Complete DIY tuneup..?

[Magice]

I have an aged tercel.. doesn't have any major issues other than cosmetic, but I was wondering what kind of maintenance I should do:

What kind of oil should I use on oil change? (motor is @ 442k km) I'm currently using penzoil 10w 30

Is there any other fluids I should be aware to change. We've put many km on this car. If so, what kind of fluids? It's a standard..

Is there any free way to give the carb a good cleaning without buying a rebuild kit?

Anything else I should check?

[Ron B.]

The most important fluid to change is the brake fluid. Auto manufacturers recommend changing it....sometimes every two years, sometimes every 40k miles. Different manufacturers recommend different intervals. I cannot hurt to change it often. Buy a pint or quart of brake fluid and bleed each wheel cylinder and caliper until the fluid runs clear.

Brake fluid is hygroscopic meaning that it absorbs water. Whenever the master cylinder cap is removed, moisture from the air is absorbed into the fluid. Moisture laden air will enter over time even if the cap is not removed. Water does not compress which means that braking performance degrades over time. Also, water will cause rust and corrosion in the system.

There are many oils on the market blended especially for high-mileage motors. They have a formulation of additives which keep seals soft, prevent evaporation and wear.

I use Evans NPG+ Waterless Coolant and Red Line Synthetic Gear Oil in all my vehicles. They never overheat and they all shift smoothly.

Cheers!

Ron B. in Lake George, NY

[sdoan]

This info is for US market, so it may be different for you. My oil choice is the diesel specific 15w-40 that comes in 1 gallon bottles. Delo 400 is a brand I use. Diesel oils have an additive package that includes a zinc/phosphorus anti-wear agent. This anti-wear agent has been reduced in oils that are labeled "energy conserving". I would not use oil lighter than 15w-40 on a high mileage engine (unless your car is started cold in sub-freezing temperatures a lot), and might use 20w-50 during hot weather.

Change the oil in the transmission. The 4wd takes 3.9 liters (4.1 quarts) of GL-5 85w-90 gear oil. Follow the instructions you can find in the service manual and on this site - it's not like any other car!

What problem are you trying to fix by cleaning the carb? It's been said that 90% of carb problems are really ignition problems so you might change plugs, distributor cap and rotor and plug wires if they need it - but check them, the original wires are better than all the aftermarket ones I've had.

For this car "90% of carb problems" might also include vacuum leaks. Search the site for good vacuum diagrams. Hope this helps.

[ARCHINSTL]

I (and Goldie) have been happy with Valvoline Maxlife 10W-40. It is a blended synthetic/dino oil for "mature" engines.
Goldie has 179K and burns no oil. The additives in this oil stopped a couple of very minor leaks, so I am happy.
Here is an interesting thread on what sdoan was talking about.
http://www.tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtop ... ine#p29741
I do use the Mobil 1 oil filter - recommended by many here.

The brake fluid change recommendation of Ron B. is really important. If it is old fluid, you will be amazed at the difference in the fluids. Bleeding can be a drag, but it is certainly necessary. Just be sure to use the flare wrenches designed for the bleeders & clean off the threads first. There are a number of threads here.

When changing the transmission fluid - be certain the filler plugs can be removed before draining the oil! Use six-point sockets! And check this thread for info on grinding away the chamfer on sockets and box end: http://www.tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtop ... ilit=plugs These filler and drain plugs have shallow heads and are easily rounded!
Tom M.

[shogun]

seafoam+better oil+ highest quality oilfilter you can find+ignition bits+carb cleanup = nice power restore