For some reason this did not make it on the Digest version, so let me send
it again:
> T-
> No, just regular maintenance. Oil and filter changes at about 4K. This
> number would have been lower, but as you '89 4x4 owners know, a simple oil
> change is a pain in the ass in this truck. I switched to synthetic oil
> (Syntec) kind of late in it's life (at about 100K). The switch seemed to
> let the motor brake in. It runs as smooth at 200K as it did new. Plus,
> the synthetic oil reduced the typical valve lifter clatter the pre-magnum
> motors had. I changed the auto tranny fluid at about 80K and 160K. Both
> times the fluid looked perfect. I added an external cooler a long time
> ago, so that may have something to do with it. The gear oil I change every
> 2-3 years along with the transfer case. The antifreeze I changed about
> every 3 years. The original radiator let go 2 years ago because the
> plastic side cracked.
>
> The best mileage I got out of the tires was 70K on the BFG ATs. The
> original Goodyear Wranglers could only pull out 55K (and they were worn
> all the way out). The trick is to rotate the tires every second oil
> change or 8K miles. I always cross the front tires over to the back when
> I rotate. This method always yielded perfect wearing tires. It smoothes
> out any scalloping on the edges of the tires that you may have created
> from hard turns.
> I got 90K out of the original set of front brakes while the backs only
> lasted 40K. Since then, I cant get more then 25K out of aftermarket
> brakes before the rotor warps or they squeal like hell. Yes, the calipers
> are OK.
>
> The truck spent 70% of its life on the highway. Keep in mind that this is
> mainly on NJ highways, where you go 0-70-0-70mph all the way to work and
> home. Not to mention the massive amount of potholes and other crap on
> them. Side Note: I was rear ended in one of those 70-0 stops by an Izusu
> Impulse. The Impulse was totaled and all I had was a small dent in my
> bumper.
> This truck has also towed its share of stuff, including my '69 Dart on an
> open trailer back and forth to the Mopar Nats at Indy. It struggled
> through some of the hills in PA, but never broke stride.
>
> The funniest thing is that I paid for 1 set of Monroe Senatracs and
> changed the set 3 (or 4, I lost count) other times under warrantee. I
> just pull them out at every ~40K and say that they are worn out and get a
> new set. That was one of the best investments I ever made. Plus, you
> don't even have to jack up the truck to change the shocks!
>
> Man! I just realized! 200,000/4,000 = 50 oil changes and 25 tire rotations
> (all completed by myself)
> No wonder why I can do it in my sleep!
>
> -Rob
>
> <<Congratulations Rob! Any sage advice for keeping a truck running true
> that long?
>
> T.
> >>
>
>
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Fri Jun 20 2003 - 12:09:48 EDT