Drivers find a way to get 500,000 miles and more out of their vehicles
Matt Elofson Crime and courts reporter dothaneagle.com
Dothan, AL
It’s pretty hard to find vehicles with over 400,000 miles on them that are still used regularly. But according to a couple of local drivers and mechanics, regular maintenance will help vehicles last longer with more mileage on them.
Mike Henderson, one of two brothers who own and run Ace Automotive Services in Dothan, said they don’t often see vehicles with 400,000 to 500,000 miles on them.
“I’d say it’s rare. It’s mostly people putting highway miles on them that get miles on them that high,” Henderson said. “The highest mileage we normally see is probably around 200,000 to 250,000.”
Henderson said highway miles on a vehicle causes less wear and tear compared to driving it around a city where vehicles more regularly stop and start.
“Every time you crank it up its more wear and tear on it,” he said.
Henderson called regular maintenance the key to being able to keep a vehicle longer, and getting the most miles out of it.
“It’s mainly just staying on top of your maintenance of your vehicle, and not neglecting it,” he said. “Keeping the oil changed is the biggest thing, and keeping them serviced.”
But Henderson said keeping a vehicle serviced can mean a variety of things. Typically keeping a vehicle serviced means staying on top of regular oil changes, typically every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, depending on the vehicle. He also said using the correct oil and changing out the oil filter are important parts of keeping a vehicle serviced.
“You can put the wrong weight oil in and you can create drivability problems in them,” Henderson said.
Henderson said a good tune-up every 100,000 miles will help keep a vehicle running better. He said a typical tune-up includes changing out the air filters, replacement spark plugs and sometimes the replacement of a timing belt if the vehicle has it. He also called it important to regularly check on the pressure of the vehicle’s tires. It’s also important to replace the fuel filters every 25,000 to 30,000 miles on the vehicle.
Henderson said Ace Automotive does just about any of the regular maintenance for vehicles, ranging from an oil changes to tune-ups all the way up to engine and transmission replacements.
“We’re considered a general repair shop,” Henderson said. “We do just about anything.”
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Two local residents, including a local business owner who is a customer of Ace Automotive, have and still use vehicles with over 400,000 miles on them.
Chevrolet 2500 HD pickup truck
2003 Model
6.0 liter V8 engine
427,204 miles<span class="toggle zoom ui-icon ui-icon-circle-plus">Zoom in</span> <span class="toggle shrink ui-icon ui-icon-circle-minus" style="display:none">Zoom out</span>
DANNY TINDELL / DOTHAN EAGLE The odometer on Seth Strickland’s Chevrolet truck reads 427,204 miles.
Seth Strickland, who runs Tri-State Tire and Rubber with his parents Pam and Tony Strickland, said they use a 2003 Chevrolet 2500 HD with a 6.0 liter V8 engine pickup truck, which had 427,204 miles on it as of last week.
“We bought it new at Solomon Chevrolet here locally,” Strickland said. “It’s still on the original engine and transmission.”
Strickland said the family-owned business, which specializes in the sale of tires, uses trucks to distribute tires to customers across the tri-state area. He said they also have a 2008 Chevrolet 2500 HD pickup truck with 362,593 miles on it. He said the business continues to use both trucks on the road, although the 2003 model is now only used within the city limits of Dothan.
“We service them every 5,000 miles. Ace Automotive does it. We haven’t had too many problems with it,” Strickland said. “If you keep them regularly maintained, they last longer. I think one of the important things is if something goes wrong with it you need to fix it right away. If you don’t it could cost more in the long run.”
Ford F-350 pickup truck
2000 Model
7.3 diesel engine
550,000 miles<span class="toggle zoom ui-icon ui-icon-circle-plus">Zoom in</span> <span class="toggle shrink ui-icon ui-icon-circle-minus" style="display:none">Zoom out</span>
DANNY TINDELL / DOTHAN EAGLE Larry Chappell of Dothan checks the oil on his F-350 Super Duty Ford truck Monday afternoon.
Larry Chappell, of Dothan, drives a 2000 Ford F-350 pickup truck with a 7.3 diesel engine with over 550,000 miles on it. Chappell said he’s the second owner of the vehicle, which had around 45,000 miles on it when he bought it.
“I’ll be honest with you, 90 percent of it is maintenance, and the main thing is changing the fuel filters and the oil filters regularly,” Chappell said. “It’s taking care of it. It’s just making monthly checks on it. That’s the life of it, you know, to keep the motor clean. I do some of it myself like changing the oil, and then I take it to a shop for servicing.”
Chappell takes his to Scott Stevens Tire and Service in Dothan for servicing.
“Those are working miles on it now, that’s not just riding around,” Chappell said. “I use it to a pull a trailer. It’s my work truck, and I’ve always used it for that.” (END) Pagination Content Wrapper