Million mile issues ...

Oil sample and dyno are your best friend. Also make sure its the right truck for what its going to be used for, like tranny, rear ends are what you need for the job. I think the cat holds up pretty good in general I have an 06 acert with 1.2ml on it and its still going strong. Good Luck

 

I think so. When you look at all the potential problems with the new ones. There is a very recent thread here by a fellow with a pretty new truck with a paccar engine that sounds like it's a total pos. I have an 04 truck that's just turned a million. The thing you do have to realize is that while a $20,000 truck sounds like a good deal. It's still a 20,000$ truck. That means, unless you are provided detailed work orders on stuff that's been done, be prepared to put at the very least, twice into it what you paid for it for repairs and rebuilds in the months to maybe a couple years after you were to get it. You may get guys saying I'm being too negative and pessimistic, and that's just fine, but if it's selling for 20K, there's a reason. I have a complete binder documenting all work done to mine, I've pretty well rebuilt it from front to back and I believe I could sell it for a whole lot more than 20. (I'd guess without looking it up I've put 40-50 into it, but now I've got a strong running, reliable, pre-emissions (C 15) daily working truck. There's my thoughts, I think you're going to get a lot of replies on this one. Good luck!

 

I would say hold off on anything like an inframe until it needs it for sure. The old saying:"if it ain't broke, don't fix it" fits perfectly here. I've seen older pre-emissions motors from all manufacturers go into the millions before needing rebuilt. As long as proper PM's were done on time, and small things were caught early before any serious damage was done, I'd say go for it. As long as your regional runs don't go to Cali, you should be fine.

 

Hi slomofo, used to be, a truck with a million miles was pretty shot, but nowadays, it seems to be the norm. I've had good luck with all motors (well, except the "ring-ding Detroits) so mechanics usually are not the issue. The issue is with the electronics, wiring, switches, gauges , etc. Fuel lines, air lines, engine and tranny mounts, steering boxes usually get overlooked until they cease to function, and that alone can drive you nuts. Usually, at a million miles, everything has been replaced at least once. Like others say, get oil samples of everything. Coolant usually tells the whole story. Truth be known, I wouldn't touch a truck newer than, say, 1995, (?) when electronics started gaining steam, but I'm old school, and a '72 Pete (like mine in my avatar pic) isn't for everyone. In fact, many brand new trucks have more problems than the '03, and if all goes to heck, you aren't out a lot of money. Good luck, the deal does sound ok, but like LowMax sez, it's cheap for a reason.

 

It'll turn into a $50,000 truck, or close to it, really quick when it needs an inframe. Mine made it 1,100,000. At 1,000,000 all seemed A-OK. If you are OK with that go for it. I never really liked 387's though and thought they were cheap cobbled together trucks. Basically they're a Freightshaker with Pete badges.

 

how long you can avoid them(EGR , DPF , DEF , CGI , EIEIO) ?

 

A while.....a LONG while.....