First hand high mileage experience

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Bought a first year Saturn brand new back in 1991, kept it til 1999, had 185K on it. No oil consumption issues.

Current Saturn is a 96SL2, bought with 81K, now has 155K on it. Used many different oils, most of them are just fine. No consumption issues.

 

[TheTanSedan]

1977 Chevrolet Impala Wagon 350-4V; bought at ten years old, 117m. One cylinder oiling, changed to synthetic and platinum plugs, ran to 240,000 still passing emissions w/o cat convertor after eight more years.

1971 Chrysler Newport 383-2V. Bought when 24-yrs old and 78m. Changed to 4V and dual exhaust, custom carb. Changed to synthetic. Let go at 135m and 35 years of age.

In both cases, oil consumption declined and stabilized. Both were the only vehicle I owned, so they did it all from grocery getting/commuting to long road trips.

Mobil One 15W-50 in both.

 

[MarkC]

Tomorrow, my 96 Cherokee 4.0 will turn over only 126K.
I'm the only owner, and it's had the oil and filter changed every 3-4 K, with dino so far. Castrol GTX for the first 80K or something, then Chevron, Chevron HM, and now Havoline, all 10W30. Napa Gold or Purolator filters.
Aside from routine fluids, brakes, tires, a set of shocks and an oxygen sensor, I've never had to replace anything.
I'll keep it until it falls apart, or some idiot runs into me and totals it.

 

[Fatboymoe]

I had a 88 C-1500 Chevy truck and changed the original engine at 435,000. It would of went longer but my wife used the truck one day and the plastic heater hose connection to the manifold broke and it overheated. I had already built a 383 for it so it was no big deal. I used Havoline 20-50 for most of the oil changes and Napa 1061 oil filters at 5k OCI's. When I removed the engine, I removed the valve covers and it was nice and clean inside. Never replaced the timing chain or even the intake manifold gaskets, but the rear seal leaked a little. I really got my monies worth out of that engine.

 

[dave1251]

GearGuy
Member
Member # 13073

posted 16 August, 2006 23:56
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1989 Cavalier coupe, 2.0L 4cyl 5spd. 81k to 209k miles
Never cracked the engine open for anything. Well, maybe a thermostat.
3k OCIs, mostly Castrol GTX, mostly Fram filters, Slick 50 about every 30k miles. (pre-BITOG. Can you tell?)
Used about 1qt/3k miles
Original clutch.
Driven spiritedly.
30mpg around town.
Rust and damage was catching up to it.
Paid $1500 for the car!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posts: 42 | From: Buffalo, NY | Registered: Jul 2006 | IP: Logged |


Thats sounds familer.

 

[lawman in sc]

1993 F-150 I6 4.9-170,000 miles-
1994 Chevy Lumina Euro 3.1 V6-165,000 miles
1998 Ford Mustang 3.8 V6-150,000 miles
1998 Nissan Sentra 1.9 4 banger-98,000 miles
Havoline 10w40 in the 93 and 94-4000 mile change
Pennzoil 10w30 in the Mustang-3000 mile change
Havoline 10w30 in the Nissan-3000 mile change

 

[wantin150]

To update my previous post:

I just spoke with the current owner of my 1993 Toyota Corolla and this vehicle now has approx 216,000 miles and is still running strong.

 

[santiago]

1994 Buick LeSabre 206,000 Still going strong
OCI - 5,000 miles

1993 F-150 127,000 No problems OCI 3-4,000

 

[andyd]

my DD 88 BMW 528e has 328k miles on it. Ive driven it 10k miles since Memorial Day. I have seen a 528e with 478 k miles on it. I have been doing all my own maintenance for 6 yrs. 3 -5k OCIs using dino 20w50 and STP, now Duralast filters. I have yet to lift the valve cover. Just timing belts and tuneups to the engine and stuff like brakes and tires , balljoints. etc as needed. I work on the car in my driveway using basic handtools. Parts arent expensive, car is pretty easy to work on using a Bentley manua, a DVOM and a couple of enthusiast Boards

 

[Spector]

92 CAMRY v6, 184,000 As of yesterday, ran Amsoil for about 160,000 of that until a head gasket oil leak developed, not worth repairing, Amsoil too expensive to run in a leaker, and not enough to being a major hassle so just keep running it. runs fine, reliable just leaks about a quart evry 1500 miles or so. When running Amsoil I was doing 7500 mile OCI

Now running a 50-50 mix of Chevron Delo 15W40 and Havoline 5W20 for a 10W30 result. Seems to like this diet.

 

[doitmyself]

1993 Plymouth Mini-van with 4cyl. engine and 3 speed tranny. 200,000 trouble free miles.

Absolutely the best vehicle I have owned to date, regarding low maintenance/ownership cost. Only replaced normal wear items: brakes, shocks/struts/ timing belt.

All timely maintenance performed by whatever quickie lube my wife took it to (I was immersed in career and family!). Dino oil at 4K OCI. Engine was spotless when replaced valve cover gasket around 180K.

 

[1sttruck]

120k on a 87 Honda Civic - smoked, low compression, suspect engine to small for our family and location.

206k on a 93 Taurus - lots of parts but it's still running without opening the engine or tranny.

105k on a 99 Taurus - a few parts, runs much better after changing a speed sensor that finally threw a code.

55k on an 03 Dodge diesel - this might be the last vehicle that I have to buy for me :^)

Had 62k on a Yamaha RD400, 40k on a Suzuki GS750 (stolen), 62k on a Yamaha 750 Seca, 83k miles on a Suzuki GS1100 (stolen), and a few miles on some other bikes.

 

[newtoncd8]

316,000 miles on 88 Camry (4 cylinder). Pennzoil 5W30 (winter) and 10W30 (summer)conventional oil with Toyota or Purolator filters.

 

[Alamogunr]

194,000 miles on a 96 Avalon. Just sold it to a friend and bought an 06 Avalon. I suspect the 96 will go another 75,000 to 100,000 miles if they maintain it. OCI's 4000-5000 mi with one of almost 7000 mi. Havoline, Castrol GTX, or Pennzoil 5W30 and Toyota or Purolator Pure One filters.

 

[RippyMan]

I have owned a few high mileage vehicles, most notably three 91 Corolla sedans at different times.

1st one: Auto, purchased new by my parents, totalled by some idiot at 182k.

2nd one: manual, purchased at 184k, sold at 200k.

3rd one: manual, purchased at 150k, still own at 180k.

All three were/are great cars. One can get away with the bare minimum on maintenance with them, although I take very good care of mine. They aren't perfect cars, but are certainly some of the best on the road. My current one should reach 300k with ease, though I drive it only rarely.

Other high mileage cars.

1990 Mazda MPV 2.6L, 0-155k. Lot's of repairs, tranny failure finally did it in.

1996 Toyota Camry 5S-FE, 139k-151k currently. Runs great, despite previous owner's abuse. Some issues that need to be taken care of, but not pressing.

Next car I'm going to get is a 1990s Ranger or B-Series. I hope I have equal success with that truck.

 

[Audity]

No internal engine work on any of these:

Mercedes 190E 2.3, 1988. Bought at 49k miles, drove it to 252k. I was good, but not great, about oil changes, dino only.

'93 Volvo 240 Wagon - wife bought new, now 198k. Still her barn & dog transport car. Dino oil, bit haphazard about changes.

'83 VW GTI bought new, had 144k when sold, ran well.

'85 VW GTI bought new, about 125k when sold.

'78 Mercedes 300D (I know, diesel doesn't count...), bought at maybe 178k, sold about 260k. Engine ran great. Probably still running, if the rust hasn't eaten it.

 

[MKR]

1976 ford van 351w. 240,000
1992 chev s-10 225,000
Both vehicles were dino "What ever was on sale" with 3000 OCI
Both vehicles still ran good when I sold them.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

1988 Ford Festiva bought new, 350,000+ miles, retired due to all the mechanicals being flat worn out, used dino oil changed every 3,000 miles at first and then every 5,000 miles. Predominantly highway miles. 5-speed manual.

1997 Ford Escort wagon bought new, 310,000 miles, still on the road. Original block, etc., but new head this year. Dino till ~105,000 miles, then switched to Red Line changed every 6,000 miles. 5-speed manual. MPG in the low 30s, which is still better than a lot of cars out there new.

 

[MrCadillac]

1983 Cadillac Deville, with the totally weak HT4100(4.1). 120k, and my friend still drives daily. thats a feet for that engine pulling 4300lbs everyday! Used what ever was on sale, in 10w30/10w40, changed every 3k.

1994 Cadillac Fleetwood: 160k, very abused when i got it at 155k. Lots of sluge. Still ran a 14.9. Car is totaled, but the Engine lives on.

1996 Chevy Caprice: 180k, driven hard, still kickin'. Have yet to put a single mile of my own on it...

yay BITOG!

 

[mossad]

1989 Chev Cav purchased w/50k, used Castrol GTX for the first 10 thousand miles I owned it (this was in 1992), then started using Valovoline Maxlife until I gave the car away with 209k. Engine was running like when I first bought it, and that is no exageration. I gave it away to a family in need of a car as a charity. I could have only gotten 3-500 dollars max for it anyway..maybe less. The new owner drove it until 225k, the the engine quit. But I don't know if he was sticking to my regiment of V-maxlife and Amoco Ultimate gas...I used the premium fuel the whole time I owned it to prevent an engine knock I noticed the first time I filled the car with 87 octane.