200,000 miles is actually about the new norm for most cars in the last 15 years.
IF people would simply take care of their vehicle maintenance instead of belly aching about the cost of changing the timing belt and water pump in many cases at same time, doing routine oil and filter changes, belts, fluids like power steering fluid changing and brake fluid as well, they would be amazed at how long a car engine will last.
I just did something on my 2004 Kia Optima my wife drives.
I used MOTOR FLUSH in it and ran engine for about 30 minutes. (to clean out sludge and gunk) Then drained the oil pan and removed filter. Replaced with new oil and filter. Ran car about two days.
Drained oil back out, removed and replaced filter, ADDED some Lucas Oil oil additive, and filled up rest with BLEND motor oil.
We now have a clean engine and it runs extremely smooth even at initial startup in morning.
Engine has right at 98,000 miles on it and interior and exterior is very good. Great for going to local stores or taking short trips in.
But the important thing is taking care of common maintenance to keep everything working like new.
Your truck is doing well. I know you know how to take care of it. People today are still afaraid to drive cars over 200,000 miles. They do not realize they are designed a whole lot better and are intended to be driven longer with proper maintenance.
Case in point is my brother in law's old Lexus LS430. Full sized, very roomy and comfortable, and runs super smooth and quiet. He has 428,000 miles on it and the heads have never been off. Just keeps it serviced and changes all fluids including tranny.
Did I mention he bought this vehicle in Texas years ago with 100,000 miles on it? NO rust. Brother in law lives in Michigan west of Detroit in a nice community.
He drives a lot, like me.
This is why I think articles like that are just BS.
My last car was a Mitsubishi Galant. 2004 Most comfortable car I ever had. The SEATS were what made it so. WIDE. VERY well cushioned. Even Ribits big arse would have fir nicely in them and been very comfortable...
That was why we bought it new sight unseen from a dealer in Lexington Kentucky who drove it to y house and delivered it. It had 146,000 miles on it when I sold it and it ran perfectly. It was still like a new car.
I sold it in 20 minutes when I listed it. I actually had people waiting in line to buy it.
That engine will run another few hundred thousand miles easily. I simply could not keep it any longer and needed a fresh start after the Truck accident. A mental thing.
ANYONE who takes good care of their car engine will enjoy many thousands of miles of driving with a good engine.
That of course is just my experience but the principles should still apply unless you of course buy a YUGO, or other known very bad car.......
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