Making my car last well over 200K.....
My car has 179,000 miles on it, and I am starting to get worried. I need this car to last a few more years, probably another 2, and hopefully get well over 200K out of it.
So far, it runs pretty good, burns no oil, shifts suprisingly smooth, sometimes it feels like brand new. The only main issue is a rattling cat and a bad oil leak from the rear main seal. The intake gasket/manifold has been replaced as well. Are these cars/transmissions about to get a good 200K+ out of them? |
of course , ymmv, but......some don't , some do. Your rear main seal leak is probably the rear cover plate is either loose or the gasket has cracks or both. Can only be fixed by removing the tranny. Alot of people , including me, got over 200K on original motors and trannies.
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My 94 SSEi was used by the previous owner to tow a huge yacht way past the car's manufacturer recommended towing capacity. It had 2 transmission rebuilds. Otherwise, the cars last a long, long time. Some here have broken 300K on original parts. Have fun, and take really, really good care of your car with regular fluid changes, tuneups, and the like.
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My 90 SSE got over 300,000 miles on the original motor and tranny, and I'd say it could have went another 100,000 more. I never changed the tranny fluid nor did the timing chain. I don't see why yours can't go past 300,000.
Good luck. |
Originally Posted by Maymybonnieliveforevr
My 90 SSE got over 300,000 miles on the original motor and tranny, and I'd say it could have went another 100,000 more. I never changed the tranny fluid nor did the timing belt. I don't see why yours should go past 300,000.
Good luck. |
While scheduled and preventative maintenance is key for any car to last a long time, there are *some* modifications that can be done to increase reliability. A transmission cooler will help keep trans temps lower, which will stretch a little more life out of it. A combustion chamber cleaner, like Sea-Foam, will dissolve carbon out of the chambers, helping efficiency (that's not a modification, but it still helps).
You replaced your intake and LIM gaskets. Why? Preventative maintenance or failure? If failure was the reason, keep an extra vigilant ear or two on the motor. DinoDex (that's my own word) to bearings is like what Raid is to roaches, but slower in the end result. Jim, that trans is just the standard 4T60, or if you want to use the old designation, 440-T4. |
just an fyi i was told my 90 sse has a timing chain not belt.
does that make i last longer ?? |
Originally Posted by thunderhand
just an fyi i was told my 90 sse has a timing chain not belt.
does that make i last longer ?? My '93 SSEi currently has 194,000 miles on it, and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it anywhere.. and I mean that 8) |
Vin C timing chains typically last 75-125k miles... much past the 125 and you risk it breaking.
I've seen several H/C body cars in junkyards with well over 300k miles on them and I have heard of one car with 350k miles on the original tranny and engine. Just baby it, and the car will treat ya right and last for a long time. |
Originally Posted by Alibi
Vin C timing chains typically last 75-125k miles... much past the 125 and you risk it breaking.
I've seen several H/C body cars in junkyards with well over 300k miles on them and I have heard of one car with 350k miles on the original tranny and engine. Just baby it, and the car will treat ya right and last for a long time. I don't think GM expected to see them still chugging along at 200-300k and 20 years later.... Back about 5 years ago or so GM Knew they had made a mistake with the old 3800's as people were just not buying new cars as the 3800 ran as good as it did off the showroom floor... Its funny how many 3800 LN3's are still on the road to this very day... They just won't quit.. Now as for the Towing the Yacht.... He may have been towing a Good sized boat as I know the Bonnevilles can do so... But not a Yacht, Maybe a little exaggerated?? The Transmissions in these cars are designed to move a 3000-4000 Lb car, and the Max Limit for these transmissions is 6000 Lbs Total weight..... And even them you are cooking the crap out of the trans.... I have seen 60-E's tow some pretty good sized boats here in FL, But it was an extreme struggle and I thought the owner was the worst kind of idiot in the book... Living near the River/Ocean, I am always amazed at what people will try to move with their family car... :lol: marquette97 You may have to yank the Trans and give the rear main plate bolts a retorquing and if you feel the rear main is leaking you cat at that time replace that as well... After doing that I don't see any reason why the car wouldn't give you 200K easily.. I only got 161k out of my engine as I was always hot rodding the car and beating the ever loving Piss out of it... I never thought the original engine would make it to 100k let along the 161k that it did get to.. And We are talking 6000 Rpms shifts all of the time.. And the car had Mad City Miles on it... I'll bet if I would have been better tot he first motor it would have provided me with 250-300K... I actually had no rod or main bearing issues with the motor... The wrist pin bushings simply started to wear... Happens... So take care of the few issues you have and I don't see a reason why the car wouldn't get you to 200k ;) __________________ Best Car Insurance | Auto Protection Today | FREE Trade-In Quote |
Babying is for the SLE. My 291K mile SSEi, when I put it back together, will probably be "driven mad." :D But I don't mind taking it apart. We've already taken apart most of the engine's top part, and I guess it should soon be time to get to the timing chain on the side. Not too bad at all once you have an engine crane and stand. Of course, this is extremely off topic because we're talking about helping the car last a long time.
So, to the SLE: Though I drive the SSEi like a granny falling asleep until the engine warms up, we let the SLE sit for at least most of its warming up. Then, we drive it slowly. Rarely does it rev or get past 3200 RPM. It has moderate shift points, but I'd like to have it shift even below 3000. It has both highway miles and city miles, but we change the oil quite frequently, use good filters, flush the transmission, and use a brand name, non-Dex coolant. The engine bay is kept clean as well so that no heat builds up seemingly irregularly. If you detail your engine bay with engine degreaser, that'll leave a slimy film on top of the engine. Be sure to wash that off. |
my dad had an 89 sse with 229000 miles on it and we abused that car and wouldn't overheat at 100 mph from augusta ga to atlanta ga and ran like a champ for the time that i drove it. as far as i know it is still running
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Originally Posted by the big d
my dad had an 89 sse with 229000 miles on it and we abused that car and wouldn't overheat at 100 mph from augusta ga to atlanta ga and ran like a champ for the time that i drove it. as far as i know it is still running
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I don;t know if I can afford to have that oil leak fixed....doesn't having the tranny dropped cost a lot of money?
And yes, the UIM was replaced due to failure. |
Originally Posted by marquette97
I don;t know if I can afford to have that oil leak fixed....doesn't having the tranny dropped cost a lot of money?
And yes, the UIM was replaced due to failure. |
Originally Posted by radomirthegreat
Originally Posted by the big d
my dad had an 89 sse with 229000 miles on it and we abused that car and wouldn't overheat at 100 mph from augusta ga to atlanta ga and ran like a champ for the time that i drove it. as far as i know it is still running
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Wow, first time really reading these forums, and this thread inspires confidence :)
I came here hoping to do some stuff to get my Bonne in better shape.... most of the stuff iI want are small cosmetic things right now, nothing too serious. It's been in the shop a few times recently but we've replaced things as needed and I think it should be running good for a while now. It's a 96 SE now at about 108k miles. We're the original owners. Sounds like cleaning it up a bit might be a good idea if it can get the kind of mileage you guys are getting :) |
If you want to maintain your confidence, do this first:
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...e=article&k=38 |
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