line of defense is a good spray on fabric protectant/water repellant. 3M make Scotch Guard and 303 fabric protectant is really good too. The rubber type floor mats that can hold water and have the high edges work pretty well too. Same thing for an insert in the cargo area. As a minimum, the driver's side seat gets a wool seat cover in my truck if not ALL. Regular vaccuming is a must usually done at each washing. Get a good coulple of coats of wax on the ENTIRE truck. I have used McQuires Gold Class with outstanding results. I used Amsoil 15W-40 Marine/Diesel Heavy Duty synthetic in my Suburban. It was the only oil that would stop the rod knock on start up. That might be a tad thick for a new style 5.7 liter. Run 10W-30 in summer and 5W-30 in winter. Do NOT use Fram standard orange oil filters; they are junk. Get good quality oil filters. I ran Amsoil sythetic universal transmission fluid in the trans. and installed a Mag-Hytech deep sump oil pan that doubled capacity. Used a Hastings extended sump filter. Hastings makes great engine oil filters too. I installed a Mag-Hytech rear differential cover and used Amsoil 2000 series 75W-90 sythetic gear lube. The cover about doubled capactity and made a HUGE temp reduction especially when towing. All of the Mag-Hytech stuff in nice if you tow a lot but is not really required. The sythetic oils worked well. I also used a K&N air filter which showed a modest improvement in performance. The Jacobs Omni Mag electronic ignition seemed to help a bit as well. Just do all the services when they are due and keep a CLOSE eye on the brakes (fronts especially). They go fast in a heavy truck like that equipped with an automatic. Enjoy feeding it gas! Mine was a gas toilet.

Keeping the mess down with an 18 months old?????????:furious: :furious: :furious: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: Dream on! :spinsmile The sippy cups with the snap on lids were about the best we could come up with. Banning food and drink from my truck was EXACTLY what I did. I got tired of the messes.

Sounds like a nice vehicle. Enjoy!

 

[Argee]

Originally posted by bear
i'm like argee my trucks are bought for work not to be pretty i change oil every 3-4000 miles and keep them up mechanically but washing happens when it rains

I change the oil whenever the message center tells me to...usually between 4 and 5000 miles. I believe its based on engine rpm not mileage.

 

[memmurphy]

I have no kids so can't help you there. Manufacture specs 5W-30 for my 98 5.0 L in my Chevy Silverado. I change oil every 3K miles using standard grade Valvoline. My driving is in mostly in town. The previous owner had a Rhino Liner installed, very tuff rubber sprayed on. You can slide pallets with nails exposed over it and barely makes a mark. I do full wax 2-3 times per year with Turtle wax liquid and vacuum out the interior about once a month. About once a year I use carpet/ upholstery cleaner to brighten the interior up from the winter grime build up.

Mark

 

[Chris]

Boss is happy now.

HAHAHA

Thanks for the input, guys. Appreciate it. I am a little nervous as this is the first kidna fancy family vehicle that I have owned. I rough-housed my 4x4 4runner and loved every minute of it. I took care of it but at 189,000 miles it just developed too many problems. The Tahoe is based on the extremely well-built solid truck frame including the exact same chassis as the Escalade just $10-15k cheaper.

Here is a picture of the truck:

<center><img src=http://www.tractorforum.com/tahoe.jpg></center>

 

[guest]

nice looking ride andy...

my truck is a disgrace.. washed it one time last year.. dont think its ever seen a vacuum... i do change the oil every 3-4K

 

[bear]

Originally posted by Argee
I change the oil whenever the message center tells me to...usually between 4 and 5000 miles. I believe its based on engine rpm not mileage.

mine isn't new enough to have the message center i run a 87 dodge d150 890,000 km and a 67 gmc 1/2 ton mileage ? just sold my 68 dodge a100 mileage ? it showed 75,000 miles and i put it around once in the time i had it

 

[Stewart]

Man I didn't think my post was chopped liver!:dazed:
Oh well so be it.:smoking:

 

[Argee]

Originally posted by simple_john
nice looking ride andy...

my truck is a disgrace.. washed it one time last year.. dont think its ever seen a vacuum... i do change the oil every 3-4K

You keep your tractor shining like a brilliant jewel and trash your truck??? John.....I NEVER!!!:furious:

 

[Argee]

Originally posted by Stewart
Man I didn't think my post was chopped liver!:dazed:
Oh well so be it.:smoking:

It wasn't Stew...it was good information, but it didn't beg a reply.

 

[memmurphy]

Originally posted by Stewart
Man I didn't think my post was chopped liver!:dazed:
Oh well so be it.:smoking:

You did good Stewart! I did not know Ford had moved the filter to the front. My Chevy filter drains on the front diff. u-joint. Unless I put it in 4 wheel for a minute to dry it off, the oil drips on the driveway for three days after a filter change. I have thought about finding an adapter for it and mounting it in a better location.

Mark

 

[Ingersoll444]

Well, I am with the "let the rain wash it" crew. Once in a wile it will get a REAL wash. Every two to three years it will get a wax, but mostly just rain. As for the rest. I do my own work, and do oil changes evey 3-4K on it.

All the small block Ford V8's have the oil filter in the front. Mine, being a van, has the front of the motor right over the front xmember. It DOES have a hole for the filter, but still pretty much dumps it all over it. I just do my best, and let it drip. Heck most of my other stuff leaks any ways, so a few extra drops are not going to kill anything.

 

[Ingersoll444]

Oh and as for the inside with kids?? HA!!!!! The inside of my daily driver Plymoth grand voiager looks like a supper market exploaded. Cheareos EVERYWERE!!!! As shes getting older, it is easyer to control the food in the car, but tought to have none. One rule NO SODA AND NO JUCE!!! The sticky stuff is the worse, and impossable to clean, the rest will come right up.Good thing is she does not get them anyway. At 22 months never had a soda, and had maybe 3-4 cups of juce.