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How many miles using conventional oil before needing rebuild
Mr_Shiftright
Member Posts: 64,481
Okay, I'll start this to get it going.
I'd say it depends on the car or engine first of all (not all cars are created equal).
Then it depends on how often you change the oil.
So if it's an engine known for rugged dependability, and you change the oil and filter with meticulous frequency, I think any good quality oil will give you the same results.
Realistically, you can expect about 200-225K out of a gasoline engine, especially a 5-6-or 8 cylinder that isn't turning so fast, and perhaps 150K-275K from a good strong diesel.
Beyond that, yes, a few engines will go (no, that Volvo didn't go a million miles on ONE engine), but I think you'll find that the best kept, most lovingly maintained engines can't really go much further than that no matter what oil you put in them.
Just my opinion, but as proof I invite you to go to a wrecking yard, and either examine the odometers on all undamaged cars or ask the yard to take a guessimate for you. I think you will rarely find one over 200K, that's what I'm betting.
I have personally pushed two engines past 200K. A 1988 Saab turbo 4 cylinder to 235K before the cylinder head cracked, and a Mercedes Benz diesel, which is now at 226K, running great but starting to use some oil.
I have heard many claims of fantastically high mileages during my rounds as an appraiser, but I have never, ever seen proof to back those claims up. The receipts always seem to be missing or the odometer "broke way back" or there's "a new speedo in there now so it won't show", etc. etc.
I think the highest verified mileage I've seen myself was 310K on a Mercedes diesel. I'm sure there are legitimately higher ones somewhere, but not many.
I'd say it depends on the car or engine first of all (not all cars are created equal).
Then it depends on how often you change the oil.
So if it's an engine known for rugged dependability, and you change the oil and filter with meticulous frequency, I think any good quality oil will give you the same results.
Realistically, you can expect about 200-225K out of a gasoline engine, especially a 5-6-or 8 cylinder that isn't turning so fast, and perhaps 150K-275K from a good strong diesel.
Beyond that, yes, a few engines will go (no, that Volvo didn't go a million miles on ONE engine), but I think you'll find that the best kept, most lovingly maintained engines can't really go much further than that no matter what oil you put in them.
Just my opinion, but as proof I invite you to go to a wrecking yard, and either examine the odometers on all undamaged cars or ask the yard to take a guessimate for you. I think you will rarely find one over 200K, that's what I'm betting.
I have personally pushed two engines past 200K. A 1988 Saab turbo 4 cylinder to 235K before the cylinder head cracked, and a Mercedes Benz diesel, which is now at 226K, running great but starting to use some oil.
I have heard many claims of fantastically high mileages during my rounds as an appraiser, but I have never, ever seen proof to back those claims up. The receipts always seem to be missing or the odometer "broke way back" or there's "a new speedo in there now so it won't show", etc. etc.
I think the highest verified mileage I've seen myself was 310K on a Mercedes diesel. I'm sure there are legitimately higher ones somewhere, but not many.
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Yesterday, I went to the dealership and had the following work performed for maintenance purposes: "30K Major Tuneup" ($265), Top Engine Flush ($99), Timing Belt ($148), Fan Belts ($45), Engine Detail ($49..the first time). The mechanic inspected all seals, gaskets, etc. and everything is as tight as a drum. The vehicle doesn't leak a drop of oil, but I have noticed it using about half a quart between the regular 4000mi. oil changes.
I also was informed that I have about 20% left on the front brake pads before they need changing, and that new front brake rotors would be needed as turning them would bring the rotors "below specs". Does anyone have any info about front brakes on a 1995 4Runner?
BTW, I purchased this vehicle new in August 1995.
Thanks.
We service at least 3 LS 400 [90-91] each with just over 300,000 miles using conventional oil plus around 20 LS400 with over 200,000 miles.Most of the LS 400 still have the same transmission as Toyota uses synthetic fluids which get changed every 30k.
The early V8 has some fantastic reliability before the decontenting in 94/98.
RE: High miles engines that seem in good shape. There are other factors here that will intervene, even if your engine has good compression, etc. at 300K. This is metal fatigue, fastener failure, etc. There are all kinds of calamaties that are unforeseen by engineers, since they did not design the engine to go 300K (that is, they did not design it to INSURE it would do this).
I've research this quite a bit, and while I don't have the sources in front of me, I remember only picking very credible and credentialed ones.
I also recall that I averaged out all the predictions and the consensus was that the realistic optimum life expectancy of the AVERAGE auto engine was 3000 hours of use. This means everybody's engine, all makes, no matter how good or bad your maintenance and presuming the car died a natural death, not a collision, vandalism, etc.
So you can't made a deduction from the exception (not saying any of you ARE making that deduction), any more than one can point at Jack LaLaine (did I spell that right?) and say that this is what 80 years old do all day, swim for miles towing a rowboat with their teeth!
Short trips, dead cold starts at high rpm. Ouch!
Let's do some simple math here. If he could average 50 mph, it would take 20000 hours to go a million miles. You say the truck is a '99. Lets give it four years on the road to be generous (not possible).
That breaks down to 5000 hours per year at 50 mph. To break it down further, that is 100 hours a week (he took a two week vacation) at 50mph, or 7 hours per day, 7 days per week at 50mph.
Are you getting my drift?
While all that sounds theoretically possible, How could anyone possible average 50mph for one third of his entire existence in a pickup truck?
The car makes them SERIOUS money so any down time is costly.
Take it from someone who use to drive 25,000 miles in 6 months ....rest 6 months and do it all over again the next year....3 years in a row...still have average 26,600 mile average [per year] over past 5 years.
Currently I am subjecting the car to serious abuse by cranking it and only driving it 12 miles and then back once per day....have to take a 2 hour trip each weekend to blow the crud out!
The first 55k took 5 years, 45k in the next 2 years, then some serious driving.
I am about a hundred miles west of Chicago, and there are people that live around here for low priced housing and commute to the suburbs. I see cars over 200 K every week. One of the trade magazines a few years ago attributed longer engine life to * unleaded gas ! *. They said it produces less acid and other engine destroying contaminants than leaded gas did.
With good maintenance and not a lot of short trips, I think most vehicles (except the cheapest econoboxes) can go 300 K. The highest I personally saw was 361 K on an 89 LeSabre 3800. The customer claimed it was the original engine and trans, it smoked a little.
Harry
That's the highest mileage than anyone in my immediate family has run a car that was purchased brand-new. We also have an '85 LeSabre with a 307 that has 155K on it, purchased new. I used to have a '79 Newport that had 248K on it when I got rid of it and, as far as I can tell, the original engine. And I currently have a '68 Dart with a 318 that was rebuilt around the 242K mark, but mainly because the guy who had it wanted more performance out of it. I bought it at 253K, and currently have about 338K on it.
Harry, funny you'd mention unleaded gas, because my stepdad and I got into a conversation about just that tonite. They have a '99 Altima right now, with about 76,000 miles on it. My Mom said she wants to drive it until she retires, which is about 7 years and a few months away. We got into one of those classic "they don't build 'em like they used to" debates. I think some of the main reasons cars last so long today are that the roads are better, the fluids that go in them are better, the unleaded fuel is less harmful on them, and people on average just drive longer. Of course, automakers have also learned a few things along the way. Technology has allowed them to learn new ways of building them better...but also new ways of building them cheaper and cutting corners to save a buck or two.
http://www.woodlandsonline.com/newspub/story.cfm?ID=468
It was actually a 95 (well, I did said I was running from memory) He drove about 800 miles per day.
You'll have to ask him why he was willing to put that much time on the road...
About 1 1/2 years ago my sisters 1993 Honda Civic EX had around 270k miles on the original transmission and engine. My stepbrother has inherited it and it still runs to this day and still starts right up in sub zero temperatures. Just oil changes religiously at 3k miles.
Mind you this is no low revving V8. It is a high winding I-4 hooked up to an automatic transmission. The "normal" acceleration shift points are between 4 and 5k rpm.
I think if you rack up the miles quickly that seems to help somehow, since you don't have the destructive element of TIME working against you as well.
I think it has alot to do with where you live also. See my sister lives out in the sticks where on the 8 mile drive into town there is one stopsign and their idea of traffic is when there are 2 people waiting at the stopsign.
Even so all my family up north does not fall under the severe service in the manual they still follow 3k mile oil changes which is even less then the 3750 severe schedule.
Welllllll....it's posssssible, but I'd like to hear more!
Actually, I DO need a new calculator! I'm trying it out now and getting all kinds of crazy numbers. I think I lost a decimal point for sure!
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!
PLUNK! (Sound of AARP gift calculator going into basket).
i see hondas every day 250/350k
one paper delivery guy had 650k, 1986 civic wagon
someone took it out one morning.
2nd NYC cab was a Chevy Caprice with a V-6. Consistent with the rise of cyber age in the '90s, the computer did it in at ~400k miles. The rings were going too.
had a used 63 dodge coronet with the slant-6 that I bought used at 42,000, and the cylinders were gouged almost a quarter-inch by wear. oil filter was black as pavement, and the oil barely flowed... the maintenance was not up to spec. put a Mustang Rebuilders short block in there, and by the time the steering gear was shot and my sister got rid of that vehicle, it had 168,000 on the clock. do the maintenance, and the rest takes care of itself... as it will if you DON'T.