Common problems at 60k Miles?

**mammoth713** · 08-06-2010, 11:32 AM

2000 Z28 M6
65,xxx MI

My car is going in the shop soon for some stuff.. mainly the check engine light came on randomly the other day. still idles fine, drives fine, same gas mileage, etc... no problems noticed other than this light being on.

Also, the coolant has a chocolate-milk-looking-crustyness on the coolant dipstick (posted in another thread about this), and i was told it might be oil in the coolant and that coolant needs to be flushed every 5 years..

What could the check engine light mean is wrong? Possibly an O2 Sensor? (already checked the gas cap, heard that could be it..)

i was just wondering what you guys typically fix around 60k or 70k miles..?

**barkmouth** · 08-06-2010, 11:54 AM

Since the car has a computer....It is most likely programed to light up at whatever mileage G.M decides.....The dealer can turn off the light with the computer or a series of events......Hold button ? and tap brake pedal twice...etc

Regular maintenance is the best for any car.....My mechanic just keeps it running at peak performance. He has a computer and can turn of certain lights
but not all.......Ask questions at the dealership..........Maybe they will give you some straight answers.....But I doubt it.....

**konigandy6** · 08-06-2010, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by mammoth713

2000 Z28 M6
65,xxx MI

My car is going in the shop soon for some stuff.. mainly the check engine light came on randomly the other day. still idles fine, drives fine, same gas mileage, etc... no problems noticed other than this light being on.

Also, the coolant has a chocolate-milk-looking-crustyness on the coolant dipstick (posted in another thread about this), and i was told it might be oil in the coolant and that coolant needs to be flushed every 5 years..

What could the check engine light mean is wrong? Possibly an O2 Sensor? (already checked the gas cap, heard that could be it..)

i was just wondering what you guys typically fix around 60k or 70k miles..?

Without getting a code, it's impossible to tell what the problem is. 100's of possibilities.

Originally Posted by barkmouth

Since the car has a computer....It is most likely programed to light up at whatever mileage G.M decides.....The dealer can turn off the light with the computer or a series of events......Hold button ? and tap brake pedal twice...etc

Regular maintenance is the best for any car.....My mechanic just keeps it running at peak performance. He has a computer and can turn of certain lights
but not all.......Ask questions at the dealership..........Maybe they will give you some straight answers.....But I doubt it.....

I think you are thinking of the change oil light. The SES light only illuminates when the computer detects something wrong with the emissions system. Such as a loose gas cap or evap system leak, faulty sensors, engine misfires, lean/rich...etc.

**sunsetorangess** · 08-07-2010, 01:39 AM

Originally Posted by mammoth713

2000 Z28 M6
65,xxx MI

My car is going in the shop soon for some stuff.. mainly the check engine light came on randomly the other day. still idles fine, drives fine, same gas mileage, etc... no problems noticed other than this light being on.

Also, the coolant has a chocolate-milk-looking-crustyness on the coolant dipstick (posted in another thread about this), and i was told it might be oil in the coolant and that coolant needs to be flushed every 5 years..

What could the check engine light mean is wrong? Possibly an O2 Sensor? (already checked the gas cap, heard that could be it..)

i was just wondering what you guys typically fix around 60k or 70k miles..?

I cant realy think of anything that is a "typical fix" around that mileage, as long as you do routine maintence you should be good to go and like said above without the code its a shot in the wind. You said you checked your gas cap but did you "reset" the light afterwards? When your mechanic scans the codes post them up and we can help ya further.
J

**mammoth713** · 08-07-2010, 06:08 AM

driving home yesterday, the check engine light went off...

hahaha

so i guess i wont know.

idk, i guess i'll have the shop do the coolant flush atleast, because that needs to be done

oh, what about transmission fluid? my buddy who has a 95 lt1 did his and he told me he read people use ATF in our transmissions?

is this true? When should M6 Transmission fluid be changed?

**konigandy6** · 08-07-2010, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by mammoth713

driving home yesterday, the check engine light went off...

hahaha

so i guess i wont know.

idk, i guess i'll have the shop do the coolant flush atleast, because that needs to be done

oh, what about transmission fluid? my buddy who has a 95 lt1 did his and he told me he read people use ATF in our transmissions?

is this true? When should M6 Transmission fluid be changed?

Yes the OEM fluid used is ATF. You should change it based on your driving habits. I changed mine when I first bought my car at 40k miles, and changed it again at 45k...3 years later

**barkmouth** · 08-08-2010, 09:47 AM

Thanks Guys ...I am learning already.........

**mammoth713** · 08-08-2010, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by konigandy6

Yes the OEM fluid used is ATF. You should change it based on your driving habits. I changed mine when I first bought my car at 40k miles, and changed it again at 45k...3 years later

so what are some commonly used fluids for that?

i think my friend said he used toyota ATF because he heard it was good stuff?

**1MileCrash** · 08-08-2010, 07:10 PM

go over to autozone and have them go out with their scan tool and pull the code for you and give you a list of possible causes.

i just changed the trans fluid in my manual last summer (3000 miles ago at around 105k) and used dexron VI fluid since it calls for dex III (dex VI is the replacement for dex III).

**t5munoz** · 08-08-2010, 07:13 PM

Your coolant is just the dex cool gettin nasty like it normally does lol just get it flushed and you will be ok!!!

**transamgirl89** · 08-11-2010, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by t5munoz

Your coolant is just the dex cool gettin nasty like it normally does lol just get it flushed and you will be ok!!!

I wouldn't use dex cool if I were you. It's hard on the gasket seals and can cause them to leak and get oil in the coolant. I use prestone 50/50 mixture and she runs just fine. It's a newer formula that is better for the gasket seals.

**konigandy6** · 08-11-2010, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by transamgirl89

I wouldn't use dex cool if I were you. It's hard on the gasket seals and can cause them to leak and get oil in the coolant. I use prestone 50/50 mixture and she runs just fine. It's a newer formula that is better for the gasket seals.

Incorrect. This is the biggest misconception with Dexcool. The damage to the gasket is the result of not flushing your cooling system at the correct time/mileage intervals. Aluminum oxide sediment builds up and is what causes the gaskets to fail. Dexcool has a operating life of 5 years or 100k miles (whichever occurs first) and then needs to be changed. You'll be right as rain if you stick to the maintenance schedule.

**transamgirl89** · 08-12-2010, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by konigandy6

Incorrect. This is the biggest misconception with Dexcool. The damage to the gasket is the result of not flushing your cooling system at the correct time/mileage intervals. Aluminum oxide sediment builds up and is what causes the gaskets to fail. Dexcool has a operating life of 5 years or 100k miles (whichever occurs first) and then needs to be changed. You'll be right as rain if you stick to the maintenance schedule.

I've always been told otherwise. All my drag racing buddies say it's bad so idk. Mines got right at 66,048 on the clock and it's an 01. The coolant got to a brown gunky condition so I went ahead and flushed it.

**ReBop** · 08-13-2010, 02:04 PM

The "check engine" could likely be an intermittent problem in the air pump. Mine went out at 36k and the dash light stays on. Not critical at all nor is it dangerous. Run your car by a parts house and have them run a code scanner on it, to be sure.