Hey everyone.

Today my old '91 hit 250,000 miles. (the odometer reads 50000) This might be insignifigant to many of you, I know some of you have more than that.

The part that makes it a little unusual, to me at least is that it has EVERYTHING original. These days when people who buy new trucks get trannys before 100K, I can't understand how its still going. The shifting is still as smooth as ever. I DO NOT live out in the country. I live in the Baltimore-DC metro area. The worst urban sprawl you've ever seen. This truck has done everything from trips across the US, to stoplights, to snow, to TOWING my boat. I take a daily trip up I95, and I drive close to 80mph. I guess the A4LD isn't as "light duty" as some people think.

The engine consumes a little oil one way or another, but I don't have to add much between changes. I got new BFG's a few months back, and I recently put Edelbrock IAS shocks on it. I can't help but mention how smooth the ride is. Its not a bumpy rattle trap by ANY means, and its 10 YEARS OLD.

I can't figure out if I'm just lucky, or if they don't build them like they used to. I personally believe that these old Ford trucks are built tough.

All of you with similar experiences, opinions, contradictions and storys, PLEASE share.

i have over 160,000 miles on the original clutch, tranny,motor and everything else besides the power steering pump. Very happy!

My 91 is just under 170,000 with everything original except radiator, water pump and alt. Congrats on the 250k mark! I hope mine sees that one day.

250k?? Very impressive!
My '93 is on its 3rd tranny at 135k. Hopefully this one will last a bit longer. Other than that, the only things replaced have been a/c and radiator...

Jon

Our 1992 XLT now has 230xxx miles on it.. I just noticed that 40000 miles has been in the last 10 months.. I guess we have been doing a few trips.. :) 2nd tranny.. Original motor.. but no piece of the suspension is stock anymore.. different, spring, shackles, drop brackets etc.. (james duff 2.5" lift plus some extras)

ive put 80000 on my 98 and im at college so i dont drive it everyday..too hard to find a parking spot...but anyway i know its not much but my old 93 i put 130000 miles on it and im only 20.

Congrats. My 92 just turned 257,000 miles today, unlike yours it is a bumpy rattle trap. Then again those of us who live in LA are blessed with the 3rd worst freeways in the country, I have been on unpaved maintenance roads in the desert that are smoother than my daily 70 mile one way commute.

90% of the parts I have replaced have been because my job takes me to a lot of remote desert areas and I really have no desire to break down in a area with no cell coverage and designated only with a GPS coordinate and so far it has never had to be towed nor has it ever left me stranded.

I think the A4LD is just a matter of luck, some people luck out and it lasts forever others have nothing but problems, I had mine rebuilt at 190,000 just because I thought it might be a good idea before it broke on me. Even at 190k it didn't have any problems, when I got the parts back from the shop they looked like they had some wear but I didn't see anything that would have prevented it from lasting another 50k.

Oil consumption is what I would expect from a high mileage engine that only really runs on 5 cylinders.(sometimes 6 on a good day and a hard right foot) I realize that it's not going to last forever, the engine makes new and interesting noises on a daily basis now and I have mental images of what the valves,bearings and cylinder walls must look like by now, by hey when it dies that's what my 93 is tucked away in the garage for.

My 91 XLT 4X4 has 130,000, I know still young compared to what some of you have, but, engine runs very strong, orignial tranny, and idles like a dream. I sit at a stop light and cannot tell if the engine is on or off it is so smooth and quiet.

It has been the best vehicle I have owned. I had a Chevy, Plymoth and a Toyota, this Explorer is the best so far.

Brian

Yea, I'm pushing on 75K on my '96XLT. Whoa thats a lot! I bought it at 74K from the dealer and it already had the trans replaced. (I dont know how hard the other guy before me was driving the car).

Anyways, its been a beauty for the few thousand miles i've had it, and i'm really glad that i stuck with ford and didnt go to a junky chevy. I HATE CHEVY!

Dude,

250K is awesome. My 91 also runs like a dream with all origianal equipment, except normal maintenance type stuff. It's got a tad under 130K. It could use a new radiator, but that's it. When I bought it I went to the used lot at a Chevy dealer and when the sales guy asked me if he could help I told him I was looking for a 4x4 and no way could it be a Chevy. He looked at me like I was nuts. Then we stumbled upon the beloved Explorer and my knees got weak. As I was negotiating the deal there were at least 3 other people negotiating for the same vehicle. I feel lucky to have it.

very impressive guys!!! you show me plenty!
I do see a lot of early 90s above, aside from the fine care from their owners and they have had time to run up the clock, is there an obvious clue?.

I don't have the faith in the late models to reach such hieghts. Maybe too expensive to fix as time passes or too vulnerable to the technology as the clock gets up there.

I love my 97 SOHC , but I don't get a warm fuzzy feeling it is has a chance to run up to even half of the above.

My 94 is a different story, that may live forever.
Maybe I'm stating the obvious.
Why do I think the really high mileage cars may become a rarity?

Mine has 183k, and still the original tranny, and everything else for that matter. And I've been told that I 'run the hell out of my truck'. I can frequently be seen driving down the freeway at about 95mph.

Good for you! I wish I could say the same. My 98 left me stranded the first time before the engine was even broken in. 962 miles and it rode into the shop on a flat-bed. I should've taken the hint!

-Joe-