Hi all. since she's about to turn 300,000 mi, I guess I'm getting paranoid. looking at March, I'm thinking and prepping for summer already. That's when I fall in love with the old girl again. Running the beaches on LI, even tow my camper out there. And of course road trips. She's been great but now I worry, can she keep doing it ? even the e4od has been good.
I think i just need some therapy from the experts here. I'm really starting to worry about breaking it for good. Truth be told, I can't afford anything else comparable right now, but don't want to give up the freedom she brings also.
So, what would you all do ?, keep her working if she's willing. or treat her like an old lady? keep in mind...breaking down on the beach, 8,000 lb camper with wife and kids, really can suck.

 

I'm at 373k (See sig) and know of several with over 400K still going strong, if you know your maintenance is up to snuff, theres no reason why it wont just keep going!

 

Thanks Matador, yeah, that's the way I always thought until recently. Seeing the 300,000 k roll up, just has me second guessing. I work for a large school Dist. the guys in our maintenance yard hate PSD's for some reason. One told me that he's surprised that mine is still running and that i probably f'd the motor by running rotella ?!?!. BTW- is rotella an issue?

 

Rotella is what I run. I'm with the Matador, keep up the maintenance and hammer-down!

 

Thanks man. I appreciate the feedback. As far as maintenance goes... fresh oil, (no more than 4500 miles between). filters, lube, fuel additives...... Am I missing anything ? of course brakes.....

 

X2 on Shell Rotella. I've got 140k on my truck so it's still a baby (though I don't baby it). Just a couple of weeks ago I ran it over to central Idaho from western Oregon (about 1400 miles round trip and going from sea level to 7000'+ including a long haul through the mountains at 4000-5000' really low temps etc and didn't use a drop of oil. Keep up on your maintenance! Be even more so now that the miles are up there. I do the fuel filter every other oil change (for me its about 10k miles +/-). I run Napa Gold's for everything. Also, let it warm up a little before you run hard and all that good stuff. Test your coolant cap, simple way to burn up a piston is boiling coolant. A friend of mine has a '99 7.3 with 350k on it and he tows a giant cabin cruiser through the coastal mountains with it several times a year. I've become pretty fearless of my truck, it's never given me a reason to question it no matter how hard I've pushed it... matter of fact I am looking to buy another with low miles to keep around so when I kill this engine years down the line I'll have another to jump in and keep going.

 

Front end alignment. So many of these trucks are running around shoving the front tires because they are out of whack, it's hard on everything and it's a simple thing to keep in check but often goes un-noticed. Another easy maintenance note is the differential vents, make sure they are clear. My '01 Dana 60 lost a pinion seal at 138k.. meanwhile my clean '97 still has the original at 140k.

 

Great info Dr. Johnson, many thanks. Yeah,well aware of the front end issues. Damn thing eats ball joints too. I'm gonna treat it to some new front leafs this spring. Do you really push the oil changes that far ?

 

I go about 3500-5000 on each oil change depending on how it's looking and how I've been running it, I was saying I change the fuel filter every OTHER oil change, which is about 10k miles.

 

Ahh 300 is just getting to start to make wine lol

Not that I have too many more.

And to think I used to think when my buddy bought mine years ago with 264000 that he was crazy ...yet I got it from him 6 yrs later at 316000.

 

If you take care of it it will take care of you. Just keep doing the maintenance and all should be good

 

Ok got ya......thanks

 

Yep. I bought mine with with 235,000. I thought I was crazy. Logged on here..got some info.... couldn't get the $7500 out of my pocket quick enough. love this truck. Sure, its making wine............but I don't want it it to whine !

Regards Vinny

 

Unless its turbo whine- whistle :-)

 

Yes...............fordman67, that whine is a good one. As usual, you're on top of your game!