Practically Classics Forum

My RR just rolled over to 160,000. 18,000 of those since i bought it 15 months ago. All it's needed to get to that total is a new engine
How many miles has your car covered?

Too many to check.

( I have over 20)

The daily driver (1972 Dolomite auto) has covered a total of 81,000 since new. In October, 2008, the car had only done 40k during the first 36 years, the rest I've done since then.
Cars don't like being stored, it's not good for them. Get out there and make every day a "Drive It" day I says.

The previous Dolomite auto, also a '72, went from 37k to 191k, yes, that was one hundred and ninety one thousand, miles in my ownership. 1854cc slant 4s are tough as old boots, though if they're on their original head gasket by somewhere between 35 and 50k, that will fail but, replaced by a decent one, cured properly after fitting, they tend to soldier on for ever more on decent oil with regular changes.

The Midget has done about 67000 from new (Was fully overhauled at just over 50000). The BGT V8 has done 45000 from new and the Morris Traveller 112000 (But it was rebuilt at 100000).

Our old 205 diesel managed just under 300,000 before I scrapped it. 250,000 of those were on original engine that never had anything done to it other then routine servicing and a repair to injector pump when it got contaminated with water.
My Range Rover did 220,000 miles before body rotted away and the V8 was still healthy so got transplanted into another vehicle.
Father in law had a Volvo 144GL that managed 500,000 miles. Admittedly we rebuilt the engine at 300,000 miles due to broken piston


Paul H

86000 on my Spit (I assume it's true...)
60k (I think) on dad's Jag
Other cars are all at around 15k - although our old volvo went from 15k to 100k in the time we had it.
Also we bought 5 year old Mk I Integra with 10k miles, and 18 months later it had 50k on. When we sold it it had 150k on.

86k's going some for a large journal OHV. Medal due for that methinks!

JPB wrote: 86k's going some for a large journal OHV. Medal due for that methinks!

Explain sil vous plas?

Aar0sc wrote:....Explain s'il vous plait?

0K, They usually lunch their blocks as a result of thrust washer wear by around 30k if driven hard, and the pump tends to struggle to keep up with the area of the ends, especially when people fit rocker cover oil feed kits that further reduce the volume of oil heading for the bearings.
I know of a couple that made it into their 70s of thousands, mostly this is down to their drivers never sitting with their foot on the clutch or the engines in question being from automatic versions of the TC and Dolomite; no clutch, negligible thrust loading.

Herald 13/60, with its smaller bearings, spins like a thing possessed and rarely fails in that way.
1300 large journal engines, from Toledos and other RWD cars of that shape, last better as their stroke isn't so long.
So, a 1500 with the large bearings by default since all long 4 cylinder OHV cranks had them, is rarely found with its original bottom end at that kind of mileage.
Either it's been replaced or someone had the foresight to change the washers and shells at every 30k or so - a service recommendation by BL, who knew about this but tended not to shout it from the rooftops - which would prevent the crankshaft grinding its way through the block.
Check yours for endfloat now, if there's more than the few thou' specified for new washers in a new block, get the caps off, take the shaft out, change those washers and shells and never leave your foot on the clutch for longer than it takes to engage it as you set off.

Even a 1500 will last well if the shells are changed every 30k or so and those washers at similar intervals.

My 84 Maestro 1.3 HLE has 52,000.

My 90 E30 320i convertible has 88,000 (and is showing every one)

My 82 E21 316 auto has 82,000.

My 07 Renault Trafic has 72,000.

My 06 525d Touring has 102,000.