lb7 regular maintenance?

[bigboytoy426]

just bought my SECOND lb7. Didnt have much luck with the first one, seeing it only lasted 8 hours and the crankcase filled with fuel ( got my money back) Now i got a 2001 lb7. When i purchased it i looked for all the signs of bad injectors and seen none. Until it got dark, and a car got behind me with the headlights on seen white smoke pouring out. Somehow, the dealership got GM to replace all 8 injectors and a few fuel lines for $4100 costing me nothing and the dealership nothing.
Im new to the diesel world and am wondering .. ( truck is missing all of the owners manual except 2 pages )

1.what regular maint. has to be done and at what intervals?

2. What should I do right off the bat when i get my truck back from the injector replacement?. It is a good dealer but they told me injectors checked out when they obviously didnt ( actual Chevy dealership) so i dont know what was done by the previous owner or dealership.

truck has 119,000 miles

 

[DBUSHLB7]

I'm guessing the dealership ate the cost of the injector job. The LB7 injector warranty ran out a while ago. It was seven years or 200,000 miles so that truck was def not covered. Good for you that you're starting with fresh injectors. Im guessing the dealer put a new fuel filter on but I would check with em and if not go ahead and change it.
I'd also check all the fluids especially the trans fluid. Change the spin on filter pronto as well and buy genuine Allison filters they are NOT expensive. Front diff fluid as well as the rear are due to be changed as well.

 

[Noreaster]

5K oil & filter, grease zerks
10K fuel filter, transmission spin on filter, transfer case if using 5-30 motor oil
25K drain transmission pan & replace the transmission sump filter, transfer case if you use ATF
50K front & rear differentials

I did a DIY for the differential & transfer case fluid changes awhile back http://www.duramaxdiesels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4869

 

[AubleAK]

injector cleaner, pretty often. anything to help lubricate the fuel system, injectors. anything to help keep some life in those lb7 injectors..

 

[KEVINL]

The injectors need replaced every 3 years or 36,000 miles what ever comes first

 

[Noreaster]

The injectors need replaced every 3 years or 36,000 miles what ever comes first

 

[bigboytoy426]

They told me they got ahold of all the big "brass" at GM and talked them into changing them.They said they would prefer to take the truck back if GM would not cover it because they would lose there ass on the truck if they did the repair. but they could be lieing because according to them when the truck came in it passed a "drip test" but they salesman wasnt very smart when it came to anything than auto sales. they replaced the belt tensioner and according to him it was a "throttle pulley".
Were can I get the allison filters? any dealership? Ive done fron diff and transfer case fluid changes before on my other silverado but never the rear because was leary of taking the whole cover off, maybe this truck is diffrent and has drain and fill plugs. I was told to but ATF in the transfer case on my other truck..same for this truck?
I planned on running dieselkleen ( i think thats the name ) close to every fill up or is there something better?

 

[bigboytoy426]

if the injectors need to be replaced every 3 years i wont be having this truck very long..i heard it was a go till they blow kind of thing ..the ones that were in the truck before lased 119,000 miles..i know a guy that has 233,000 on his originals but the truck has other serious problems. He runs "fuel oil" instead of diesel so maybe thats why? I dont know if he mixes it with diesel or not but he has a HUGE tank in the barn and only cost's $1 a gallon

 

[KEVINL]

Idk I had shitty luck with my lb7 and ones at work my originals lasted but the new and improved ones only. Lasted 36000 miles

I told my boss to not replace the injectors again in one of the work trucks just drive it till it blows

 

[bigboytoy426]

yea i have a buddy that works a local performance diesel shop and said Bosch has a bad batch of injectors goin around right now so im kind of worried. They did a couple jobs and the trucks were back shortly after

 

[DBUSHLB7]

Can't tell from your sig where you live. Google search for an Allison trans dealer/service company in your area. They should be able to sell you the spin on for under 10 bucks. You can also check out Merchant-Automotive.com for a good deal on those filters. I agree with Noreaster, change the internal filter as well. ATF in the transfer case is fine. Don't worry so much about your injectors. Some replacements last guys another 100 thousand miles and some don't. You can't control the fuel out there so just do what you can to help. Run an additive like Power service "Diesel Kleen" or "optilube" and some 2 stroke oil now and then and try and get a 2 micron fuel filter in place.

Nicktane.com and Undergrounddiesel both sell a billet aluminum adapter that spins onto the factory fuel filter head. It allows you to use a Cat 2 Micron fuel filter. This filter is way better than the OEM and surprisingly comes at a much lower price. This Cat filter can be had from 10-20$.

 

[bigboytoy426]

I live in Grand Rapids michigan. There is a merchant automotive within 15 miles of me so ill have to run out there and get a filter when i get a chance. I was looking at that nicktane adapter but read a few reviews saying to just save the $100 because it doesnt have a water separtor? Hopefully someone can clear this up for me..if it does everything the OEM filters does but just BETTER ill be defiantly be doing that... How do you change the internal filter? easy or hard?

 

[Chevy1925]

I dont care what you add or run through to "help" lb7 injectors, be prepared to replace them between every 60-100k. If you have a heavy foot, no amount of lube or cleaner is gunna stop 23,000psi from killing the ball seat.

I tried two stroke oil every other fill up, atf every once and a while for cleaning, diesel kleen a few times, bg 244 for a long time and after all that i got 65k out of my last set of injectors. They just dont last like the lly and up

 

[DBUSHLB7]

I live in Grand Rapids michigan. There is a merchant automotive within 15 miles of me so ill have to run out there and get a filter when i get a chance. I was looking at that nicktane adapter but read a few reviews saying to just save the $100 because it doesnt have a water separtor? Hopefully someone can clear this up for me..if it does everything the OEM filters does but just BETTER ill be defiantly be doing that... How do you change the internal filter? easy or hard?

You are correct and I forgot about that. Most of us driven by the performance aspect of our Duramax trucks have Airdog or Fass lift pumps that already have water separation features. I wasn't paying close enough attention to your specific needs. Cat does have a great filter with water separation. Cat 1R0770 and 1R0771 are 10 micron fuel filters with W/S. That micron rating is as good as a Delco spec filter. However prob better quality and still @ a lower price.

As far as the internal filter goes, you would need to drain all the fluid and unbolt the pan. The filter sits right above the fluid pan and right below the valve body. Pull the filter out slowly and once all the fluid is done drippin push the new one into place. It really is quite easy. If it were my truck, I would view this as the perfect time to change the fluid.

 

[DBUSHLB7]

I dont care what you add or run through to "help" lb7 injectors, be prepared to replace them between every 60-100k. If you have a heavy foot, no amount of lube or cleaner is gunna stop 23,000psi from killing the ball seat.

I tried two stroke oil every other fill up, atf every once and a while for cleaning, diesel kleen a few times, bg 244 for a long time and after all that i got 65k out of my last set of injectors. They just dont last like the lly and up

I was more optimistic for this gentelmen as it seems he is a general type of pickup owner and not a hot rodder. Seems the daily driven, non modded LB7s have better luck with longevity as their injectors are not under the demands of yours and mine.

 

[Chevy1925]

Oh i know but he doesnt need to be suckered in on thinkin adding an aditive/cleaner is gunna gain him another 50-100k ya know. There really is nothing proven out there that will prolong these injectors lives unless you just upgraded to the chrome ball and seat ones from the old style ones. I dont even believe added fuel filtration is a benifit to longer injector life. None it has any factual information backing it that it does. Sure it dont hurt to add it, just dont let it cloud reality of these trucks

I wish i could say different but its where we currently are right now. Keep an eye on them balance rates and your exhaust for a haze.

 

[KEVINL]

Yeah any money saved by not buying fuel additives or additional filtration can be saved towards the next set

 

[adeso]

I live in Grand Rapids michigan. There is a merchant automotive within 15 miles of me so ill have to run out there and get a filter when i get a chance. I was looking at that nicktane adapter but read a few reviews saying to just save the $100 because it doesnt have a water separtor? Hopefully someone can clear this up for me..if it does everything the OEM filters does but just BETTER ill be defiantly be doing that... How do you change the internal filter? easy or hard?

there is only one merchant automotive and you are lucky to live so close. They are one of the big name shops in this sport. If you need work that would be a good place to take it

 

[TeaBagger2006]

Gosh dang I love my lbz

 

[DBUSHLB7]

Oh i know but he doesnt need to be suckered in on thinkin adding an aditive/cleaner is gunna gain him another 50-100k ya know. There really is nothing proven out there that will prolong these injectors lives unless you just upgraded to the chrome ball and seat ones from the old style ones. I dont even believe added fuel filtration is a benifit to longer injector life. None it has any factual information backing it that it does. Sure it dont hurt to add it, just dont let it cloud reality of these trucks

I wish i could say different but its where we currently are right now. Keep an eye on them balance rates and your exhaust for a haze.

If his were just done on "warranty" would his remans not come with chrome ball and seat? I guess only the serial #s on his sticks would tell the truth? I was more so just not wanting him to be in a panic about it. I feel my truck runs a bit smoother with additives and the extra lubrication couldnt hurt. Dont mean to argue or nothin. I also realize the importance of not sugar coating stuff.