Realistic mileage life expectancy out of my 2001 engine and tranny...
 

I drive about 50 miles to work, and have done so since I bought my truck in 2001. We'll I'm now at almost 163,000 miles and of course the miles add up each day. I have always had regular oil changes done, and I've been running Mobil 1 SuperSyn in the engine since it hit 100,000 miles. The tranny has been serviced regularly including a couple of flushes and at least four drain and refills.

What's the realistic expectation for the life expectancy of this engine and tranny before one or the other will require a rebuild? My wife has a Lexus and her car's miles are getting on up there as well, so I figure (of course, ladies first) we'll buy her a new car next fall.

I'm considering buying a new Tundra in the fall of 2008, and hopefully get a good deal on an '07 model (they've been redesigned...if you haven't seen it yet you've GOT to check it out on Toyota.com). I don't want to wait too long and have 300,000 miles on my truck and not get jack squat for it. At the rate I'm going now, I'll be right at 225,000 miles in the fall of 2008.

We going to buy a new house next year which will probably up our house payment at least $800-$900 and the thought of that, paying for her car, paying for my truck, and preparing for babies is a pretty scary proposition, however I don't want it to come down to my truck just flat out dying and I have no choice but to rebuild a tranny or the engine to continue driving it or to sell it.

What are ya'lls thoughts? I've heard Toyotas will run forever, but just how long before the engine and tranny have to be rebuilt? I might add that it's pretty nice not having a car payment at all right now, hence us being able to save a ton of money for a new house and also save some for a down payment on her new car. Thanks guys.

Matt

I told someone how many miles I had on my 01 and he was like, you like to drive a lot dont ya? I have only 92k.. what an idiot.

If your miles are not abused, you can get a good 250 to 280k on the current engine and tranny, regular maintence and all it will most likely go further, it seems to be that your miles are racked up on a constant highway speed so you arent putting stress to the tranny and engine.

thats my opinion. my father has a mercedes and has exactly 298k on it right now,, engine runs beautiful and tranny as well, however my bmw 88 had 212k miles on it and tranny had to be rebuilt. but that thing was abused a little, mainly by me :(

With regular maintenance and no abuse I don't see why 300-400k should be a problem at all.

Dear god, if I could get that many miles out of this thing I would be set! I ran a quick KBB on my truck (with some but not all of the mods I've added) and put in 225k miles and right now the truck in good condition was $10,750 private party sale. That's gonna be my best bet. I get compliments on my truck ALL the time, so I don't think I'd have any problems getting some of these rich folks here in B'ham to pay up and let it be their kids' first vehicle when they turn 16 (especially after the kid sees it). I guess my target demographic is gonna be 16-18 years old when I sell it. Great info guys. Thanks.

Matt

300-400k is feasable for how well you take care of it.

What do you think would be the most miles any gas engine could take before rebuild? I know deisel motors can last a whole lot longer.....

with impecable maintenance, driven granny-style and putting 100k or more a year on it (takes age out of the equation), then maybe 500k or could go higher.

I saw a 98 Taco (3yrs ago) at the auction with over 300k on it. The truck ran perfect. Body & interior looked good too.

thats what ive always heard, you do the regular maintenance on them and they will last forever. it makes me wonder how many ill get out of mine before either one of those goes.

300k easy,theres a 96 for sale here with 318k on it still runs & looks great.i have a 91 with 3.0 with 302k on it my self.she's gettin a little week but its mainly only driven around town & maybe 60-70 miles one way on camping trips.its loaded down for camping right now as a matter of fact-can't wait

I'm kinda wondering how many I'll get out of mine, I think time-age is getting there before mileage. I need to get the rear main seal done, then I'll switch to synth oil.

I have 185k on a well maintained T100 and 50k on a new motor (was replaced under HG recall for 3.4L). The trans shifts smooth and was serviced every 15-20k, regular maintinence and such. I feel the thing will last easy for 300k+.

So long as you maintain it the trucks especially will last along time. A friend of mine bought a 97 taco 4cyl with 202k and it runs great!

Its reading threads like this that make me pleased I bought a 4Runner. My 2000 has 132K (miles) on it and it seems to run as well now as the day I supercharged it.

300K out of my engine? That would be amazing but it seems par for the course with the Yotatech faithful. This is probably due to the fact that if you are Yotatech member, you care about your ride and give it the maintenance it deserves. :rockon:

James

we just got a 2001 with 84K, bought from an elderly couple in San Diego all maint records, I bet it will last a while and then some.

Perhaps, though yotas generally run for a long, long time no matter what. I had a 93 camry v6 xle (nicest model :) ) and it ran for 150k with no major problems, it did have a slight slip in the trans-but agaisnt my better judgement I drained it (bad no no!) and refilled and threw in some lucas anti slip, it wasnt 100% but so long as you didnt jump onthe gas to go or put your foot to the floor trying to pass it still drove fine. It had the problem above for 35k miles! I do wonder if it was just a problem with the MAF sensor since I was dumpa nd tried to installa CAI and messed it all up and had to put a junkyard MAF in thier. Wont know cause I sold it.

My dad used to drive buicks for work, he drove alot and I mean alot of hiway and local miles as a salesmen. His last real buick (before 96 when they changed and made them crappy) he got 275k and gave it to my grandfather who hit something at 280k. IT had some minior repairs but the trans and engine lasted.

Well the way you keep your maint. up to date you should be getting mileage like that...

Once I finally get my lazy behind up and running and get the Runner fixed (still need to do those brakes and take it to get eh rear axel seals replaced) I will be gettign th tranny flushed and pretty much everything else that i can get flushed, flushed...

Mine is a 97' Runner and I don't think I has had a flush in it, I am about 500 miles from 100K, I notice no engine or tranny problems so I am hoping if I can change my driving style (starting to notice I have a lead foot, but maybe that cause I am driving a lexus with a 3.0 in it and fell like i ma not going fast enough when in reality i really need to slow down....)

But yeah, Heck, If I had the money at the time I would take it off your hands, But allas....I am dirt poor....Litterally, the only thing in my pockets is mud from my last off-roading trip lol

I say just keep it till it dies. Financially you will be better off I think. I love not having payments.

Just keep going with the regular maintenance and keep some dough aside in case of something big.

I see you getting 350K out of it easily since you take car of it so well and they are highway miles.

Heck on my '91 I had 250K on it before the distributor seized and blew the timing belt. It had only had one timing belt even done to it at around 90K when the head gasket recall was done. It still ran perfect and had alot of life in it. but since I had the oportunity to upgrade to the more powerful 5VZ-Fe, I did it.

The 5VZ-FE's are alot better motor then the 3VZ-E's and should run alot longer. There are people with 350K and even 400K on a 3VZ-E's without a rebuild.

Gas engines can run a long time if they are takn care of and not abused. I know someone that had 22re with 595,000 miles on the odometer-but the odometer had not worked in 3 years-that was a 1986 4x4. Someone on TTORA has over 700,000 miles on the 2.7.

I see 400,000 miles as very realistic. I actually expect it. I know several people with 300K on their Toyotas. I have an old Camry that has 265K on it now. Still runs fine. It could have much more, but I commute about 5 miles to work now and drive the company vehicle 5 days out of the week.

Like someone above said. Keep it til it dies. Financially you will be better off.