New GTP owner, what maintenance should I do?

**xDetroitMetalx** · 01-09-2010

Hello, I just posted on the Intro lounge.

My girl and I just purchased an 01' Grand Prix GTP Special Edition Sedan. The car has 140k miles on it, mostly highway, and I was wondering what should I check / do to this vehicle to ensure it has a long life. I am not looking to make this into a high performance power house, it's already quick enough. I just want this car to run and last us a long while. I have all the receipts on this car since 2003 from oil changes, tire rotations, to a complete overhaul in 2009 (I can find the receipts for further details).

I'm planning on changing the oil, trans fluid, super charger oil. What else should I look for?

Also the only issue with the car is that during acceleration or hard turning a vibration occurs. I trolled these boards and the GTP boards before and to the information i found it is probably due to a warn out CV Half Shaft. Apparently the problem has been going on in late 2008 but none of the mechanics could fix the issue. They thought it could have been due to bad alignment or incorrect tires, however, she has had all that done to it numerous times. So what CV Shaft should I buy? I kind of don't want Chinese bull you find at your common auto parts zone, I want something that will LAST!

Thanks in advance.

**JessinaterGTP** · 01-10-2010

Spark plugs along with some msd wires. Odds are when you go to change your spark plugs the wires will brake when you pull them out..That is what happend to me..

**TheOtherNick** · 01-10-2010

^ yup plugs wires fuel filter change over to synthetic oils. Put in gm supercharger oil.

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 01-10-2010

Your on the right track oil,supercharger oil,trans filter,fuel filter, plugs,wires Altho you said complete overhaul in 09 overhaul means diferent things to diferent people plugs and wires are probably good.

As for the cv shafts Gm ones are your best bet but rock auto has them for 50 bucks a side...

**xDetroitMetalx** · 01-10-2010

Yeah, I was being vague and lazy. I am still going through the receipts but I'm pretty sure this was everything that was done to the vehicle March of 2009 copied off of the mechanic receipts:

Spark Plug - Double Platinum
Spark Plug Wire Set - Premium (They are blue wires)
Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) Valve
Fuel Filter (Gold)
Strut - Sensa Trac - Front
Strut - Sensa Trac - Rear
Strut Beating Plate w/ Bearing - Front
Strut Bearing Plage w/o Bearing - Rear
Coil Springs - Rear

These next receipts are hand written... Mechanics need to learn how to write CLEARLY!!!!! There are three receipts from this Company and I think it all related to accomplishing these few things. During this time I believe this is when the car was vibrating due to the CV Half Shaft and yet all the mechanics believed it was something else... Bad alignment, tires, and such.

Right Front Hub Assembly and something about brakes?
NAPA Inner Ty Rod Ends
NAPA Outer Ty Rod Ends

From what you guys have said with this information I SHOULD be all set. I am still going to change all the fluids so that I KNOW when they were changed last.

My question to you guys is when the dealer says topped off / replaced fluids and oils would that include the Super Charger oil? Or is that pretty much up in the air? I'll be honest, I've never owned a FI vehicle in my life and I'm pretty nervous. I was really curious if the SC would need a rebuild or anything like that since it has so many miles on it. The car in general was never beat on by the previous owner. She literally drove over 35 miles one way to work 5 days a week which wracked up these high miles. The car had 125k miles on March 2009 and when I bought it last week it's at 142k.

With the CV Shaft I came across ZZP Performance. I was thinking of getting their stage 1 rebuild or is that a complete waste of time and money? Places like Autozone only have Duralast garbage.

Thanks for the info already, was very helpful.

**TheOtherNick** · 01-10-2010

Supercharger oil has probably never been changed. Easy job to do. You will need 2 bottles of gm supercharger oil. You suck all the old oil out the plug in the snout and put the new oil in it.

**xDetroitMetalx** · 01-10-2010

Originally Posted by 01GTP

Supercharger oil has probably never been changed. Easy job to do. You will need 2 bottles of gm supercharger oil. You suck all the old oil out the plug in the snout and put the new oil in it.

Since I live in an apartment complex I don't have the means to do this until I visit my folks. This is where I do all my auto work now a days. So as of now should I check the SC oil level and top it off if needed?

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 01-10-2010

Shouldnt need to be topped off
when you do change it though be careful not to spill nay the stuff once it burns up is nasty smelling

**cerick08GP** · 01-10-2010

Well, it looks like your pretty much set for maintenance but I wanted to add a couple friendly words of advice. When you change your tranny fluid upgrade to Dexron6, it is well worth the extra coin. And for the engine I would start using some 5W-30 “high mileage” oil.

Also, I noticed no one answered your S/C rebuild question, IMO if it isn’t making noises I would stop at changing out oil and call it a day.

**xDetroitMetalx** · 01-10-2010

I was thinking about trying out some Royal Purple or is that a bad idea?

**cerick08GP** · 01-10-2010

Many people here have had major issues with RP, others like it. You stand warned.

IMHO use 5W-30 Castrol GTX high mileage

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 01-10-2010

Honestly with the miles on the car I wouldnt do the royal purp just based on cost if you like synthetic find a cheaper synthetic Not saying rp isnt great stuff I plan on running it when my break in period is done but I dont see the need for it in a high milage car... Im sure others will chime in here...

But then again im a penny pincher less i spend on oil more i can spend on mods

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 01-10-2010

Originally Posted by cerick08GP

Many people here have had major issues with RP, others like it. You stand warned.

IMHO use 5W-30 Castrol GTX high mileage

What kind of issues other then price... I don't think ive ever heard any things other then opinion on it

**xDetroitMetalx** · 01-10-2010

Well, I bought the Haynes repair manual and nothing on SC Oil changes. Nor anything on the 3800 SC in general... wtf? Are there any tutorials that are recommended on the web? I've read to use a syringe or spray bottle head to get the oil out and then use a funnel to put the oil in and not to "Overfill" how am I supposed to know that? *sigh* I feel like an idiot.

Okay, so use a syringe / spray head... Smell will make you sick... Once empty fill with new oil until it hits the first thread. Is this right?

**cerick08GP** · 01-10-2010

Originally Posted by wickedintent79

What kind of issues other then price... I don't think ive ever heard any things other then opinion on it

A have read a few people here have spun bearings using RP

**xDetroitMetalx** · 01-10-2010

I've liked GTX and have been using it for years... I think I'll just stick with that. Thanks for the info!

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 01-10-2010

Originally Posted by cerick08GP

A have read a few people here have spun bearings using RP

good to know info i guess but then again im not sure how that can be blamed on oil

**TorqueAutoMotiv** · 01-10-2010

If you want a decent repair manual you can get a alldata subscription or sign up at gpona.com they have the gm service manual link on the sight basically all newer gm cars repair info

**TheOtherNick** · 01-10-2010

Sythenic is actually cheaper to run if you change it at the recommended interval. Think about it you go 15,000 on one amsoil change or do 5 normal changes at $20 a pop. Amsoil from me $55 compared to $80 for autozone specials.