I recently found a 1997 Discovery with about 172,000 miles on it. I have been reading posts and wondering what I should be looking out for with potential issues that these cars have. I currently have a Volvo so I'm use to preium gas, high maintaince and not getting good gas mileage. I just wondered what specifically I should look for when I go to test drive it tommorrow.

 

Look for the ABS light, check engine light being on, also the cruise control not working.
Look for maintence records, check and make sure that everything works.
You already know about the premium gas.
12-14 in town and 16-18 expressway can be expected.
The cruise control is a easy fix. So is the check engine light.
Sunroofs not working,they arenot worth fixing.
Power door lock actuators not working and power windows not working. Both are pretty easy DIY fixes.
Most things on a DI are pretty easy DIY fixes.

 

I currently don't use synthetic oil in my volvo am I going to have to make that switch when I get a discovery?

 

Most people recommend it. It's possible to run regular oil in a disco but the extra performance you'll get with the synthetic is definitely worth while. Just make sure you're very regularly changing all the fluids. Keeping on top of maintenance in these trucks is the key to an engine that runs fine even with 300,000+ miles.

 

I was also wondering how large the tanks are, my volvo is an 18 gallon so i'm spending about 100 bucks a week in gas now.

 

No you dont have to run full syn, it is better but you dont have to.
We also have a Volvo and I use Mobil one in both the car and the truck and change it every 5,000 miles. Both cars.
Your Volvo will benifit from full syn too. It will help MPG in both cars.
But to answer your queation, no, you dont have to use it.

 

25 gals.

 

7 quarts of oil in the crank case.

 

ok thanks so much! if you have any other points they would I would love them!

 

thought the fuel tank was 24.something gallons?

also, synth. is better but these things take a lot of oil, as stated above. so you'll spend like $70 instead of $30 (for nonsynth) at an oil change.

as far as buying one for a teen driver... i got mine when i was 19 so its definitely been done haha.