96 Tahoe 4x4 Tune Up Questions

[Highlander]

Hey everyone, just joined up from Alabama and just got my first Tahoe.
Its the 96 LT with 5.7 Vortec, auto overdrive tranny with transfer case shift in the floor. Its still bone stock with no mods and I want to keep it that way for now.
Got some questions about what are the best parts to use for a full out tune up on my rig. Its running rough under load and at an idle. Thought the tune up would be my first step in getting my Tahoe back to running smooth again.
Here is a list of the parts I am looking to replace. Please feel free to post up your suggestions on the best parts to use for each one. I dont want to throw money away on cheap parts that will not work as good as the OEM stuff.
1. Spark Plugs
2. Spark Plug Wires
3. Rotor Button
4. Distributor Cap
5. Fuel Filter
6. Engine Oil Brand and Weight
7. Engine Oil Filter
8. Air Filter

 

[Highlander]

I only run the Pure One gold premium filters on my vehicles.
My oil preferences are Castrol and Valvoline.
I am thinking on using the Valvoline High Milage 10w40 dino oil in my Tahoe. Its never had synthetic ran in it so I dont really want to go that way.
The temps here in Alabama normally wont go below +20 deg. F. in the winter.

Will I be OK with 10w40 or do I need to go a little thinner like 10w30 instead?

 

[Highlander]

Has anyone ever used the ACCEL TST3 Super Ignition Tune Up Kit that Jegs carries for the 5.7 Vortec engines?
It comes with ACCEL Brand Dizzy Cap, Rotor Button, Plugs, Wires and is about 137 bucks for the whole kit including shipping.

Just wondering if this would be a step up from the AC/Delco OEM stuff?

 

[lesterl]

If she is kinda rough running after your tuneup, might be an injector issue, add some fuel system/ injector cleaner to your list.....

 

[Highlander]

10-4. Already doing that now. Picked up a bottle of the Chevron Techron injector cleaner at Advance the other day. Said the large bottle would treat up to 23 gallons. It was buy one, get one free deal too. Its also got an idle issue and wont idle down under 1000 rpms. I am wondering now if I may have a vaccum leak cause my brakes are acting kinda funky now also......????

If she is kinda rough running after your tuneup, might be an injector issue, add some fuel system/ injector cleaner to your list.....

 

[Highlander]

Hey, has anyone ran the ACCEL tune up stuff on their 5.7 Vortec and if so how has it done?
I priced all ACDelco stuff and its at 277 bucks without tax at Advance Auto.

I can get the ACCEL stuff for about 100 bucks less than that and still have less in the tune up if I went ahead and bought the ACCEL Super Coil with it.

I am thinking that the ACCEL stuff should be a step up above OEM, right?

 

[lesterl]

Sometimes "better" is not always "BETTER". I have heard some people have issues with ACCEL coils, dont know about the caps/etc..... I prefer to go back ALL AC DELCO stuff.... Try AMAZON.COM for a good deal, use the AC DELCO part #'s from advance auto on amazon.

 

[Highlander]

OK, I will check it out and see what I can come up with. I am really starting to get the feeling that I would be better off to just dump this Tahoe and go back to a Jeep 4x4 with the 4.0 I-6 engine. They are much less $$$ to maintain.

Sometimes "better" is not always "BETTER". I have heard some people have issues with ACCEL coils, dont know about the caps/etc..... I prefer to go back ALL AC DELCO stuff.... Try AMAZON.COM for a good deal, use the AC DELCO part #'s from advance auto on amazon.

 

[NJTahoe]

OK, I will check it out and see what I can come up with. I am really starting to get the feeling that I would be better off to just dump this Tahoe and go back to a Jeep 4x4 with the 4.0 I-6 engine. They are much less $$$ to maintain.

Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket lol:hahano:


No i'm just kiddin, I actually had a 96 Cherokee with 222600 on the clock and it was running like a champ. The only problem was that it was 2 door and it wasn't easy to move the family with a 2 door. Oh and it wasn't 4 Wheel Drive. My Tahoe solved all of those problems.

 

[Highlander]

I did some shopping today and used Advance Auto online and got a $50 off promo code and went ahead and bought the ACCEL TST3 Super Ignition Tune Up Kit.
I have used ACCEL stuff on my race cars in the past and never had any issues with them. Never did get any real feedback on others that have actually used the kit so I will post up what I think about it once its all installed and I have a chance to see how it does.

I went ahead and got a Purolator fuel filter, Valvoline 10w40 high milage oil and Purolator Pure One filter along with the tune up kit. Total cost was around the 150 mark so that wasnt so bad. Now I just got to explain to the wife why our Christmas Fund this year is going to be a little low....:emotions33:

My cutting out issue seems to be in the plugs/wires so I hope this money spent will get the Hoe back to at least running smooth again and give it a little more power on the hills.
If it doesnt, then she will hit Craigslist for sale or trade wide open come next Monday and become someone else's money pit.

 

[lesterl]

Didja sell 'er or get 'er running good?

 

[Highlander]

I went ahead and put the Accel Super Truck Tune Up Kit on it and got it running good then I sold it because the brakes started locking up on the front of it and decided it was not worth spending any more money on.

Didja sell 'er or get 'er running good?