Still Running Strong w/148K miles

My 1999 Mercury Mountaineer clicked over to 148K miles yesterday. This truck is still running rock solid, with no indication of slowing down. I change my oil ever 7K miles with synthetic and take it to Ford for scheduled tune-ups. I felt the urge to post this, because I'm pretty please with the results my truck has given me over the years. That 302 engine is a workhorse. It's never let me down since I've owned it.

I look forward to posting my 200K mark. I truly appreciate the performance my humble SUV has produced over the years. It pulls my Nautique like a pro. Go Ford!

Ken

That's great Ken. Now if only you could keep the boat running like that.....oops, that may have been out of line Seriously though, glad to hear the boat's running great. We had a 98 Explorer that was nickle and diming us to death at 85,000 miles, so we traded it in on an 02. The 02 just flipped 62000 this morning, and already since we've had it, it has a new computer, transfer case, and a rebuilt rear differential...thankfully all under the extended warranty.    I don't know that I'll get another Ford, but it's great to see you getting trouble free use out of yours.

Rob

Ken, again, people are out there, ready to sell, but they just haven't posted an ad. Post a WTB ad and you'll find some Pythons, trust me. They are not tough to find.

Ken; Whoops...my bad...just went thru again and saw your post about the engine...sorry. Am excited about the other news. Maybe we need to talk in person some nite.

john

Man is that clean..you must live in the south.

john

jbear wrote: Ken; That is real nice about your explorer but it is hardly broke in compared to Reid's. I think he is pushing 300k. Rode in it a couple weeks ago and you would never know it. john

Thanks John. Yep Ken, my 98 5.0 Exploder which I've had since new, just hit 327,000. My engine was replaced under warranty at 48K, so it's only got roughly 280K on it, never added oil. T-case at 116, A/C comp. about 220K, A/C blower two weeks ago. But the trans is still original, maybe because it has a cooler with the tow pkg. It's had other small maint-type issues addressed, and I've questioned how many add'l items I'll end up replacing before she retires, but now the goal is 400. I still daily drive it and I just love the payments. Must of been built on a Wednesday.

Note: The engine was actually replaced TWICE under warranty, the first being at 24,000 for a mysterious light tap that numerous ones apparently had from inception and which I just dismissed as something else. They replaced lifters which didn't fix it so they replaced the whole assembly. 150 miles down the road with the new engine, it was doing the exact same thing. Took it to a specialty guy who upon putting a stethascope(sp) to it said it wasn't internal to the long block and just suggested I ride it for what would then be 24K more miles under warranty. Brought it back at 48K, the service writer raised the hood, listend, then motioned to the same tech as before to "pull it". I just grinned. Third times a charm.             

Nautique2001 wrote: Hey Rob, How's the GT40 treating you? I wouldn't mind giving your boat a spin next year.

She's running like a champ. I felt bad that you didn't get to drive it at GL....just gives you more reason to come up next year I guess. I had told Jmurph he could drive it as well, and that also didn't happen.

Rob

Plymouth Grand Voyager; 3.8 V6 with towing package.Has pulled a Hobie Cat 18M all it's life, from Key West to South Padre Island Tx.
Long haul to Green Lake with '64 American Skier,2557 total miles. Average 15.4 mpg,drives greatand sleeps 2 in comfort..
Rolled her over to 245,000 on the way home with a CC in tow.Still uses no oil between changes. Castol 20/50 all her life.
Hope the stroker lives that long...........
                  boat dr

Glad to read this. We have a 96 explorer with 125k. We have been towing a malibu response and nautique 2001 with it for the last 5 years.

Ken I bought my first Explorer the first year they were introduced – 1991 sold it in 2000 with 185k miles and was still going strong. My wife’s bought a 1997 Explorer that we just gave to our daughter last year when we got a great deal on a 2005 Denali, I needed more truck to pull the ‘Fish’ @ 5,500#; but both Explorers were great – no problems just normal wear & tear maintenance. Hopefully we’ll get just as good of service and reliability from GMC as we did from Ford. May your good luck continue with your Mountaineer. Jerry

That is good news. I just rolled over 70k on my 92 Ford PU with the 302. It is good news because my wifes 02 neon got a new trans. at 60k. I hope my truck will last for a while so I can replace that piece of crap neon.

Go figure, I do remember hearing of issues with the coolant leakage from the heads, but not on mine and no rust...maybe I am just lucky. My first experence with a "foreign manufacturer" is my current 2000 Solora, has 257k miles and runs as good as it did when new. Although I want a new car, I am going to see how far I can go with this one. Jerry

Terry that's a killer toolbox, there's been some guys at my dad's shop that wanted to buy those, but he nixed the idea cuz it's just too big. Compensating for something Terry? hahaha

Nate

Terry; That is the coolest toolbox I ever seen....'course I would have no idea what all ya got in there. If it requires more than a screwdriver, pliers and a hammer (bigger one for hard/complicated jobs) then I can't do it.

john

exactly matt, that's why I'm still thinkin Volvo, Infinity/Nissan....

Nate