Hey guys, I just wanted to pick your collective brains about what preventive maintenance to do on my 2001 Supercrew 4.6L. Both my truck and I retired in 2012. I have 63 years of almost constant work and the truck has 168K of highway miles taking me to work daily. I have done all the scheduled maintenance and oil changes etc through the years and currently it runs great. The only major issue I've ever had with it are those blank blank coil packs, to date I've replace 6 or them.

Here's my dilemma; I need to keep this truck purring for another 4 years until I can replace it. I estimate I'll drive it between 3-5,000 miles per year. What work do you think I should do on the truck at this time and would you recommend I replace the two timing chains and tensioners?

 

Some may disagree with me, but it seems like you hear them before they go. Just listen for what many perceive as a lifter tick, and change them when the chain starts slapping. Mine has 233k on it right now, and many are getting that many miles or more. I have a couple leaks here and there, but it runs too good to pull it apart.

If you maintain it right, I can see you getting another 30-50k out of it. Certainly not worth pulling apart IMO. Not when the repair costs virtually the same when they fail.

 

Great input wjb21, just the kind of help I was looking for. My instincts tell me "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" but I want to error on the side of caution. How about shocks, have you replaced them?

thanks again,
TH

 

I haven't had to do shocks, but I believe the guy before me did. Truck has 233k now, he did shocks, clutch and rebuilt trans at 188k. Looks like I may be stuck doing balljoints/control arms though. If it's spongey and you want to be a head of the game a little, it may be a good project. If it's still tight I'd leave it alone.

 

My guide was broke and I never even knew it.. Never skipped time or made a noise.

I would let it be.