Will our 96 PA Ultra go to 250k miles ?? (130k now)

[Mel_3]

We have had dealer service on our 96 PA Ultra.

Now hae about 130k miles.

Still runs great.

Carpet, Headliner & Window issues are about all we are have.
We are considering fixing those and a new paint job.

Will these cars go to 250k miles with routine lub & oil changes?

What problems should we expect?

Thanks for any info.

Mel

[spinne1]

Originally Posted by Mel_3

Will these cars go to 250k miles with routine lub & oil changes?

It is like asking, "Will I live to be 100 if I eat right and exercise?" Maybe or maybe not. Who would know? The odds are good that you will get to 250K with proper maintainance, but there is no guarantee. Beyond oil and lube changes you probably want to have your codes checked by a scan machine(s) (not a hand held jobbie) that can read ABS, the main computer, and the transmission. Do this every year or two and you should be good at preventing some problems before they get too serious (or especially get the car serviced immediately when problems do arise).

Know this: the engines do get filthy over time and you can't really prevent that except to take to engine apart and rebuild it. Therefore it will eventually reach the point where the filth and normal wear causes various internal engine breakdowns. On my wife's 92 LeSabre that point came at about 197,000. I have just rebuilt the engine and am now rebuilding the transmission (not a job for the faint of heart). I expect for us to drive the car after the rebuilds for at least another 100,000.

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by spinne1

It is like asking, "Will I live to be 100 if I eat right and exercise?" Maybe or maybe not. Who would know? The odds are good that you will get to 250K with proper maintainance, but there is no guarantee.

The best analogy of human longevity and auto endurance I have ever seen. Good job, Spinne1! The weak link in the engine would be the timing set. The set, should be replaced before 150K. The transmission usually bites the dust, between 150K & 200K, even if routine maintenance is performed, less if not.

Electrical gremlins seem to become more prevalent with age, so be prepared for the unknown problems. Dealer service is no better than the well trained, ASE Certified mechanic at your local shop! Usually, the ‘stealer dealer’ will follow recommended service intervals; however, you may need more preventative maintenance than what the ‘book’ calls for. If you take care of your car, it will take care of you!