ServeChilled

Hello,
I have a 1989 F-150 inline six, all stock, with about 202,000 miles on it. It runs great and the only issues I've ever had were the starter (replaced it twice, seems to be okay now) and a small hiccup at around 30 m.p.h. (which has been better since I replaced the muffler and exhaust). My questions are the following:

-How many more miles can I expect out of the motor, assuming nothing huge breaks and I continue to baby it as I have done the past two years?
-Can I get any more performance/MPG out of it? (I read somewhere a guy got up to 24 MPG/highway with new headers, lower thermostat, bumped timing and bigger exhaust)
-How long before I have to start replacing big ticket items like the transmission, radiator, power steering, etc.?
-What would you suggest for preventative maintenance if I was to drive it cross country this July (is that even a good idea)?

I love this thing to death. It is the first vehicle I've ever owned and I got it from my grandfather. I'd love to drive it to half a million miles, but don't want to waste my time if it just isn't feasible. Any other advice is greatly appreciated, thanks!

-Jordan

Welder7018

How does the radiator fluid look? Bright green? Or kinda nasty? How does the engine sound mechanically? I've seen these engines with over half a million miles on them. It's feasible. The transmission will be noticeable when it's about to go. Does the power steering moan really loud? Or kinda soft?

southernyankey1

Put a mechanical oil pressure gauge on it. If the oil pressure is 40 or over at operating temp you have lots of time left..headers will let it breathe better but there aren't a lot of mods for these unless you go custom which is expensive. do a compression check if all cylinders are 150 or over you're good. You can put a mild cam in it but the obd1 cpu is very unforgiving to mods...

ServeChilled

The power steering is pretty quiet unless you turn it all the way, then it gets a little whiney; it's noticeable but not alarming. The engine sounds pretty strong, I've only ever had problems starting it, the engine would turn over but then wanted to die on me. That hasn't happened for months though. Actually driving on the road, especially on the interstate, the truck sounds like it could run forever. I had both the radiator and power steering flushed in January of 2008, which was only 15,000 miles ago, the mechanics didn't seem to notice anything.

jcampe

The inline 6 is a very durable engine. The most durable one they made IMO. My 87 has almost 210,000 on it and I got a buddy with around 350,000 on an 88. Is the transmission a manual? If so, they last forever to. I would change fluid in tranny and differentials if you have not done so. Other than that, just drive it and keep the oil fresh. I would be willing to go out on a limb and say if the engine is ok now, you can probably get another 100,000 out of her no problem. So I guess to answer your question, it is worth fixing up and keeping

MoparFanForLife

I wouldn't do the header you lose alot of low end, the stock 300 manifold flows good, put an open air filter on it, if you haven't yet get rid of the stock exhust, 2 1/4 or 2 1/2 in pipe with a muffler

Scraptor

What he said+ If you don't need a cat where you are ditch it. Msd6 and a good electric fan will pick up MPG, and even going from a clutch fan you will feel the difference in power. I run synthetic oil change it when it goes empty and rattles and have nearly 340000 kilometers on mine, still gets better than 20mpg on 37s . At nearly 25 years old it wouldn't hurt to check the million vacuum hoses for splits and leaks, I had a backfire that turned out to be the vacuum line nipple to the fuel regulator being cracked. If you want to spend a little money a milled and ported head with good valve springs would amaze you.

tom231

I had an '84 F-150 with the 300 6cyl. I forget how many miles I put on it? but, I drove it for years and I never had a problem with the engine. In fact, the rest of the truck slowly rusted away, but the engine never let me down once. Just change the oil on time and you will never kill that engine.

MoparFanForLife

Ya mine has 155,000 and I know that it was drove about 50-60 miles with no oil on the dipstick, 300's redline and 4100 rpm I've seen 55-5600 rpm (they don't like that), and she'll still get 20+ mpg I wouldn't bat an eye at driving it cross country. Your at 200,000 the only thing I would think about is the plastic timing gear, you can like around and find out want milage they like to go out, I'm wanting to say 275-300,000 miles but other than that I wouldn't worry about anything.

ServeChilled

Thanks for all the advice. Has anybody seen any performance increase with a throttle body spacer?