I apologize if this story has been posted here already (I'm just reposting from the van forum here), but here's a website of a guy who, just yesterday, cracked a MILLION miles on a '97 Ford Van with a 5.4. Original engine and trans (apparently with no internal probs), first serpentine belt went 500k(!?) miles, radiator replaced but the original hoses are still on the van....more details and pics on the guy's website.

http://www.millionmilevan.com/

George

ps NO mention of spark plug launches, head gasket leaks, etc....and the guy did the miles with NO CRUISE CONTROL

 

Thats pretty impressive

 

I hope mine last 1/2 that long!!!

 

He knows how to drive it. A very impressive number to be sure.

 

Wow, 1K miles every 1-3 days that is some driving. I didn't see how many sets of tires he has been through that would be interesting to know. I'd guess 30-35 sets.

 

I bet Ford picks up that van soon and/or gives him a brand new one.

 

...after a bunch of prodding, is to offer the guy a "friends and family" discount on a new van, basically a supplier price I think. Living in Detroit, I can probably go to any good Ford dealer and get that same price myself. So he decided that he could get another 100k out of this van.

The fellow also contacted Valvoline, whose oil he has used (note no synthetics here, with 10k-55k changes) and they mailed him a 2-year-old hat from a NASCAR event.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080128/BUSINESS02/801280339/-1/BUSINESS

No corporate benevolence here....

George

 

I work for a company that has several 5.4's and 4.6's with just normal oil changes, when its convient...lol 5000miles, but most of these trucks and to Expy's have anywhere from 120,000 to a cpl with almost 400,000 w/ no major mechanical probs and are driven by different people all of the time and rode very hard, thats what drove me to buy ford!

 

That is awesome!!

 

He is bad for business. If they all last 1 million miles, they will sell no new vehicles because the old ones will never die

 

If he kept up with tires as often as he did his oil, probably half the number you posted.

 

u know ford gives new trucks to people whos ford trucks have reached over 1million kms

 

Wow, that is awesome. That is also some serious driving. That is almost 77,000 miles a year. He must live in that van. I would be extremely happy if my 5.4 gets half of that.

 

Old post, but I noted above that all he was offered was a "friends and family" discount on a new van, basically a supplier price.

His website is still up, so if you know how he can contact the "free new van" department at Ford, please let him know and I'm sure he will be pleased.

George