[idamanzz]

Hi gang,
I am the new proud owner of a 2000 E350 PSD. After 2 months of extensive searching I finally found what I was looking for. Extended body, barn door cargo with XLT interior and no commercial history. I bought it from the orig owner who has been the only driver since new. 100% stock except a set of gauges. 133Kmi. The miles are a bit high but they are all highway by the same driver. Light duty and no towing. Clean, clean, clean! Seems to be running great.
Here are a few questions:

1) The van has had regular oil and filter changes but has never had to go in the shop for anything except brakes and batteries. I assume its time for some long term preventative maintenance items. What are they? Im assuming trans flush, rad flush, serp belt, etc. - Suggestions? What are the common longer term maintenance items?

2) What are common and acceptable EGT's and trans temps for a stock configuration?

3) Fuel tank leaks but only when topped off - Ideas?

4) Front end/tracking does not seem perfect. Im sure adding a load will help but im guessing the shocks are shot. What about tie rods/ball joints. How long do they last? Tire wear is great.

Drove it 600 miles home and got 17.5 - 19.5 mpg! (1950rpm/70mph seems like the sweet spot). Next project - Hi-top or pop-top rv conversion, suspension kit and a locking diff!
Thanks
Aaron

 

[AL_Fishing]

I have a 2000 van also, I had the same problem with the front end pulling, it turned out to be old brake fluid, it takes Dot3, have the entire brake system flushed out with new fluid.

I thought it was a frozen caliper at first.

I also bought a new set of michies and centermatic wheel balancers, they work great.
At high speeds they feel like gyro's making the van ride straight as an arrow.

www.centermatic.com .

have your cooling system flushed and the proper antifreeze installed, it's not the same stuff as a gas engine. I also bring eight gallons of distilled water to the shop and have them use the distilled water instead of tap water. I don't know how much it takes, I just bring alot of extra.

I bought one of these oil filter magnets and they work killer, I had the oil change guy cut the filter after my last change and you can see the sludge stuck to it.
http://www.filtermag.com/tech.php , well worth the 80 beans, the tech tried to take the magnet off the filter with his fingers and he could not do it. You need to screw in a special screw tool to push it up on one side so you can get a screwdriver under it after you lift one side up about 1/4" or better.

Wrapping the entire exhaust with headder tape "thermo cool" or something it's called, made the inside sound so much better, no drone, echo or noise. It's quiet now. My EGT's are about 800 doing 85mph pullin some weight. I have the mag hytec tranny pan, rear end cover w/syth fluids.

Wrap your exhaust with the headder tape and enjoy the quiet ride, best money spent.

 

[MADVAN]

[ QUOTE ]

I also bought a new set of michies and centermatic wheel balancers, they work great.
At high speeds they feel like gyro's making the van ride straight as an arrow.

www.centermatic.com .


[/ QUOTE ]

Whats the word on those balancers?
Any noise? Does it effect brake performance?

Bill

 

[AL_Fishing]

Bill,

The balancers are very high quality, aluminum balancers for the Alcoa or any aluminun rims for that matter. If you have steel rims you need to get the steel balancers I believe.

Call them up and tell them what rims you have and they will give you the correct ones. Don't take the chance on an internet order without talking to someone there, they make so many types for the same vehicle, the rim material must match the balancer material I believe.

I have the Super Duty rear ABS brake system and there are 3 star washer type clips that hold the back disc/drum in place, on 3 of the studs you will remove the 3 washer/clips and then install the balancers, then re-install the clips back on the same studs. The balancers must be installed flush on the back brake system, if you did not remove the washer/clips the balancers would have 3 washer/clip type spaces that would screw up the install. You wiil see what I mean if you ever install a set.

After I installed the balancers with a new set of Michie's 245's and they were also balanced on the computer wheel machine at Costco, when I got up to 50 mph I let go of the wheel and the van rides straight as an arrow. I got on a highway and went to 70 mph and you can feel the gyro tracking the van straight. What a cool feeling, they make the van feel much safer.

I put the cruise control on at 70 mph and the van was on autopilot. When big 18 wheelers passed me the balancers helped the van from getting sucked-in and that feeling from vans and air flow bouncing us around. They keep the tires planted on the ground and tracking straight.

You must get a set of them, well worth the money.

 

[msnunes]

I'm just about to order a set - I really need them!

 

[MADVAN]

They sound like they work great.
My only fear is what its going to do to the brake system. I have 33X12.5 tires and it loads the front brakes as of now. If they give a gryo effect at speed its going to be much harder to slow the van down.
I would like to see some stopping distances with and without the balancers.

Bill

 

[AL_Fishing]

The balancers are so light I don't think they will alter the braking system.

They are just one piece of cold-roll alum. stock, the one edge is rolled into about a 1" OD round tube filled with special oil and metal BB balls, they then use a urathane type caulking bead to seal it up. The caulking is hard as a rock and heat resistant etc.

For 50.00 a tire it's well worth a try.