(quoted from post at 19:19:56 06/17/11) I know, sounds crazy and unlikely, but that's how much I was driving then. This is the first new vehicle I ever bought, new in 2006, November. The first year I put 178k on her. I was basically a miniature trucker, long-hauling almost non-stop. Many, many 1,000 mile days. 20 trips to California. It's amazing how well this unit has held up. It's a 3/4 ton van, not set up for towing at all, spent many a day in 2nd gear, heading west into strong winds, pulling a too heavy trailer over the Rockies and Sierras just trying to hold 50mph in the 120 degree dessert. It was unreal, and I don't recommend it. That little 4.8 was screaming and getting 6mpg! It was brutal.
All I know is that there is NOTHING coming out of Asia like my Chevy van!
Repairs thus far:
1 - Alt. (415k) About $150
1 - Water Pump (430k) About $150
2 - Wheel Hubs (first at 365k) About $150 each
1 - Serp Belt (390k) $30
1 - AC Belt (455k, wasn't that bad) $20
Still on 2nd set of plugs, original wires.
Never have changed tranny fluid. (Dex 5 or 6)
Everything else is still factory. Drive train never touched, other than replacing the rear u-joint twice now. On second set of shocks, but due again. Original muffler, cat convertors, fuel pump, everything.
And check this out. I had the original factory brakes on it for over 300k. Took them off I don't know how many times to replace them and they never showed any wear. The rotors a little, but not the pads. Amazing. I finally changed them just because I couldn't stand it anymore, but they weren't bad.
People call it snake oil, but I've kept Lucas in the oil, fuel, tranny, and rear end, and I have to think it's made a difference. Plus I don't wait for the change oil light, which usually comes on around 15k. I still change at 3-4k miles. Conventional oil with Lucas is just as good as Mobil-1 if you ask me. And changing more often is better than leaving even synthetic in for 15k, even with a filter change.
The one problem it did have is the ever too common chevy intake manifold gasket started leaking at just over 150k. But instead of replacing someone told me to try those six packs of little brown tablets for sealing radiators. Put them in, leak stopped and hasn't come back. Changed from that crappy pink radiator fluid to green.
A lot of people say, "Oh, well that's all highway miles". Not true. Yes, in the beginning, but at about 230k I had to quit when fuel prices went so high. Went back to being a local delivery driver. I think hours are even now between highway and city. Or at least very close. And even those early highway miles were brutal, overloaded, hot, asking way too much out of her.
This truck is bulletproof, and magic.