Maintenance Advice for Chevy w 172k mi

[Nathandeuel]

Hey all, we just got back from a lovely little five-day trip to Colorado and New Mexico. Hit Pagosa Springs, skiing at Wolf Creek, then toured a shut-down and ghostly Taos Ski area, closed for a water main break despite tons of snow. Anyhow... I'm writing for some general wisdom about my "senior" van, which to be clear is currently running perfectly.

It's a 2015 Chevy 2500 with the 4.8L V8. It's been great since we bought it in June 2020 with 99K miles on it, and since then we've brought it up to about 173K miles. Yes, we use the hell out of it.

I'm always careful to do regular oil changes and whatever other maintenance is required, but with that many miles on the engine and trans, I'm curious what the general forum thinking is when it comes to high milage vehicles that get a lot of use and love.

1. What should I be looking out for?
2. At 200k or something, should I just preemptively get a new trans? (I'd hate to break down in nowhere Kansas ... Would much rather use my local shop, which just put a tranny in our 2012 Honda Fit with 150k miles.)
3. Should I just white knuckle it until like 250k and then just get a whole new engine/trans combo?
4. Something else?

Love this van and hope to take it past 300k or even 500k with the current configuration (CCV poptop and lots of careful homebrew).

Thanks for your thoughts!

[marret]

I would replace belts, tensioner, radiator hoses, etc.

I am not far behind you, 2008 with 163k miles.

What trans do you have? That would be a concern for me.

I wonder about doing the fuel pump, but at this piont have decided to wait until any signs of starting to weaken and carry a spare. I also carry a spare starter.

My alt was replaced at about 70k.

I rebuilt the trans at 140k or so. Pump started leaking. I change fluid regularly.

The engines should go 300k plus, again I think there will be warning signs.

I have rebuilt my entire front end as preventive maint except for the center link and steering box. I asked them to do the center link, but they didn't. They said they rarely fail.

I assume you have been replacing coolant regularly. I also pondered replacing the water pump, but have not.

I rebuilt the transfer case 5k or so ago.

I rebuilt the rear end 10k or so ago. Started making noise so upon inspection that led to a rebuild including new calipers and rotors.