High mileage 3.8L

I am contemplating the purchase of a '94 Grand Voyager with 230,000 miles on a 3.8L. It appears that the maintenance has been kept up very well. The van was prett much only used on trips so the majority of the mileage is highway miles. It still gets about 20 mpg (according to the computer) on the highway. However,I know nothing about this engine and would find very helpful any advice or warnings that anyone could give. Am I asking for trouble with this engine and mileage?

That's a tough question to answer, and can't give a definitive answer. Only thing I could say is that I would rather buy a vehicle with 230,000 miles on it that had been impeccably maintained than a vehicle with 120,000 miles on it that had been rode hard and put away wet.

I made the mistake of not trusting my gut instinct when I bought my 97 T&C (with about 125,000 miles on it). The front seats were pretty well torn up and it had a coolant leak from the water pump, and the seller had only owned it for a couple months, citing that it wasn't a "necessary" vehicle because they already had two other vehicles in their family as the reason for selling. In retrospect, he was clearly just wanting to unload this problem vehicle (it did run and drive very well).

The passenger side window didn't go up or down either. In and of themselves, these problems are pretty minor and I'm a fix-it kind of person, but sometimes I have trouble separating myself from what could very well be a trend of poor maintenance (i.e. if these things I can see already need to be fixed, what else lies undiscovered?). In my case, LOTS of things, including a nasty water leak to the interior that had gone unnoticed for quite some time. I've pretty much got it all fixed up now, but it cost me on the order of about $2k over 5 months and lots of time to do so. Lesson learned for sure. I didn't buy it at a "steal" either, paid fair market value for it, so doubly ashamed.

In comparison, several years ago I purchased a 1992 Honda Accord that had been impeccably maintained from a couple that had never had kids and had receipts for *everything*. It had about 165,000 miles on it when I bought it, knowing it was going to need a clutch soon. By a fluke, the ingiter went out on it about a week after I bought it and left me stranded and very worried about my new purchase. Did the clutch and timing belt, and later on a brake job and new radiator. I'm at about 218,000 miles now and it's never let me down (knock on wood). All I do is change the oil and drive it, although I think the main relay is getting ready to give up the ghost.

The 3.8 ltr is a fairly bullet proof engine. Two things to look at that would give you a great indication of it's health would be drain the oil and look for metal flakes and a compressiopn check. An engine that old will show lower compression but, I would expect it to be in the 160 psi range. No cylinder should read more than 10% lower than another.

I would be more concerned about the transmission. If anything was towed with it, walk away. Check the fluid condition and drop the pan and look for excessive metal flakes beyond the "grit" you might see on the magnets.

"Are you looking for trouble"? 230K miles is pretty high but, if it was maintained correctly I wouldn't worry much. You should expect more frequent mainternance issues but, if they total less than a $400 monthly car payment, you're sittin pretty.

http://www.autozone.com/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/10/bc/be/0900823d8010bcbe/repairInfoPages.htm

I would be more concerned about the transmission. If anything was towed with it, walk away. Check the fluid condition and drop the pan and look for excessive metal flakes beyond the "grit" you might see on the magnets.


I am glad to hear that the 3.8L is a good engine. That goes along way.
The tranny fluid still looks pink (at least what comes up on the stick) and does not have a burnt smell. I will have to verify that he has not towed anything. Say worst case, anyone have an idea what it would cost to put a new tranny in it?

You, a buddy, and a junkyard visit...$500. Have a shop rebuild it...$1500. A brand spankin new one (rare)...$2500/3000.

Well, we shall soon know. I am picking it up from the guy tonight for $1300.00. It needs a couple of maintence things done (R-134a charge) and I will probably change the fluids out just for good measure. Thanks for all the input.

I think any body who buys a van with 240,000 miles on it for over $100 needs a lobotomy.

It needs a couple of maintence things done (R-134a charge)

Let's hope that's all it needs. A/C work is expensive. Whenever I look at a vehicle where the A/C doesn't work, I immediately drop the price I'm willing to pay by $800-1000, because it is *highly* unlikely that the seller, even if attempting to be honest, really knows what it will take to get it fixed. And $1000 is a reasonable figure for having the compressor replaced as well as the other necessary parts that tend to take a dump along with the compressor. It may end up being more than that, but I consider it a good figure to guesstimate by. This is mainly because I'm not well versed in differentiating a bad compressor from low pressures or non-functioning relays. And the compressor won't even attempt to run with an insufficient charge, so you won't know if the compressor is bad until you get it charged (i.e. after you buy the vehicle)

See here (http://www.autoacforum.com/) for better tehnical discussions of a/c problems.

I think any body who buys a van with 240,000 miles on it for over $100 needs a lobotomy.
An easy thing to say, a harder thing to find and do. I honestly would not buy a vehicle for $100 that my wife and kids are going to drive around if I thought that was all it was worth. Besides, the mexicans up here buy every minivan they see so if you do find someone that would sell for $100, you will most likely be getting it home on a trailer.