3.3TT Opinion's On Future Maintenance

[Metalmania82]

Hi all. Wanted to get opinion's on future maintenance, specifically on fluids.
I followed the manual in regards to the 600 miles break-in period and then changed the oil and filter at 1000 miles as I do believe in a break-in oil change even if Kia doesn't necessarily recommend it.
My question now would be what about the transmission and differential fluids having a break-in fluid change? To me, it seems that it would be just like the engine, everything is breaking in and changing the oil out early will help get any of the "break-in material" out of the engine, or in this case, trans and diffs. Does this same concept not apply?
And concerning just the trans, does anyone have any kind of plans or ideas on when or IF to even do a drain and fill on the trans in the future, say 50k miles? I know just about every manufacture these days use "lifetime" fluids and do not recommend changing them at any point but I don't know if I really buy into ANY kind of "lifetime" fluid, especially in a wear and tear item like the trans.

And just for shits and giggles, for the guys with upgraded plugs running a tune or flash, any idea or advice on an interval for changing the plugs out? Same as the factory interval or maybe something different?

 

[oddball]

Plugs: Depends on what you put in. Platinum/Iridium are good to ~100k. A tune won't affect them unless something goes wrong and you start fouling plugs (running too rich or sucking down oil). I've seen folks cross-referencing copper plugs, which, just like the good old days, are good to about 10k.

Break-in: The process is different with engines vs the other parts. Engine assembly normally requires temporary lubricants (thick, sticky stuff), so the early oil change is mostly about getting that stuff out of the pan and having a chance to inspect the filter. (building classic V8s is my hobby) Trannys are assembled with ATF, and diffs are assembled with gear oil, so that problem isn't there. There shouldn't be any appreciable material breakdown during the initial "break-in" with modern stuff. My v6 didn't show *any* material in the filter at 500 miles.

Trans: Transmission clutches ARE wear items, so clutch material will build up in the filter. ATF DOES have a limited lifespan, especially if it gets too hot. A modern synthetic ATF is good to at least 50k, but several current cars are calling the transmission fill a "lifetime" fill. Does that mean the car is only meant to last 100k? Maybe. I still prefer to cycle the ATF roughly every 50k on all my cars.

Diff: Gear oil really has life pretty easy in modern cars with independent rear suspension. If you have the LSD then changing the oil when you kill the clutches is the right time. Otherwise, same thing as the ATF - 50k to 100k.

 

[Metalmania82]

Thanks for the reply and info. I've mostly owned older vehicles, 12+ years old, and was used to doing trans fluid drain and fills between 30k-50k.

As far as the plugs, I was just wondering for those of us we the tunes and upgraded plugs, I guess the factory interval should be ok?

 

[oddball]

As long as you use platinum/iridium tipped plugs and aren't burning oil, then yeah, 100k.

 

[Kazz]

I believe the OEM maintenance schedule has the plugs being replaced around 25,000 miles, yes? Must not be platinum or iridium? Or Kia just wants to sell plugs?

 

[hummus]

Regarding plugs, this is my understanding:

In addition to smaller gap, tuners seem to recommend running colder-than-stock plugs. These can foul earlier than the maintenance interval for stock plugs. The reason is that colder plugs can by design withstand higher temp and pressure levels by shifting their safe operational range higher in those two areas. By doing so, their self-cleaning temperature range shifts upward as well.

While normal driving runs the stock plugs in their self-cleaning temperature range, that temperature can be below the self-cleaning range of colder plugs, especially if they are several ranges colder (such as the HKS ones). Therefore, achieving the safety factor of colder plugs when running hard with a tune comes at the theoretical expense of plugs that foul earlier when driving normally.

That's my understanding anyhow. As for how much sooner the plugs foul, that probably depends on many variables: how many ranges colder than stock, boost level, driving habits, environmental conditions, maybe fuel quality?

 

[Metalmania82]

Regarding plugs, this is my understanding:

In addition to smaller gap, tuners seem to recommend running colder-than-stock plugs. These can foul earlier than the maintenance interval for stock plugs. The reason is that colder plugs can by design withstand higher temp and pressure levels by shifting their safe operational range higher in those two areas. By doing so, their self-cleaning temperature range shifts upward as well.

While normal driving runs the stock plugs in their self-cleaning temperature range, that temperature can be below the self-cleaning range of colder plugs, especially if they are several ranges colder (such as the HKS ones). Therefore, achieving the safety factor of colder plugs when running hard with a tune comes at the theoretical expense of plugs that foul earlier when driving normally.

That's my understanding anyhow. As for how much sooner the plugs foul, that probably depends on many variables: how many ranges colder than stock, boost level, driving habits, environmental conditions, maybe fuel quality?

That's basically what I was thinking just wasn't sure. Obviously the plugs are gapped tighter and are colder now, and the power has gone up, and I'm sure depending on how hard you drive it depends on the wear. Just curious if anyone had any idea on this. Maybe the JB4 guys would have more information for us?

 

[eflyguy]

I believe the OEM maintenance schedule has the plugs being replaced around 25,000 miles, yes? Must not be platinum or iridium? Or Kia just wants to sell plugs?

2018 maintenance schedule says replace every 42,000 miles (70k km), or "more frequent" if used under under "severe" conditions..

I'll say this - I've been on a 5k oil change interval on all my vehicles for years now. It makes it easy to track across many vehicles (at one time I think I had 11 registered with the state) when you do it at 20k, 25k, 30k, etc. "Severe" use on the Stinger says 3k oil interval. I'll probably stick with my Mobil 1 and 5k interval, but I will be sending off samples from my first changes to Blackstone for analysis. I've got a lot of faith in the science, but this is the first high performance vehicle I've owned that will also be my daily driver...

 

[Metalmania82]

Maybe i'll just cut that number in half and change them out around 20k.

I do the same almost for oil change intervals on all 3 of our cars as well. Have reminders set to go off at 4k miles, then make myself notes to buy the necessary parts. So between 4k & 4500 miles.

I'll be sending this next oil change to Blackstone as well. Skipped the first one at 1k since it was the break in period.

 

[Eastcoaststinger]

As long as you use platinum/iridium tipped plugs and aren't burning oil, then yeah, 100k.

Denso ihk24s need to be replaced every 12,000 miles