150,000 Mile Car Check/Refresh

[hgray14]

My 1995 850 Turbo is just about to his 150,000 miles and I want to make sure I it is good for a long time to come. After a bad motorcycle accident in Jan 2009 I haven't really done much with my car other than an oil change here and there. I haven't driven it much over the past year but I also haven't kept up on routine maintance and want to get it back to where I know everything is okay for a while longer. The last time I ran a compression test it came out with flying colours but I will run another one as well as a leak-down test now that I have the Harbor Freight tester.

So, what should I check/replace?

I am about to give it a full tune-up.

Timing belt was done at 95K so I should change that out.

How do I check my PCV system to make sure it is okay...or should I just replace it with the IPD kit?

I may have a oil pick-up problem so I will be replacing the oil seals in the pan.

There also may be a sticky lifter problem but I am not sure...from what I have read it seems like a pretty easy fix.

fuel filter, tranny filter? Do you replace these at this point or wait until they pose a problem?

I replace the front 02 sensor when I swapped in the IPD ECU and exhaust, about 20K ago so I assume that is good.

It passes smog with no problems (although it is now registered in an area that doesn't require smog) so I assume the rear O2 sensor is okay - is there any reason to replace it?

Do the valves need adjustment?

I can get the car off the ground, have the tools and am not afraid to get my hands dirty so what else should I be looking for?

Thanks!

Houston

[_HighVoltage_]

For the PCV system - look for smoke from the dipstick when the car has warmed up to operating temperature.

After that, get a piece of paper, open the oil cap (with engine running) and hold the sheet above the engine. If it's trying to suck it in - you're okay, everything is perfect.

If it's getting blown away - you have pressure in the crankcase and your PCV needs attention...

That's the general rule, although I've read about people who have replaced their PCV's and are still getting crankcase pressure from somewhere.

[rsmigel]

I would replace the turbo oil return line gaskets, replace the entire PCV system and remove and thoroughly clean out the PTC.

I would look at the U-joints and replace the boots or axles.

Flush the tranny fluid if it has never been done.

Why do you believe you have an "oil pickup problem?"

[hgray14]

For the PCV system - look for smoke from the dipstick when the car has warmed up to operating temperature.

After that, get a piece of paper, open the oil cap (with engine running) and hold the sheet above the engine. If it's trying to suck it in - you're okay, everything is perfect.

If it's getting blown away - you have pressure in the crankcase and your PCV needs attention...

That's the general rule, although I've read about people who have replaced their PCV's and are still getting crankcase pressure from somewhere.

Thanks, I will give that a shot. I doubt I have a problem but want to catch it before it causes any damage, if I do.

[hgray14]

I would replace the turbo oil return line gaskets, replace the entire PCV system and remove and thoroughly clean out the PTC.

I would look at the U-joints and replace the boots or axles.

Flush the tranny fluid if it has never been done.

Why do you believe you have an "oil pickup problem?"

THe turbo oil return line gaskets was changed out when I first bought the car along with the rear main seal. That was 4 years and about 40,000 miles ago. Whould the return line gasket get changed again or do I wait until it starts leaking?

I will definitely check the boots, u-joints, axles but I am pretty sure I have worked on all of those since owning the car and they are all in good shape. (I have had a ton of 850s so I need to check my notes to see what exactly has been replaced on this car.)

I will flush the tranny; thanks for the reminder. I have heard that is a weak spot with these cars so I have let the oil change guys talk me into it probably once a year for the past four years. I am now reading that they don't flush it as good as you can do yourself by removing the tranny lines so I am going to do it myself next time but I figured I have had it flushed (even poorly) more often than most people do.

I suspect an oil pickup problem because of the whinning noise I heard a while back. When I posted it to the list the concensus was oil pickup. Since I am changing the oil myself this time and will have the car off the ground anyway I figured why not replace those gaskets. I have been told these cars have the potential to last as long as the 240s if you take care of your tranny and keep your oil system in good working order. For the turbos I read that the oil system is the key to longevity.

thanks again for the advice.

[rsmigel]

It's not common to change the oil seals by dropping the pan. Do you believe this to be the cause of your "oil pickup" problem?

Does anyone else have experience with these oil seals?

[hgray14]

I must be using the wrong terminology because it seems to be a common problem that many others have had to address.

...I just checked and the kit from IPD is called an "Oil Sump O-Ring Kit" and all the instructions I have seen require pulling the pan. You can't get at these o-rings any other way.

sorry for the confusion...

[Scootdiggity]

I must be using the wrong terminology because it seems to be a common problem that many others have had to address.

...I just checked and the kit from IPD is called an "Oil Sump O-Ring Kit" and all the instructions I have seen require pulling the pan. You can't get at these o-rings any other way.

sorry for the confusion...

Do you have the noisey lifters, that is what the oil sump o-ring kit is for, and yes you have to drop the pan, it is a common problem

[hgray14]

Do you have the noisey lifters, that is what the oil sump o-ring kit is for, and yes you have to drop the pan, it is a common problem

I do think the lifters are pretty noisey but it was a specific whinning noise that got my attention and was suggested as a symptom of the o-rings. Even if that isn't a problem right now I am doing all this other work so I figured I would do that too. I would like to clean out any sludge in the pan that has built up over 150K so it is a win-win as far as I am concerned.