NPR/GMC W4500 Maintenance

FoxCPM

FoxCPM

New member
How much do you guys pay to change rotors, pads and I think brake pistons on all 4 wheels? The rear ones need new drums I think..
Also do you ever clean the intrecooler?
What else do you do to prolong the life of these beasts?
How much is a rebuilt kit for this engine and what is the average labor cost?

Thanks!

D.
 
I have a w4500 and love it but the parts are expensive.Mine has a gas engine which is a chevy 5.7 ,but the rest is Isuzu.I buy all my parts online now after getting bent over by local dealers who had to order everything anyway.I have not done rotors or drums yet,but the front pads were around $125 if I remember. The stock muffler from the dealer was $467,that's just the muffler nothing else.The same muffler online $268,big difference. As far as dealer rates they are in the $90 to $100 per hour range,and hope you get a good tech not some kid out of votech learning on your truck.They are pretty easy to work on everything is out in the open. It's funny I seen a shop by me with a big sign that had labor rate $48 in real tiny letters at the bottom it had per half hour. I realize everyone has overhead,and everyone has to make a living but it seems like with the slow economy when some shops get a hold of you they really try to pump up the bill to help make up for the lack of business. They are great little trucks though.
 
The place I buy from online is isuzutruckparts.com ,they have an 800 number 800-338-9249.The guy I deal with is name Josh his direct line is 657-200-7831,very friendly and helpful.Even with shipping it's worth it.

As far as prolonging the life of any vehicle,it boils down to maintenance .Use synthetic oils,long life anti freeze,I use the red stuff,it's expensive,but worth it.Most people don't realize the importance of antifreeze,I didn't either until we blew an engine on a Peterbilt
tractor and the engine failure was attributed to using the regular green anti freeze and not checking it enough,and the water jacket in the engine block corroded and caused premature engine failure.The anti freeze looked fine,but it wasn't.The biggest thing I can say about prolonging the life of a truck is take it easy and and don't drive it hard.This is especially true with these little japanese trucks with automatic tranny's .Driving them hard with a heavy load will kill that tranny and little 4cyl turbo diesel.That's why employee's are the worst thing for any vehicle,they will beat the crap out of your equipment and never respect it like you do,as soon as they are out of your sight,not all,but most.They are not paying for it,especially when it breaks.They will yes you to death to your face,and will beat on it when they are on their own.There are exceptions to this,like if you buy a brand new truck,and hand a good responsible employee the keys,and let him know it is his responsibility ,and he his the only one that will drive it,they will generally take care of it,but not always .GPS in trucks help,but it is not the total solution.Making it a practice to pretrip the truck everyday before they start,check the fluids,put the four ways on and walk around the truck and kick the tires,check lug nuts,look under the truck for broken springs etc is a good practice,and one I adopted driving tractor trailers with 100k lb plus loads over mountain roads,and do with any truck before I start my day.Hope this info helps.
 
Make sure your guys run with the exhaust brake on it will save on brake jobs. Your truck is a sweeper you should get in the habit of rinsing the outside of intercooler and radiator on a weekly basis. Heat is your enemy on a turbocharged npr keep the airflow clean. also change your air filter religiously. did you try the deisel guy from the roundtable he seemed like he knew his stuff.
 
Thanks guys,

Greg, I sold the Ford. About the sweepers, they take a lot of abuse every night. Each one does average 90-100 per night and 4-5 hours from the back sweeping motor. Tires wear out every 4-5 months. I change oils every month or every 3000 miles. Sweepers take a lot of maintenance. I feel that brakes will need work very soon.. I don't think I will be able to do them myself. I've seen guys fighting the rear drums with hours. The brakes are the weak part for these trucks I think.. Overall from my personal experience the NPRs are absolutely the best trucks for employees. They can take a lot of beating and will survive :).
I wonder how come there is no dedicated board for NPR/GMC trucks. These are the most common contractors trucks out there.

I will change the antifreeze, didn't know that :).. Good info, thanks!

D.
 
Your Welcome. I like all the little Japanese Box trucks.I got hooked on them in the early 90's when I had a bar and restaurant supply business.I originally had cube vans,and used to burn through them,and would rent an Isuzu box truck when a cube van was down,and they were night and day better,and drove almost like cars with the turning radius,and isolation from the box,no sounds,smells etc.I bought a new Mitsubishi FE after one of the cube vans blew an engine and loved it.I have a UD 1800 diesel with a 5 speed,and exhaust brake,and a GMC (Isuzu )w4500 with a auto tranny and gas engine.I bought it used in mint shape from a company that was switching over to Sprinters,and got a great deal on it,if I had my choice it would have been diesel. I also have a GMC 3500 Cube van with the enclosed Utility body with a gas engine,also a deal I could not pass up.My toy is a Quigley 4x4 e350 van with a 7.3 powerstroke diesel.I love that van,it's a beast! As far as keeping the radiator and air to air clean,I definitely agree.We haul construction demolition with a 2007 Peterbilt ,and it is alway in dust,and we have to pw the radiator and air to air once a week or it will get hot on hills.
I wish they would import some of the diesel mini cargo vans that they have in Europe,they have some sharp little diesel vans over there,even with the price of diesel going up ,the mpg they get would be worth it.
 
I have a 2005 Isuzu NPR that I have been running for 3 years with minimal issues. One EGR pipe to replace, cost $300 and 45 mins, beyond that a set of rear tires. I need to replace the king pins, but beyond that just oil and filter changes. It has started everytime, even at -35`c in less then 5 seconds. Its a little grumpy then, but never let me down.
I am only replacing it now because I need more truck to haul water. No complaints, if I needed a truck this size for something else I would get one of these in a heart beat.
 
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