Advice on well used 1995 Suburban

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Chris B.

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I'm looking for a beater work truck and I just found a local guy selling a 1995 Suburban for $1,500 with exactly 200,000 miles on it. He said it was a Wyoming government truck for state use and is a bare bones model. It is a 3/4 ton 4x4 and was well maintained he claims. It appears to be clean inside and out and seems to run well. It is leaking oil some where because it's all over the skid plates(not a big deal) and needs new tires. I checked KBB and NADA and it seem his price is well under the going rate for these. How reliable are these at this kind of mileage? I'm assuming because it is a 3/4 ton it has the 4L80E transmission? Are these reliable? If I get it I'll change out all fluids and cross my fingers it runs for a while. What else should I look for as I'm going back tomorrow to see it in the day light? What do you guys think?
 
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Sounds like a decent price even though the miles are high. Even if something like a seal needs to be repaired you're not paying a whole lot. It would be nice to know whats leaking. Parts should be cheap.......
 
Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
The price sounds good...

Lots of storage too!

Bad MPG, course you already know that.

Find out what is leaking first before you buy. Make sure it isn't the transmission.



It's way up front as the oil was all over the front plastic plate. As far as I could see no residue on the oil pan between the bell housing on the transmission.
 
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You should first check fluid levels before starting the engine.Look carefully for anything missing from the engine area.Check the drivers door for wear on the hinges by holding the door frame and lifting up on the door.Often, the wear on the hinges can tell how hard the vehicle was used.If the engine doesn't have any bearing noises and there are no clunks or grinding elsewhere this truck should run for a long time.be certain an operable thermostat is installed in the engine.I prefer a 180 stat .Don't instal the stat upside down!Use a wix/napa or purolator oil filter.ok
 
Originally Posted By: Chris B.
Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
The price sounds good...

Lots of storage too!

Bad MPG, course you already know that.

Find out what is leaking first before you buy. Make sure it isn't the transmission.

It's way up front as the oil was all over the front plastic plate. As far as I could see no residue on the oil pan between the bell housing on the transmission.


It may have had a remote mount oil filter. These will make a mell of a hess if you don't take the cover off...
 
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Originally Posted By: Chris B.
Thanks guys. Any other advice befor I go check it out?


GM trucks of that vintage are very good for taking into old age. The "hang-on" parts that are most likely to fail are generally available at low cost and will continue to be for a long time because there are so many of them on the road. The engines, if not ruined by the intake manifold gasket leaks that plagued the first ones that came with red Dexcool antifreeze, seem to last almost forever.

The Suburban 1500 that I put over 100,000 miles on in the ten years after it was paid for "ate" one transmission, two water pumps, an A/C compressor and a brake master cylinder on top of the normal tuneup and tires/oil/brake wear items - for an average cost of $300 - $400 a year in repairs over that period. Those were cheap miles.

I don't know whether or not the 1995 model came with Dexcool, but I'd find out and check to see what kind of antifreeze it has now. Chances are the intake manifold gasket problem - if it ever had one - has been taken care of by now.
 
Originally Posted By: ronrackley
Originally Posted By: Chris B.
Thanks guys. Any other advice befor I go check it out?


GM trucks of that vintage are very good for taking into old age. The "hang-on" parts that are most likely to fail are generally available at low cost and will continue to be for a long time because there are so many of them on the road. The engines, if not ruined by the intake manifold gasket leaks that plagued the first ones that came with red Dexcool antifreeze, seem to last almost forever.

The Suburban 1500 that I put over 100,000 miles on in the ten years after it was paid for "ate" one transmission, two water pumps, an A/C compressor and a brake master cylinder on top of the normal tuneup and tires/oil/brake wear items - for an average cost of $300 - $400 a year in repairs over that period. Those were cheap miles.

I don't know whether or not the 1995 model came with Dexcool, but I'd find out and check to see what kind of antifreeze it has now. Chances are the intake manifold gasket problem - if it ever had one - has been taken care of by now.


The anitfreeze in it now is nice and green. There was a large spot on the ground of leaking oil and it had a green tint to is so I'm thinking it's leaking coolent too.
 
Never mind! The seller decided he wants to keep it. Looks like the price was to good to be true. Most 3/4 ton Suburbans are selling for $2,500-3,500 in this area.....oh well. At least I don't have to come up with the money to fix it up and deal with fixing the problems.
 
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