It’s great to have a truck, and the 2023 Sierra 1500 is a wonderful choice of vehicle. If that’s your choice, then you’re going to want to take great care of it to get as much value out of the vehicle as possible.
At Prostrollo Motor Sales, we can provide maintenance and care whenever your truck needs a professional touch. But, you can also use the care guide below to prevent problems and keep your vehicle in great shape.
Routine Maintenance Guide
Truck care begins with routine maintenance. This includes things like oil changes and tire rotations. Modern Sierra 1500s are relatively low-maintenance compared to trucks of the past, but there are a few important things you need to stay on top of if you want your vehicle to last.
Some of the items on the list help to prevent damage and problems. Others are absolutely essential. If you don’t keep up with the routine maintenance schedule, you can destroy your entire engine, and surprisingly quickly.
With that in mind, these are the things you need to be doing on a regular basis:
- Oil Change. This is arguably the most essential bit of routine maintenance. Your Sierra needs a new oil filter and replacement oil every 3,000 miles.
- Air Filter. The air filter is also essential, but it is replaced as needed. Typically, you will want a new air filter every other oil change.
- Serpentine Belt. Also essential, if this belt breaks, the truck doesn’t run. Inspect the belt for signs of wear and damage at least twice a year. Replace it as needed.
- Tire Rotation. Your Sierra 1500 will monitor tire pressure for you, but the tires need to be rotated every 7,500 miles. The treads will be checked for wear at each rotation, and you need to replace your tires when they wear down too much.
- Windshield Care. Check your windshield fluid and wipers every month. Add fluid when needed and replace the wipers when they start to degrade.
If you stay on top of these few things, your truck will run better and last longer. While this is the foundation of truck care, it’s not everything you need to know.
Milestone Maintenance Schedule
Your Sierra 1500 has a major maintenance schedule. You can find the exact details in your user manual, but the most important milestones are listed here:
- 22,500 miles. At this point, it’s time to change the passenger air filter. It’s usually best to have this done by a certified professional because they will also perform a vehicle inspection to make sure there are no signs of major issues.
- 60,000 miles. At 60,000 miles, it’s time for new spark plugs (97,500 miles for the V8 models). Again, it’s also a good time for a general checkup for the whole vehicle.
- 100,000 miles. This is a major milestone for most vehicles, and for your Sierra 1500, it’s time to replace gas struts. This includes the hood and the suspension. If you have a 4WD vehicle, then it’s also time to change the transfer case fluid.
- 150,000 miles. The last major milestone, it’s now time to drain and replace the coolant for your vehicle.
Remember that these milestones repeat. You want to change the cabin air filter every 22,500 miles, not just once.
A Few Additional Care Tips
That concludes all of your major planned maintenance, but there are a few more care tips that really help extend the life of the truck and make ownership more pleasant.
First up, clean the interior regularly. Use vehicle-certified cleaners on the dash, windshield, seats, and floors. This will reduce wear and tear on the interior.
Second, wash and wax the truck regularly. A good protective coating needs to be applied at least twice a year, and the truck should be washed whenever it is visibly dirty on the outside.
Lastly, park in the shade as much as possible. It’s not always available, but shaded parking reduces sun damage, weather damage, and other things that age your vehicle prematurely.
