High mileage 240SX...how long can I trust it to last?

[Yorb]

I bought my '92 almost a year ago with 135,000 miles. I normally wouldn't have gone for a car with that many miles, but it was in such incredibly good shape that I couldn't resist. I don't know anything about engines, but it seems to be pretty clean under there too. I've had no major problems with the car so far, and I'm just wondering how long I can expect it to last. I put premium gas in it and keep the oil changes on schedule and all that.People with high mileage 240s, please share your experiences and advice. I want this car to last another few years! =) Thanks.By the way, will putting 5W-30 oil (conventional, not high mileage) in my car hurt it? The guy that changed my oil last time put that in it, and I forgot to tell him not to. I'll get high mileage again in a few months when it's due, but will it be okay to run with this stuff until then?

[Kaioshin1982]

I believe there was a thread about how many mileage people had on their car and some went over 200,000 miles.

[240_Keyy]

I have almost 200k on mine and it is still running strong.

BTW: I wouldn't put 5W anything in a motor with over 100k miles, go with 10w-40

[nnkfws333]

240_Keyy is right on that one.I would just have to say keep watching the oil. I burn oil so every couple of weeks I just check it and add some more. Also watch out for rubber hoses. Every once in a while I will see a crack or so i.e. fuel filter rubber hoses. wow premium??? With these gas prices Im been staying with the cheap 87. I so far have 186,094 right now. It runs good and I once in a while still race with it. Just another night ago I raced a Neon coming onto the turnpike. Im just waiting until my insurance goes down so I can buy a 04 WRX.

[Former_240_s14]

depends on how you drive and maintain her

she will run as long as you treat and maintaiin her good

[AznRide]

3 things you need to maintain, oil, transmission fluid, and fuel pump (usually it's not an issue)...and one more thing, blinker fluid

[Yorb]

Thanks for the responses guys. I certainly don't abuse my 240, but I'm just worried that something's going to develop that I won't know about and it'll be the death of the car. =/ I will keep checking my oil as you suggest, nnkfws333, and top off with 10W if it needs any.As for the gas, I just use premium because 240s need 91+ (according to the manual). I know this dead horse has been flogged over and over on these forums, and what I've come up with is that everyone has their own opinion and of course there's no "proof" as to what's good and what's bad. So I just use what the manual says. =) And yeah it is freakin' expensive. =(

[Bubba1]

You're on the right track. Follow the manufacturers instructions for maintenance and she'll reward you with a long life. My 1989 has 188K and still runs great. Very original. The key is keep up the routine maintenance, especially the oil/filter changes.

[s14kaibigan]

I just got my '95 240sx and its got 174k on it. It still runs strong as a mutha. There are little things here and there I gotta fix, but its the same stuff that comes with high mileage and time. Here's a little list I can think of off the top of my head: oil pan gasket (rtv), left inner tie rod, right bellows boot, all four struts, check the chain for the little slap its got, then basic stuff you do with a newly bought used car like change all the fluids, filters, belts, major tune-up, and find out why no matter how many air fresheners I use, my interior smells like gear oil.:pface As for the high mileage, I am still out there taking the little honder ricers with my all stock 174k S14. I told myself that I wouldn't buy the SR for it until my KA dies, but that may be a while. Oh well. I'm sure my pocket won't mind.

[Nismo1182]

I have 155k on my sohc ka. And I run synthetic 0W-40 for oil. No problems with it.

[krazy skwerel]

make sure you check the timing chain it will destroy your engine if left un attended. if you hear the slap fix it as soon as possible less it war a whole in your timing cover and lock up your engine. other than that they run great i sold my 90 hatch with 197,000 miles on it and it still ran stong just burned a little oil.

[SloS13]

A friend of mine boosted his @ 155k and it lasted till 185k or so, and that was running 10psi on stock internals with a small side-mount

[gibbo80]

I have 150k on my 89 and the only thing that has been changed on the engine was the alternator (148k) Runs strong, burns some oil but 1/4 times are about where i think they should be. Im not the nicest on my car but not to bad.

[Nismo1182]

A lot of people care about mileage. To me, its not how many miles it has, its how well it was taken care of. You can buy a 98 240SX with 30k miles and the owner could have beat the car to death every single day he owned and never changed any of the fluids. Or would you buy one with 130k miles that was taken care off everyday, fluids and maintanence on time?

[Ajax]

I've got 195000 miles after almost four years (bought it with 135000). Sure things will go sour (my starter shut down last year, and my clutch slave went out on a cross country trip) but overall, these cars are made to last. I just figure that if something breaks that means its time to upgrade- springs and shocks, clutch and flywheel, brakes, etc.Soon to be more suspension and eliminated HICAS!I'm saving for new transmission and eventually built engine.I never could have afforded this much cool stuff if I tried to buy a new car.

[Zaxx84]

My '95 SE has 170,xxx miles on it, and the trans just went out about 2 months ago...BEFORE the stock clutch went out.

Hence the reasoning behind the SR swap the is just about done.

[Onizuka]

the bottem line is that the KA is a beast of an engine, it doesnt care what i put in it (i have put 87, 89, and 93 octane and it runs the same for each). I'm pretty easy on it for the most part, i flog on it time to time and it doesnt give me any problems, but im still getting rid of it =)

[b240]

nicely put ajax

[nissanrcer240]

Quote », but im still getting rid of it =)[/quote]

why are you getting rid of car??

Quote »breaks that means its time to upgrade- springs and shocks, clutch and flywheel, brakes, etc.[/quote]

thats what im sayin;)

[Onizuka]

why are you getting rid of car??

Im not getting rid of the car, just the KA

[91SE]

91 hicas edition, 195000 and i just bought it- runs mint burns no oil, that and i ate an is 300 today

[fiznat]

92 SE with 156,000k, and I'm turboing it this spring. granted I plan on building the block hopefully next year, but I have complete faith in these engines. Treat em right, and they'll treat you right.

[89240sx]

143,000 miles....compression a little low but in safe zone..... going strong!

[Altiman94]

I have 130k on mine. I've had nothign but bad luck. It's getting an engine rebuild this week.

[Bandit240]

Lets put it this way Nissans were built to LAST. My 240SX probly has around 210k on it (odo quit along time ago). My parts car 240Sx had 230k when i got it and it still ran. AS for my old Datsun wagon 226,490 and still kicking strong. I would hop in it at anytime and drive it anywhere. Hell it just went to Bowling Green KY for the meet a few weeks ago with no problems at all.

[lbrowne]

My 89 has about 110k on it. I did some preventive maintenance on it right after I first got it, timing chain, fuel filter, plugs/wires, intake, pcv valve, waterpump, belts, thermostat...

This stuff didn't NEED to be done, buit the car had sat for 1 1/2 years (not driven), through 2 harsh winters, left to rot basically. She started up first try. I think when she did that when I went to look at her, it was her way of saying, please take me home, i'm still a good car!

But yeah, I have a blast driving her, going to fix my exhaust next. She burns a wee bit of oil but nothing to fret about.

330 bucks was not a bad purchase price for this lil gem

[fiznat]

oh yeah I forgot to say - at my 156,000, I dont use ANY oil at all. I change the oil every 2000 and every time I've got a full sump. It's pretty impressive considering this engine's age. Compression is PERFECT also. I love my KA