1,000,000 Mile Truck

[Phil Lilley]

Guess how many tuneups it takes to get to a pickup to a million miles?

OK, anglers and hunters, shooters and recreationists, we know you've covered a lot of terrain in your trusty pick-'em-up trucks. Over hill, over dale, you've hit the dusty trail all over dirt roads, Jeep trails and the backcountry to get closer to the your safe havens.

We also know sportsmen will appreciate the hard work and stick-to-it-iveness of Frank Oresnik.

The Medford, Ore., man's 1991 truck has had four radiators, three gas tanks, five transmissions and six water pumps, the Associated Press reports. And with more than 300 tuneups – one every 3,000 miles, like every good vehicle owner should – it all adds up to a very impressive number: 1 million.

Yes indeedy, the odometer on Oresnik's 17-year-old Chevy Silverado is about a thousand miles from turning over to seven figures.

Yesterday he took his pickup to the Oil Ex-Change Quick Lube in Medford for what he expects will be its last oil change and tuneup before hitting the magic number, according to the AP.

"I feel almost like the longtime NFL player as he goes into his last training camp knowing this is the end," Oresnik said.

He credits proper maintenance and a good measure of luck for allowing the truck to rack up so many miles; the engine has never been overhauled.

The pickup was purchased in June 1996 after the original owner put 41,000 miles on it.

Oresnik uses the vehicle to deliver seafood in three states, putting on about 85,000 miles a year, he said.

Now therein is the crux, folks. Nearly a million miles hauling fish in a pickup. It's enough to shake the head of any sportsman who's gotten out of a warm cab to the lock the hubs in the mud and the muck and the snow.

(You didn't think we'd be relaying a tale like this if it didn't revolve around fish or game, did you?)

Frank Oresnik, Backcasts salutes you … and likewise for all others who have put a million miles on their trucks. Nice work.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/general...TDOORSHeadlines

[patfish]

Whoa! I thought I was good getting 250k out of my 89 Silverado.... of course, she didn't get a tune up every 3k either.

[flyfishmaster]

Patfish,

Those 89 Chevy had some good motors in them. I had an 89 Beretta GT, and I sold it for $1000 back in 2001 and it had 295,000+ miles. I'm still kicking myself today for selling it. It only had two major repairs. New plugs & wires at 150,000 and a new clutch at 175,000. I would change the oil every 5000 miles, plus I was getting 28 mpg as well.

It was a sad day when I handed over those keys

Later,

FFM

[snagged in outlet 3]

Maybe someone could tell me what he did for a "tune-up" every 3000 miles? Plugs? Wires? I can see the oil change but why, and what else, would you change every 3000 miles?

SIO3

[mhall02]

I would venture to guess they meant an oil change every 3,000 miles, wouldn't make sense to do a full tune-up every 3,000. If he is putting 85,000 miles per year on the truck, that is an oil change every ~12-13 days? That is rather amazing....hard to believe the rings and bearings are not shot.

Most I ever put on a truck was 220,000, '78 Ford F-100 with the 300 straight six, changed the oil every 3,000 miles but she was losing a quart of oil every 800-1000 miles towards the end, I think the rings were shot. Then again, it took 25 years to get to that many miles, not just two or three. Lots of stop and go, not much highway.

[drew03cmc]

I can see new plugs, but wow...breaking it down it is every week and a half for oil...WOW.

Ok, note to self, do not expect over 300k from ANY new vehicle with sloppy maintenance.

[strangercreek]

I am hoping to go 300,000+ on my 2005 Toyota Tacoma. I just turned 100,000 on it and it drives and runs the same as when I bought it. No real problems yet, one a/c glitch and I had to replace a blower motor (as every vehicle I have owned) and a door lock assembly, nothing else though

[gonefishin]

My Dodge Colt is just starting to get broke in at 315,000 and has had no major repairs. I have a friend with a Dodge Dakota that is getting close to 350,000 with no major repairs.

[SgtChuck64]

I have a 2000 Ford Excursion with a 7.3 Powerstroke Diesel that just hit 200,000 miles and its just getting broken in. I use synthetic oil and change it out every 5000 miles. I just love that truck. Gets 20 mpg on the highway as long as I keep it under 2000 Rpm's ( 65 mph ) and 14-16 mpg in the city. Want to get another one for the wife but she says its too big.

[Trav]

You guys have better luck than me. I might get a few hundred k on a vehicle but it never fails, between 100 and 150k I have to do alot of work. Water pumps, starters, trannys,alternators,mufflers,heater cores, are usually the routine, and then I can get another 100 k and go through it all again.