Longest without engine light
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TReK
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,768
Likes: 396
From: kitchener, canada
To me, the sign of a good/great vehicle is when you can take it past it's maintenance schedules, abuse it, treat it like dirt and it still preforms. Even though l'm a mechanic, I press my vehicles to there fullest extent. I'm hard on them, period. It's just like the tool discussions you folks are having here about Harbor Frieght tools. Yes, they sell some tools that are "okay" for home use. But, in my world...a tool has to exceed all expectations of what it was intended to do. Example, when l can use a 3/8's socket on a 1/2 airgun (rated 600 footpounds of torque), with a reducer, maybe even applying heat, maybe even beating it onto the rusty nut with a dead blow hammer, all while using shop air of 220 lbs. and it doesn't fail...that 3/8's socket has out performed it's requirements.
My current Silverado 4X4 only gets the hood opened twice a year, upon service, every 15000 miles. At 167K, it's check engine light has never, ever came on (beside initial check).
Our Chrysler T&C had 299760 miles, when l "drove" it to the junkyard (and believe it or not..it drove and rode beautifully), and the check engine light only came on once during its lifetime. And that was after having the waterpump replaced (had back issues at the time and couldn't do it myself), and it was on, because the mechanic had leaned on the EGR hose and cracked it. Changed the oil once a year on this car and l average about 30 a year, hood opened only then. So, that just goes to show you how hard l was on it...but it performed.
Last Silverado 4X4, 279K...when l traded it in. Drove and ran like a top, check engine light had probably came on only twice in its lifetime (code P0420 - cat related), near the end, about once a year. Cleared it and it was good for another year.
Our GMC Jimmy 4X4 had 325K, when l sold it (because it still drove and ran great). Never once did l see a check engine light for an issue...never...ever.
I'm not going to go through every vehicle l've ever owned, since the list is long (although, there is a list in the off-topic section, about previous vehicles). But, for the most part...l don't see a lot of check engine lights on quality made vehicles...well...until the rovers came along...lol. Yes, l could probably keep that from happening...but...l do not expect these types of repairs to be necessary, especially, at these mileage levels or considering the amount of times I open the hoods on these things. If l don't open the hood before, during and after ever lengthy trip l take...l'm sure they would fail. And, thanks to the rovers...l've gone from changing oil from about once or twice on a vehicle a year...to ever 3 or 4 thousand now...which is about a month and a half of driving for me.
Truth be told...out of the short list of vehicles mentioned above...l do not ever remember any of them running poorly. Turn the key and drive...and that's the way a vehicle should perform in my book. But, everyone's book of expectations is different...l guess?
Just my two cents...which is based on...forty some years of working on vehicles (for a living) and seeing the good, the bad and the ugly of a lot of brands.
Brian.
My current Silverado 4X4 only gets the hood opened twice a year, upon service, every 15000 miles. At 167K, it's check engine light has never, ever came on (beside initial check).
Our Chrysler T&C had 299760 miles, when l "drove" it to the junkyard (and believe it or not..it drove and rode beautifully), and the check engine light only came on once during its lifetime. And that was after having the waterpump replaced (had back issues at the time and couldn't do it myself), and it was on, because the mechanic had leaned on the EGR hose and cracked it. Changed the oil once a year on this car and l average about 30 a year, hood opened only then. So, that just goes to show you how hard l was on it...but it performed.
Last Silverado 4X4, 279K...when l traded it in. Drove and ran like a top, check engine light had probably came on only twice in its lifetime (code P0420 - cat related), near the end, about once a year. Cleared it and it was good for another year.
Our GMC Jimmy 4X4 had 325K, when l sold it (because it still drove and ran great). Never once did l see a check engine light for an issue...never...ever.
I'm not going to go through every vehicle l've ever owned, since the list is long (although, there is a list in the off-topic section, about previous vehicles). But, for the most part...l don't see a lot of check engine lights on quality made vehicles...well...until the rovers came along...lol. Yes, l could probably keep that from happening...but...l do not expect these types of repairs to be necessary, especially, at these mileage levels or considering the amount of times I open the hoods on these things. If l don't open the hood before, during and after ever lengthy trip l take...l'm sure they would fail. And, thanks to the rovers...l've gone from changing oil from about once or twice on a vehicle a year...to ever 3 or 4 thousand now...which is about a month and a half of driving for me.
Truth be told...out of the short list of vehicles mentioned above...l do not ever remember any of them running poorly. Turn the key and drive...and that's the way a vehicle should perform in my book. But, everyone's book of expectations is different...l guess?
Just my two cents...which is based on...forty some years of working on vehicles (for a living) and seeing the good, the bad and the ugly of a lot of brands.
Brian.
you are very lucky not sure what spell you have on your cars but keep it going.
Camel Trophy
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 1,410
From: Michigan
Funny story...
Few years ago, after finally selling my Jeep, I was at an outdoor show running a booth for RGS. Guys over at the Ducks Unlimited booth were raffling off a Jeep and it was customary for all of us guys to walk around and buy raffle tickets from one another. Anyhow, a couple DU guys came by and bought some of our raffle tickets...so they asked me if I'd buy some of theirs. "Sure, no problem...but if I win...I'm loading that thing full of C4 and urea and blowing it off the face of the earth." The one guy says..."Can I watch...I owned a Jeep once, too." So, this past Jeep owner sensation is well versed...lol.
Brian.
Camel Trophy
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 1,337
From: Mission BC Canada
To me, the sign of a good/great vehicle is when you can take it past it's maintenance schedules, abuse it, treat it like dirt and it still preforms. If l don't open the hood before, during and after ever lengthy trip l take...l'm sure they would fail. And, thanks to the rovers...l've gone from changing oil from about once or twice on a vehicle a year...to ever 3 or 4 thousand now...which is about a month and a half of driving for me.
Truth be told...out of the short list of vehicles mentioned above...l do not ever remember any of them running poorly. Turn the key and drive...and that's the way a vehicle should perform in my book. But, everyone's book of expectations is different...l guess?
Just my two cents...which is based on...forty some years of working on vehicles (for a living) and seeing the good, the bad and the ugly of a lot of brands.
Brian.
Truth be told...out of the short list of vehicles mentioned above...l do not ever remember any of them running poorly. Turn the key and drive...and that's the way a vehicle should perform in my book. But, everyone's book of expectations is different...l guess?
Just my two cents...which is based on...forty some years of working on vehicles (for a living) and seeing the good, the bad and the ugly of a lot of brands.
Brian.
But I drive typically older used vehicles to bounce around the bush in so I expect the odd issue until I get everything sorted to my satisfaction. The Disco is pretty much sorted now and I expect few issues other than the odd age related wear and tear ones, it took 5000 km for the preceding to show up.
As to your comment about opening the hood, every time I head out into the bush and every morning and evening while I am out, I pop the hood and check. Oil, coolant, belt, rad hoses and now battery terminals and intake hoses - then a quick check underneath, after the caliper bolt issue a little more detailed than I used to
. But it is an old habit from my days in the reserve military, where we did the same thing. I don't expect to find a problem, but old habits die hard.
Yep I was a Boy Scout (2 merit badges from an Eagle Scout before I hit 18), and I always like to be prepared. Also with a wife n kids the last thing I need is a break down with little ones in the TX heat not to mention on the side of a busy dangerous road/highway.
Camel Trophy
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 1,410
From: Michigan
Oh, believe me...l truly commend each and everyone of you that work diligently to keep their Discovery in tip-top shape. Hope my post didn't sound diminishing in that respect.
This post just got me thinking about past and present vehicles...and a comparison was drawn.
Brian.
This post just got me thinking about past and present vehicles...and a comparison was drawn.
Brian.
Camel Trophy
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 3,820
Likes: 1,337
From: Mission BC Canada
Oh, believe me...l truly commend each and everyone of you that work diligently to keep their Discovery in tip-top shape. Hope my post didn't sound diminishing in that respect.
This post just got me thinking about past and present vehicles...and a comparison was drawn.
Brian.
This post just got me thinking about past and present vehicles...and a comparison was drawn.
Brian.
As an ex 72 triumph motorcycle owner I had a pretty good idea what I was getting into going British
I still get looks of either cool! you own a Land Rover or far more commonly you bought a Land Rover with a tone of disbelief or that and look similar to the quizzical look a dog gives you when they think you are nuts.
Me I am happy it is the easiest vehicle to work on I have owned in along time, fun to drive and the local Land Rover group about as welcoming a bunch of people you would want to meet.
Only lemon and total POS I ever owned was a 2001 Nissan Xterra 4x4 SE...... brand new with 12 miles on it. Very sad when I found out 90% of it came from Mexico. That was my first & last new vehicle, and I took a 10k hit on it easy when I got rid of it!
Camel Trophy
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 1,410
From: Michigan
Your "old habits die hard" comment fits me...but to the opposite extent.
l've always been terrible to my vehicles. Back in 82 l bought a new Toyota 4X4, changed the oil religiously during warrenty (which was 12K back then)...but, after that was over, the "Brian way" went into affect. Next oil change took place 40K later, then 30K. So, this vehicle was like a test module of sorts...lol.
Well, with a three day weekend on the horizon...me and a buddy loaded up our dirt bikes, riding gear, camping gear, cooler filled with cold ones and pointed her north. Made one last stop before mashing the long pedal for the next four hours, for gas at my ex-father in law's gas station. He's working that night and asks where we're heading, tell him we're heading north, while filling the tank. Hop in and say goodbye, but just as we are about to move...l think..."you know what, better check the oil...it's been a while" (probably a year or so). So, the oil gets checked and l immediately head into the station...my FIL says, "need some oil" (since he is watching out the window)...and l say..."yeah, give me four quarts." He's like???..."how many quarts does that thing hold?" I'm like..."5". He shakes his head, and yes...l know what he's thinking...lol. Dumped the four quarts in and off we went. A couple months later, it was packed with suitcases and it's nose was pointed towards Bar Harbor, Maine.
That Toyota should have gone back to the factory, so the R&D department could disassemble it...because it had 130K when l sold it to the other kid at work...and he drove another 20K, until he rolled it one winter day.
So, as you can see...this checking the oil regularly...is a hard habit for me to adapt too...lol.
Brian.
l've always been terrible to my vehicles. Back in 82 l bought a new Toyota 4X4, changed the oil religiously during warrenty (which was 12K back then)...but, after that was over, the "Brian way" went into affect. Next oil change took place 40K later, then 30K. So, this vehicle was like a test module of sorts...lol.
Well, with a three day weekend on the horizon...me and a buddy loaded up our dirt bikes, riding gear, camping gear, cooler filled with cold ones and pointed her north. Made one last stop before mashing the long pedal for the next four hours, for gas at my ex-father in law's gas station. He's working that night and asks where we're heading, tell him we're heading north, while filling the tank. Hop in and say goodbye, but just as we are about to move...l think..."you know what, better check the oil...it's been a while" (probably a year or so). So, the oil gets checked and l immediately head into the station...my FIL says, "need some oil" (since he is watching out the window)...and l say..."yeah, give me four quarts." He's like???..."how many quarts does that thing hold?" I'm like..."5". He shakes his head, and yes...l know what he's thinking...lol. Dumped the four quarts in and off we went. A couple months later, it was packed with suitcases and it's nose was pointed towards Bar Harbor, Maine.
That Toyota should have gone back to the factory, so the R&D department could disassemble it...because it had 130K when l sold it to the other kid at work...and he drove another 20K, until he rolled it one winter day.
So, as you can see...this checking the oil regularly...is a hard habit for me to adapt too...lol.
Brian.
Three Wheeling
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 81
Likes: 23
From: Federal Way Wa. USA
I've been catching up from the previous owners' sins with the maintenance on mine. I saw in an earlier post of someone drawing parallel experience with a '72 Triumph. I too went in with the experience with a '67 Matchless. Back to the topic... I bought this back in May, no trouble codes. After replacing a water pump and feed hose, belt, A/C recharge, drag link and track bar, the SES light came on last night. I'm now waiting for my scan tool to arrive.
I love this thing. I bought it as a trail rig, but find myself using it as a grocery-getter just as much.
I love this thing. I bought it as a trail rig, but find myself using it as a grocery-getter just as much.