Any tips for a 1st time Escalade ESV owner?

[Hotrodsnh]

Hi Guys,
I just bought my dream truck over the weekend and found your site. It is a 2005 Escalade EXV with 20s/nav/bose/moonroof, all loaded up. I have a DJ company and needed the extra space. The truck only has 23K on it and I got it certified to bring me up to 100k full warranty.
Does anyone have tips/tricks that they want to share. I just spent a boatload on this truck, and I will read the manual eventually, but I wanted to toss this thread out there to the experts. After driving it for 2 days, I cannot understand how I waited this long to get one!
Regards,
-Terry
[IMG]<a href="http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r263/Djtman/?action=view&current=Escalade.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r263/Djtman/Escalade.jpg" border="0" alt="05 caddy"></a>[/IMG]

[Rolex]

Welcome and congratulations on buying a truly wonderful truck.

Thanks for signing up here. You'll find all sorts of valuable info I'm sure. You may even become addicted to this place.

[hcvone]

Welcome to the Forum, congrats on your truck. I would change the diff oil and engine oil ASAP, and then enjoy.

[DaveH28]

More specifically, make sure you change change the FRONT diff oil as well.. I don't know how well versed you are with these trucks or with autos in general but all ESVs are AWD and have a high rate of frt differential failure... Change the fluid in both diffs, and make sure you do the transfer case by 50k ...

Other than that unless you run into anything, drive and enjoy! Like the rest of us..

[JD001249]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the purchase. You will not be disappointed!! I had my front diff replaced at 40K, I have a 2005 also. That is the most frequently replaced part, per my dealership. They stock them. Other than that mine has been great! Good luck with the new ride

[Hotrodsnh]

Where do I get the diff oil changed. I am not trusting this job with Jiffy Lube, right? Is this part of my warranty? I want to treat her right, and I need it to be reliable as hell.
Do you all use 89+ ocatane? I have read some threads and I am torn.
Thanks for all the replies, guys.

[hcvone]

Originally Posted by Hotrodsnh

Where do I get the diff oil changed. I am not trusting this job with Jiffy Lube, right? Is this part of my warranty? I want to treat her right, and I need it to be reliable as hell.
Do you all use 89+ ocatane? I have read some threads and I am torn.
Thanks for all the replies, guys.

I would not have Jiffy Lube do it unless you know someone there, any good shop can do it. It is not part of warranty. You have a 345 hp truck, you can run the lowest grade fuel, with the knock sensors it will run on cheap gas, of course if you tow, or drive in hilly or mountain areas you will want to use good gas, that's up to you.

[caddycruiser]

Originally Posted by Hotrodsnh

Where do I get the diff oil changed. I am not trusting this job with Jiffy Lube, right? Is this part of my warranty? I want to treat her right, and I need it to be reliable as hell.
Do you all use 89+ ocatane? I have read some threads and I am torn.
Thanks for all the replies, guys.

It's considered regular maintenance, like an oil change, but not frequent.

Have the dealer service department or a quality local shop you know well do it...i.e. stick with the dealer unless you really know a great shop for your work.

Stay away from those quick change places for anything, unless like above, you know them and their work well.

And as for the gas, YES, the Escalade 6.0L is higher compression and premium is required for a reason. You can squeak by with lower octanes and the sensors will retard the timing (essentially, your power and such) to compensate, but that's not what it was originally meant for. If you could afford an Escalade, you have to accept all that comes with it...premium gas included

[Lord Cadillac]

Welcome aboard! Thank you for signing up! I own an 05 ESV myself.