Got a 97 limited with 168k on it right now and had a few questions.

1) Is 5w-20 to thin of an oil to use on it? I've been using that weight mobil 1 for awhile and I wonder if I should go heavier because of its age.

2) There is a idler pulley on the lower passenger side of the motor either for the AC or PS (I need to go and look again). I suspect the bearing in that pulley is going bad. Is it possible to replace it without having to replace the entire pulley?

 

You can also afford to go with a heavier oil due to where you live since cold is rarely a factor.

 

Ok, skip question #1, I am an idiot. gonna switch out to 10w-30 asap.

 

If you will be fine using 5W-30 or 10W-30 synthetic or dino, up to you.
If it were me in Las Vegas I'd use 10W-30 in summer and 5W-30 in winter but you could easily run 10W-30 year round there too.

 

The idler is an assembly so you can't just replace the pulley. Its not that expensive a part though. I am on my second one....but thats because mine is under water a lot!