I Just Did Some Late Night Math

"Denver Is Stuck In The 90s" (denver80222)
06/28/2015 at 02:17 • Filed to: None

And I just realized how much of a steal I got my truck for. I bought it for $3000, Ive only spent $880 on it in repairs (not including oil changes), and according to my calculations; I only have to spend $360 more on it until its mechanically perfect. Thats really not bad for a 22 year old pickup.

Here’s my list of things that I’ve done:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

And Here’s whats left to do:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

Earlier I thought My entire front end had to be rebuilt, but after getting a closer look at it, I realized I was wrong, I just need tie rod ends and springs. And apparently its normal for Ford Power Steering pumps to make a bit of noise.

I am definitely getting my money’s worth out of this truck. I bought it with 104,200 miles and Its now at 110, 548. I bought the truck In November 2014, so thats almost 6400 miles in almost 8 months.

DISCUSSION (21)

AM3R shamefully returns > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 02:32

What's up with the ~2k oil change interval?

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > AM3R shamefully returns
06/28/2015 at 02:32

Its what the original owner did, Im keeping it up

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 02:35

your literally throwing away good oil.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > AM3R shamefully returns
06/28/2015 at 02:35

Here’s my entire service log, including the PO’s notes:

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

The guy babied this thing

AM3R shamefully returns > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 02:36

IMHO seems kind of wasteful. I don’t even change the oil on my dads M3 that often. It’s not gonna harm the engine but might as well save a little money.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > TheD0k_2many toys 2little time
06/28/2015 at 02:37

Probably, But the first oil change was also a schedule thing because of passover (I had to have time) and the second one I had to fix a leak (my fix didnt work). So I may have rushed the changes a bit. This next one Im doing at 3k miles

AM3R shamefully returns > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 02:42

Definitely snagged a great truck. Hopefully it'll last you a long long time, it definitely has been maintained to last.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 02:45

http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/stop-…

there is a reason all manufactures call for higher miles between changes. Oil tech is pretty good these days. The only reason you need to change oil more often is in high performance engines, or cars that are being pushed hard frequently. EX: cars that are tracked/autocrossed regularly, vehicles used for towing frequently, cars that idle a lot, etc.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > AM3R shamefully returns
06/28/2015 at 02:45

I hope it’ll go 350k miles on this engine, though when this engine does eventually croak; Im thinkin V8 swap

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 02:51

I print out the receipts or keep them for any car in the fleet (the E38 or the family silverado). The silverado has a lighter side on the folder.....At least I get 15w40 for cheap.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins)
06/28/2015 at 02:52

I have an app that I log gas in, But I just tonight put in my service log with costs. I didnt realize how little Ive spent on my truck

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 03:16

I don’t factor gas really, its constant I don’t want to think about. For a while i was using 91, or 93 gas. I could have been using 89 (which I do now). I mistakenly thought the prevanos v8 only take 91+, oh so wrong was I.

AM3R shamefully returns > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 03:59

That should be fun. It’s 2wd right? Man that with a V8 and stick would be hilarious on some dirt roads (or empty parking lots haha).

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > AM3R shamefully returns
06/28/2015 at 04:00

Its RWD with a 3.55 limited slip. A V8 and a t5 should make it bonkers

AM3R shamefully returns > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 04:06

My friend had a ‘98 Mazda b-2200 or whatever, it was the Mazda version of a ranger. Manual and RWD, it was even green almost like yours. Lots of fun in the snow, and it never got stuck with the right tires.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > AM3R shamefully returns
06/28/2015 at 04:19

Theyre not really good looking trucks, but only someone who has driven one will get why I love mine so much. If you go by the sum of its parts (4.0V6 (160hp, 225lb ft), 3025lb curb weight, 3.55 LSD, 5 Speed Manual) its an amazing piece of machinery.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 07:13

You can normally run dino oil to 5000 miles in a Cologne V6, and synthetics to 7500.

A used oil analysis will tell you a lot more about the oil and how the engine internals are wearing.

I’m going to send a baseline to Blackstone Labs, and then grab a little bit at 5000 miles on the oil. I don’t exactly trust GM and the oil life monitor.

Denver Is Stuck In The 90s > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs
06/28/2015 at 08:48

My manual says to use dino oil to 5k, except over 100k miles, then it says to go to 3k

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 09:57

I’d still want to see a used oil analysis. I’m going to start having that done on the Duramax (2500 hours approximately of run time and 306K miles).

3K miles of idling at loading docks/faffing about (as it were) is very different from 3K miles towing loads all day.

fhrblig > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 10:32

Every vehicle in my fleet gets oil changes around 5-6k. They tend to do 50-70k per year. Most of them are well over 100k, a few over 200k, and one about to go over 300k. We also retired a van at 360k this year that is still running well enough that an employee bought it. We haven’t had but maybe 2 engine related issues. I think you can space out that oil change interval without a problem.

Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car > Denver Is Stuck In The 90s
06/28/2015 at 15:04

So you basically need to put my car in to your truck to make it mechanically sound.