What is considered high mileage for a truck?

In today’s blog post, we will talk about: What is considered high mileage for a truck? We will explain what the lifespan of a truck depends on and when it is time to let it go. We also present you with the best trucks that can support the highest mileage. 

What is considered high mileage for a truck?

Any number over 300,000 miles is considered high mileage for a truck. Still, depending on the model and manufacturer, your truck can last way longer than that. Here are seven factors that determine the lifespan of your vehicle:

• Regular oil change.
• Adequate replacement of the different automobile fluids (coolant, steering, brakes and windshield).
• Transmission maintenance.
• Spark plug change.
• Replacement of the timing belt.
• Changing the air filter.
• Proper reading and knowledge of the maintenance manual.

These seven factors will not only increase the average life of your vehicle but will save you money on maintenance and fuel consumption. In the end, whether the car lasts more or fewer years will only depend on you and the care you give the vehicle.

If you are a restrained driver, the car does not suffer accidents and parts and maintenance are changed when they are due, except for bad luck, the normal thing is that the vehicle lasts at least two decades. If you do not take care of it, you drive inefficiently and try to take advantage of all the pieces until the last day, do not expect to reach five years.

What is the service life of your truck’s engine?

This is not an exact rule and not all cars last the same. The useful life of an engine will depend on the mileage travelled, the type of engine, the driving style, but above all, the maintenance that has been carried out by the owner.

In general, the manufacturer of your vehicle usually indicates an approximate number of miles in which the quality standards offered by the brand would be established. In general, this threshold is usually placed between 250,000 and 300,000 miles. As we have pointed out, this is a variable figure since it depends on the driving mode and the maintenance of your car’s engine.

On the other hand, other factors to take into account will be the weather conditions to which the car is exposed since a car in a garage is not as protected as it is in the middle of the street.

Truck diesel engines usually have a useful life of about 250,000 miles if the maintenance and driving conditions have been adequate. Despite this, if the vehicle has been treated badly, it is very likely that the engine will not exceed 155,000 miles.

Although the number recommended by the manufacturer has been exceeded, the truth is that diesel cars can have a useful life that can exceed one million miles if properly cared for.

Truck gasoline engines, due to the need for compression, cause them to wear out more quickly and, therefore, reduce their useful life. As a general rule, this type of engine can be kept in top condition for 155,000 miles without losing any of its performance. In the event that driving and maintenance are not adequate, its useful life can be reduced to 12,000 miles.

After exceeding these limits, it is possible to increase its useful life to a maximum of 300,000 miles if during the previous years special care has been taken with the car. Despite this, after exceeding this mileage the compression will be affected and there will be a much higher oil consumption.

How to increase engine life of your truck

As we have already outlined throughout the article, getting an engine to extend its useful life will depend on how you drive and that you carry out proper maintenance. Some practices that you do on a daily basis may be reducing your life expectancy considerably. Did you know that starting your car cold or starting it and stopping it abruptly can cut engine life in half?

Derived from the above, driving on the road makes your car’s engine suffer less than when it does on urban roads, so the number of miles will also vary taking this factor into account.

Therefore, a truck that is properly warmed up before setting off and that circulates more on the road than on the urban road will have a longer useful life than others.

Trucks that support higher mileage in good condition

In the first place we have the Toyota Sequoia model, since 7.4 per cent of its vehicles reach 200,000 miles traveled. One of the factors that improve its quality is that it is built on truck beds, so it has similar durability.

In the ranking, several Toyota trucks stand out, such as the 4 Runner, the Tacoma and the Highlander Hybrid, which is also a more economical option due to the fuel savings it offers.

In second place on the list is the Chevrolet Suburban, with 5 percent of vehicles that reach 200,000 miles traveled, as well as the 200,000 miles model, which is in third position.

In fourth place is the 200,000 miles with 4 percent of trucks with durability greater than 200,000 miles. The firm clarified that to make a vehicle last more than 180,000 miles it is necessary to give them constant maintenance and not force them when driving.

When is your truck too old for being on the road?

Here are a few aspects to consider:

1. The tires: More than a million vehicles (around 5%) circulate with tire defects, a fundamental element because it is the only point of contact between the car and the road. Almost all of them have a tread depth less than the legal minimum of 1.6 millimetres, in addition to showing uneven wear, misalignment, or a cracked or cracked surface. The inflation pressure is also often higher or lower than recommended.

2. Lights and signals: The correct maintenance of the headlights and pilots are essential to see and be seen. Apart from the fact that drivers have to use the lighting between sunset and sunrise, they must keep in mind that all lights have to function properly. It is appropriate to change the lamps every 25,000  miles or two years, and always two at a time.

3. Reliability of your vehicle: If finding a trustworthy, well-maintained car is your priority, reliability can largely depend on the number of miles the car covers, just as much as it does on the make or model. 

4. Technology and equipment: Just because you want to buy a used vehicle at a good price, doesn’t mean you aren’t looking for luxurious amenities or recent cutting-edge technology. For obvious reasons, a newer used car is generally a better choice for certain luxury technologies and equipment than older models. 

The bottom line

When considering used truck mileage, don’t take it at face value. Review the history of the vehicle, whose it is, where it has been driven, how it has been driven and how well it has been maintained over the years. 

We’ve seen more than 500,000 miles on cars since the 1970s. If you’re ready to start with a good used car, even with a lot of miles, a good maintenance plan and quick repairs will see you for a long time to come.

Do you have any questions or comments on the content? Feel free to share them!

FAQ on What is considered high mileage for a truck?

When a car is old?

A car is old as long as it has more than 200,000 miles. The lifespan of a car is usually considered to be nine years,

What is the maximum mileage for a used car?

Beyond 60,000 miles, a gasoline vehicle begins to seriously lose its value. This level is around 90,000 for a diesel, considered more robust. A vehicle with high mileage is rather a gasoline car over 125,000 miles or a diesel over 155,000 miles. 

When is the right time to change the car?

Automotive professionals advise those who drive a lot to resell their car after 3 years. Beyond this threshold, the vehicle wears out faster and requires more frequent repairs. For motorists who drive less than 15,000 km per year, it is rather advisable to wait a maximum of 5 years.

When to stop repairing the car?

After 10 years, you can stop repairing a car. Hopefully, your old repaired vehicle will be as reliable and safe as a new one. But since a car is only guaranteed for about 10 years nowadays, proper care and maintenance is the key to a lasting relationship with your vehicle!

References

• Pickup Truck Mileage: What is considered high mileage?
• What is Good Mileage for a Used Truck? | Truck Ranch
• What’s the Oldest Used Car You Should Consider? – Autotrader