When you should not be afraid to buy a car with high mileage

The times of the Mercedes W124, which has traveled a million kilometers, will not return. But high mileage doesn't always mean problems. A prerequisite, however, is the correct operation of the vehicle.

The service life of the engine and other vehicle components is increased not only by their appropriate design, but also by the way they are used.

Unequal kilometers to kilometers - urban ones are much heavier

- It can be assumed that cars that mainly travel on long-distance routes wear out more slowly. Proper maintenance is very important - regular replacement of engine oil and filters, as well as refueling with good quality fuel. This is especially important for diesels, points out Rafał Krawiec from the Honda Sigma showroom in Rzeszów.

In the nineties, naturally aspirated diesels from Mercedes and Peugeot, as well as the turbocharged 1.9 TDI from Volkswagen, were considered the most reliable diesels. Japanese engines, such as variable valve timing from Honda and Toyota, had a good reputation among gasoline engines. 

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Older diesel engines used injection systems with injection pumps or unit injectors. They were more resistant to low-quality fuel, and their components were subject to regeneration. Common rail systems with solenoid injectors are no longer reliable but can be rebuilt.

“This is not possible with most types of piezoelectric injectors currently in use, which are very sensitive to fuel quality,” emphasizes Kravets.

He also notes that older diesel engines have less sophisticated hardware, so they can handle longer runs without costly repairs. Their advantage, among other things, is that there is no particulate filter, the replacement of which often costs more than PLN 1000. A Honda specialist claims that a car with a diesel engine without a FAP filter can be bought without fear even with mileage over 300. km.

- Provided that this mileage is correct, the car has been properly serviced and its history is documented, says Rafał Kravec. 

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Shrinking is not a recipe for longevity

Mechanics are wary of small (1.0, 1.2 or 1.4) and powerful gasoline engines installed in new cars, obtained through direct fuel injection and turbocharging.

Lukasz Plonka, an auto mechanic from Rzeszow, believes that after a run of 150 km, such engines may require a major overhaul: – Production materials are becoming of lower quality. And small engines in big cars are pushed to the limit. Steels subjected to high overloads and high temperatures.

According to Rafał Krawiec, modern gasoline engines will not be as durable as older units: – Old engines could go 350 kilometers and then, in the worst case, change rings and bushings and the car drove another 300 without problems. In the case of engines built during a time of shrinking, it can be difficult to replicate this result. 

How you care is how you do it - the old truth is still valid

The way you ride is very important. Thanks to proper operation, the service life of a turbocharger can be extended from 200 to 300 thousand. km. The oil must be changed regularly (every 10-15 thousand km), do not load the engine in a cold state and cool the turbine at idle after a long trip. The nozzles also withstand up to 300 XNUMX. km, but you have to refuel at proven stations. On the other hand, city driving is deadly for a diesel particulate filter. So if we rarely travel long distances, do not buy a car with this element.

Therefore, for newer vehicles, mileage matters less than the previous owner's service history and driving style.

– Even in the case of turbo engines, running more than 200 or 250 thousand km does not make them unsuitable. But only in cars with a certain history, Lukasz Plonka emphasizes.

Grzegorz Wozniak, a used car dealer, says drivers are increasingly looking for cars with petrol engines.

“It’s just that their service is cheaper,” he argues. – When buying a used car, don’t be led by the brand or the stereotype that French or Italian cars are emergency piggy banks. Their quality is no different from cars from Germany, which are valued in Poland. The condition and history of the car is more important than the brand.

Governorate Bartosz