Those with 150,000 miles or more, check in

Patman

Staff member
Joined
May 27, 2002
Messages
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Location
Guelph, Ontario
I'm posting this in this section instead of the General section because it definitely has a lot to do with lubrication.

I just wanted to see how many people here have over 150,000 miles on their original engines, to see what kind of oil you've been using and what kind of intervals.

We talk about a lot of different oils on here, and critique a lot of UOAs, but the absolute best way to find out if any particular routine works, is to look at those people who have had success with it by getting long life from their engine! That is truly what we are all trying to achieve here.

So if you've owned your car since new (or at least know the exact prior history of it from new), please step in and give us your input!

I think this could be a very interesting topic!
 
1991 Saturn SOHC base model, 185K when I sold it back in 1999. The engine had another 200K left in it. Never burned or leaked anything...rock solid.

The first half of my ownership, I change the oil every 2K with Fram filters. The dealer I worked for gave free bulk oil (Motorcraft) for it's employees cars. Nice benefit!

The last half of my ownership was 3K OCI at the local dealer or a decent(!) local oil change shop. I was an uninformed consumer way back then!
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AFAIK, the car is still racking up miles. In fact the local Saturn dealer put it on their showroom floor for a few months to show that Saturns can easily last as long as any other quality import. Still looked brand new after 8 years!
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97 Ford Aerostar extended AWD. 4.0L 212,470 miles. Raised on mostly Synergyn and Torco oils, 5,000 mile intervals using K&N, Motorcraft, Bosch, STP filters plus a few odds and ends.

Synergyn oils additive fist 75,000 miles. Rislone "add anytime" approx. 700 miles before oil change. This engine burns no noticable oil.

Been using GC last 3 changes and will probably finish out on this oil (engine loves the stuff, and I have "ample" stock LOL)

BTW, previous Aerostar 3.0L had over 300,000 miles on very similar combinations

[ January 07, 2004, 11:16 AM: Message edited by: tenderloin ]
 
an old subaru. 205,000 when the radiator went out and overheated the engine. untill then it was going strong, using no oil between 3K changes, of the cheapest oil i could find.
rebuilt the engine and the original pistons speced out fine , so i re used them along with most everything else.

my benz i got rid of with over 400,000 on it, original everything, i didnt even use diesel oil, just whatever the cheapest current api grade i could find. them 240D engines are literally bullet proof. that car was sold to my friend who ran it for a bunch more years and finally the car was falling apart, but the engine workd great still. we blew the engine by installing direct port ether injection and revved it in neutral!

my dads vw turbo diesel truck has over 250K and still going strong on whatever the cheapest oil he can find. he isnt using diesel oil either!

it really makes me wonder why i put pennzoil long life in my current car. this website sure changed me.
 
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1989 Buick Century, 200,000 mi.
Castrol GTX 5W-30, AC-Delco filter
Recently sold it, no oil consumption
ran like new. 3.3L V6

1987, Mitsubishi Mighty Max P/U
2.0L, 162,000K miles
Texaco Havoline 10W-40, various filters
Currently owned, switched to Syntec 10W-30
@ 150K
 
I've got 197,000 miles on my '95 Toyota Corolla, with a 1.8L engine. At 120,000 miles, it was put on a diet of SuperTech 10W30 with SuperTech filters every 3-4000 miles, but I used Chevron Supreme the last two oil changes. Before 120,000 miles, the lady that owned it changed the oil with 5W30 every 4-5000 miles at a local Jiffy-Lube type place.

The car has had no engine problems, no leaks, but is starting to consume about 1 quart every 2000 miles.
 
86 Chevy Pickup, 305 engine, 180K. 3-4K changes, but sometimes as long as 5K, whatever name brand dino oil was on sale in 10W-40 weight. Was overheated at least once and stuck the rings, but A-RX is currently helping that situation considerably.
 
1986 Olds Delta 88, 3.8L V6, 1st year for the fwd Delta's. Used Valvoline 10w-30 with changes about every 3,000 miles. Sold it still running good at 215K miles. Always used a quart every 3k miles from new until I sold it.

1991 Caprice, 5.7L V8. Police use first 87k miles with records showing changes every 4 to 5k miles. From 87k to 220k miles Castrol Syntec 5w-50 with changes every 7k to 9k miles. Now at 240k miles running Mobil 1 10w-30 with 10k changes. Oil consumption is basically nil for 10k miles
 
177,000 + on 1993 Plymouth Acclaim 2.5L.

Still Runs great and as clean as can be (we have to pass emmissions here in ATL.) It does use a quart every 1,500 to 2,000 miles but no smoke.

Bought it w 89,000 miles. Since then I have run Valvoline, Mobil Drive Clean, Pennzoil, or whatever was on sale, changed with a Fram Filter every 3k. Mobil had the fastest consumption.

I started using chevron supreme and havoline 10w30 after reading this forum, with oversize Motorcraft and Napa Gold Filters.

I now am using Rotella T 5w40 syn and Napa gold filter with excellent winter performance. I've been sold on syn oil since finding this site and have boycotted Fram since cutting open a filter.

[ January 07, 2004, 01:20 PM: Message edited by: 90hardbody ]
 
quote:

Originally posted by V6 Diesel:


1991 Caprice, 5.7L V8. Police use first 87k miles with records showing changes every 4 to 5k miles. From 87k to 220k miles Castrol Syntec 5w-50 with changes every 7k to 9k miles. Now at 240k miles running Mobil 1 10w-30 with 10k changes. Oil consumption is basically nil for 10k miles


Awesome!!!
Who said american iron doesn't last? Police officers abuse their vehicles pretty badly....they idle their vehicles relentlessly.....that thing most likely has twice as many miles if you go by hours!
I'll be happy if I can get 100-120k miles from my LS1......I don't see why it couldn't.
Rick
 
1988 Ford F-150 (original 302, never rebuilt) 421,000 miles on Castrol GTX 20w-50 and either Fram or Purolator filters every 3K. Doing ARX treatment rinse right now, running like a top (knock on wood).
1994 GMC Suburban 190,000 miles, mostly Valvoline 10w-30. Also on ARX rinse phase, running great.
 
1983 MB 300TD Turbodiesel
183,000 miles, uses 5K mile conventional oil change intervals since new

1990 Integra GS - SOLD
170,000 miles, used ~1.5qt between changes
7.5K mile conventional oil change intervals since new
 
One more thing.....looking at these posts makes you wonder if synthetic oil is really needed in many of our vehicles. Maybe the synthetic makers are hyping and scaring people to sell the more expensive stuff?
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1992 Buick Roadmaster, 5.7L, 282,000 and going strong. Wisconsin vehicle that sat outside for most of its life, got Mobil-1 5W-30 and 10W-30, depending on the seasons, and occasionally 15W-50. Consumes no oil.

My dad has an Oldsmobile station wagon, late 70's early 80's, with a 403 bored out to 409, with over 375K on it. Same Mobil-1 diet as mine.
 
1991 S-10 Blazer 4.3ltr engine. 183k miles, burns no oil at all. First 160k miles, dino oil 3-4k intervals. Last 30k miles, Dino during the summer, synthetic during the winter (it sits outside). Strong running engine, but the body is rough. Hand painted by my kids, great winter beater for my 17 yr. old son.
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quote:

Originally posted by Last_Z:

I'll be happy if I can get 100-120k miles from my LS1......I don't see why it couldn't.
Rick


The LS1 is proving itself to be a durable engine, even with it's piston slap and consumption issues.

There is a guy on Corvette Forum who at last count was at 317,000 miles on his 99 Corvette. He has done 5000 mile changes with Mobil 1 5w30 (probably could've doubled those change intervals and still been safe though since he does all highway driving) It's his daily driver, he is a salesman who travels all over Michigan. He just slaps on a set of Goodyear runflat snow tires for the winter season and keeps on truckin!
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1991 Toyota Camry 221,000 miles. 3S-FE 4 cylinder engine never opened up. 3,000 mile OCI using Toyota OEM filters. Oils used: bulk Castrol and Kendall at dealer and bulk Havoline at independent garage up until ~180,000. Mobil Drive Clean from ~180,000 to ~200,000. Chevron Supreme since ~200,000. Still has good even compression in all four cylinders but bottom end (?) sounds noisy until the engine warms up.
 
I replaced my original 1987 Volvo 4 cylinder Turbo motor due to rod knock at 283K miles (June 03). Now remember I had turned up the Boost from stock setting 7.5 psi to 14.5 psi since about 125K miles. It got 3000 mile dino oil changes since new.
 
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