Listed below are the costs for maintaining a 2004 Chevrolet 3500, long wheelbase 6.0 V-8 slop bucket, for the first 500,000 miles as it came from the factory. The costs do not include the installation or maintenance of extras such as a bed, insulation, flooring, radios, house batteries etc. It also does not include any towing fees.
Oil, filter and lube: 107 @ $1866. All performed by myself, no labor costs.
Tune-up: 5 @ $2667. 1st tune-up included ignition wires from NAPA that were guaranteed for life and replaced for free at following tune-ups. 2 differential lube changes were included in tune-ups at 200,000 and 400,000 miles. Other minor repairs were included as was labor.
Tires: 18 @ $3100 includes alignments.
Batteries: 3 @ $476
Front wheel bearings: 4 @ $1570 240,000 & 432,000 miles.
Alternators: 6 @ $1332. The original 105 amp was replaced at 262,000 miles. That replacement lasted 1 week. Some alternators were replaced free of charge. Some only labor. The last 2 alternators were 155 amps from NAPA with a lifetime warranty excluding labor.
Radiator flush: 4 @ $375
Transmission fluid and filters: 2 @ $320
Air Filters: 7 @ $152
Brakes: Front pads and rotors, $450 changed at 377,000 miles. Still running original rear pads and rotors.
Shocks: Front and rear shocks, front springs @ $715. 377,000 miles.
Replaced all 4 shocks @ 556,755 mi. Life time warranty. $125 for labor which included mounting 2 new tires and rotation.
Deer collision: replace pass. side headlight and turn signal light assembly and grill. $950
Misc Repairs:
-replace sway bar and brake caliper mount. $400.
-replace T.P. sensor. $132
-replace upper coolant hose. $248
-replace 3 windshields $300. (Panther windshield plan, pay 1st $100)
-replace A.C. tensioner and belt. $201
-differential lube change 2 included in tune-up cost.
-lights, wiper blades misc. parts. $747
Front End: Both upper ball joints, pitman arm, idler arm and alignment $916 @ 516,000 miles
Oil Cooler Gasket: Replace oil cooler gasket, inlet pick-up O-ring and oil pan gasket. $502 @ 544,000
U-Joints: Replaceall u-joints (3) and replace rear transmission seal.Also replaced TPS (warranty) and cleaned throttle body. $391 @ 567,000
Total: $17,755 or .03/mile.
Random thoughts:
factory DexCool was replaced with good old green stuff and oil changed within the first 1000 miles.
van came from factory with front end alignment out of spec. Replaced original steer tires at 60,000 mi.
thinking about replacing all original coolant hoses and water pump.
Oil, filter and lube: 107 @ $1866. All performed by myself, no labor costs.
Tune-up: 5 @ $2667. 1st tune-up included ignition wires from NAPA that were guaranteed for life and replaced for free at following tune-ups. 2 differential lube changes were included in tune-ups at 200,000 and 400,000 miles. Other minor repairs were included as was labor.
Tires: 18 @ $3100 includes alignments.
Batteries: 3 @ $476
Front wheel bearings: 4 @ $1570 240,000 & 432,000 miles.
Alternators: 6 @ $1332. The original 105 amp was replaced at 262,000 miles. That replacement lasted 1 week. Some alternators were replaced free of charge. Some only labor. The last 2 alternators were 155 amps from NAPA with a lifetime warranty excluding labor.
Radiator flush: 4 @ $375
Transmission fluid and filters: 2 @ $320
Air Filters: 7 @ $152
Brakes: Front pads and rotors, $450 changed at 377,000 miles. Still running original rear pads and rotors.
Shocks: Front and rear shocks, front springs @ $715. 377,000 miles.
Replaced all 4 shocks @ 556,755 mi. Life time warranty. $125 for labor which included mounting 2 new tires and rotation.
Deer collision: replace pass. side headlight and turn signal light assembly and grill. $950
Misc Repairs:
-replace sway bar and brake caliper mount. $400.
-replace T.P. sensor. $132
-replace upper coolant hose. $248
-replace 3 windshields $300. (Panther windshield plan, pay 1st $100)
-replace A.C. tensioner and belt. $201
-differential lube change 2 included in tune-up cost.
-lights, wiper blades misc. parts. $747
Front End: Both upper ball joints, pitman arm, idler arm and alignment $916 @ 516,000 miles
Oil Cooler Gasket: Replace oil cooler gasket, inlet pick-up O-ring and oil pan gasket. $502 @ 544,000
U-Joints: Replaceall u-joints (3) and replace rear transmission seal.Also replaced TPS (warranty) and cleaned throttle body. $391 @ 567,000
Total: $17,755 or .03/mile.
Random thoughts:
factory DexCool was replaced with good old green stuff and oil changed within the first 1000 miles.
van came from factory with front end alignment out of spec. Replaced original steer tires at 60,000 mi.
thinking about replacing all original coolant hoses and water pump.
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