Discuss Keeping your van going past 200K? in the Auto Electrician Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

Welcome to ElectriciansForums.net - The American Electrical Advice Forum
Head straight to the main forums to chat by click here:   American Electrical Advice Forum

HappyHippyDad

-
Esteemed
Arms
Reaction score
5,578
I have an Ex AA Renault trafic, 08 plate. It's done 180,000 miles and I am the second owner. Pretty much nothing has gone wrong with it over the 6 years I've had it. I've had it regularly serviced.

I've spent perhaps £1200 on it getting it racked out inside very nicely and also deadlocks so i'd like to keep it for as long as possible. Also I simple like the van so again want to keep it in good shape for as long as poss.

My question is, apart from keeping it regularly serviced, what are some basic things I can do to keep it going well for as long as possible? These are not things I would do myself as I do not have the knowledge, they would be for a mechanic.

If continuously kept in good shape what sort of miles could be got realistically?

Cheers :)
 
Diesel engines will keep going for many miles if the oil and filter is changed regularly and they aren't hammered.

Obviously suspension bushes, brake pipes etc will need replacing, but they also could do on a car or van with 60000 miles on the clock.
 
Has it had the scuttle re-sealed to stop water ingress onto the injectors causing failure and seizing ?
Has it had the timing chain replaced ? I'm guessing it's the 2.0l on an 08 plate. This is recommended at 100k and can cause total engine failure if they go.
Regular gearbox oil changes are key on these too to keep them smooth.

I'm in a '56 plate vivaro and after having had all injectors done and getting along with a crunchy gearbox I'm looking up all the preventative moves possible now it's running sweet.
 
I have an Ex AA Renault trafic, 08 plate. It's done 180,000 miles and I am the second owner. Pretty much nothing has gone wrong with it over the 6 years I've had it. I've had it regularly serviced.

I've spent perhaps £1200 on it getting it racked out inside very nicely and also deadlocks so i'd like to keep it for as long as possible. Also I simple like the van so again want to keep it in good shape for as long as poss.

My question is, apart from keeping it regularly serviced, what are some basic things I can do to keep it going well for as long as possible? These are not things I would do myself as I do not have the knowledge, they would be for a mechanic.

If continuously kept in good shape what sort of miles could be got realistically?

Cheers :)

My advice would be to avoid going to Screwfix. :D

But seriously ..... if you follow the manufacturer's weekly/monthly/annual maintenance checks I see no reason why the van can't keep going beyond 200,000 miles.
 
If you're only doing local trips take it for a spanking up the motorway for half an hour once every month, this will help keep the engine clean, a shot of Redex every few tanks also helps. this will also reduce emissions so not all bad.

200k is barely run in.
 
A diesel engine should go well past 200K, my landrover's engine is well over that, built in 97 and has a chunk missing out of one of the pistons.
Get the cam belt/chain replaced before the manufacturer recommended time, cos if that goes then it usually writes a modern engine off.
Keep on top of regular oil and filter changes, check your oil and fluids regularly.
Change the gearbox oil at the recommended intervals.
Have a good look over the engine and transmission occasionally to spot any leaks before they become a problem (can you tell I'm a landrover kind of guy?)
Don't ride the clutch.
Let it warm up before driving fast.
Give it a good hard run once in a while to clear the dpf.

And don't crash it!
 
Oh yeah, and get the EGR and DPF cleaned out and the EGR valve blanked off.

Is EGR blanking recommended for that engine? I've done it on my various landrovers over the years and it improved things but for my current L200 it apparently does more harm than good removing it.
 
It'll be fine we had a hiace in work did 280000 and was sold after that so it may even have broke 300. If they are well looked after and you can keep the rust away it'll be fine
 
Have the Vauxhall in an 07 plate just done 170.000. Had to have new recon and gear box and clutch :( ouch! Make sure the oil is changed in it at the service intervals, this seems to be one of the biggest killers of them.
Regular servicing is the key, with good quality spec oil and filters, I run a Vw lt35 that is currently on 386.000 and still going strong apart from a we bit of rust:)
 
The old t4s still fetch good money, but to be fair the were a reasonably bulletproof van, I had a mate who owned an ex AA one that he got 750.000 out of before it rotted away beyond redemption
 
Is EGR blanking recommended for that engine? I've done it on my various landrovers over the years and it improved things but for my current L200 it apparently does more harm than good removing it.
It is by specialist mechanics for these vans, but obviously not by the manufacturers. I'm seeing how it goes for now, but since having it done I've not noticed any ill effects. October brings the MOT so I'll see if emissions are affected. Anything I should look out for ?
 
It is by specialist mechanics for these vans, but obviously not by the manufacturers. I'm seeing how it goes for now, but since having it done I've not noticed any ill effects. October brings the MOT so I'll see if emissions are affected. Anything I should look out for ?

On all the landrovers it improved things, I certainly removed a ton of rubbish from the inlet manifolds when I did it.
I don't know what the ill effects are other than it can increase emissions to beyond the MOT limits on some engines, but if its recommended by specialist mechanics I think you'll be fine.
 
I have done this mod to plenty,but some later vehicles use the EGR for reasons such as killing heat to the pistons. The 2.8tdi i have,has this mod from almost new,but the 3.0 version,requires additional gadgets and safeguards. All lot of the early transits,died as a result of EGR's just "doing their job"o_O

The model specific forums,are usually the place to get advice of this nature,where lads who do the big mileages,know all the angles.

Remember,although a lot of engines do not need the help or hinderance,of an EGR,the ECU may expect to see feedback or data,confirming it is still connected to something,and the common add-ons available to fool it,may be judged to be a "modification of an anti-pollution device",come MOT time :oops: I have several friends,in the commercial vehicle sector,who have had very,very expensive sagas,re; DPF's and SCR's at VOSA's behest :joycat:
 

Reply to Keeping your van going past 200K? in the Auto Electrician Forum area at ElectriciansForums.net

OFFICIAL SPONSORS

Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Electrician Courses Green Electrical Goods PCB Way Electrical Goods - Electrical Tools - Brand Names Pushfit Wire Connectors Electric Underfloor Heating Electrician Courses
These Official Forum Sponsors May Provide Discounts to Regular Forum Members - If you would like to sponsor us then CLICK HERE and post a thread with who you are, and we'll send you some stats etc
This website was designed, optimised and is hosted by Untold Media. Operating under the name Untold Media since 2001.
Back
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website. For the best site experience please disable your AdBlocker.

I've Disabled AdBlock