High mileage Deloreans

[Helirich]

So my car has over 90,000 miles on it. Not real high for a 40 year old car, but it might be for a Delorean. How about it? What are most of you guys seeing on yours? Who has the highest and how high? Should I expect trouble?

[SS Spoiler]

168,000....and counting...

[Rich]

There are some threads out there with some info about high-mileage Ds, including this one (http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?1008).
Also this one (http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?1008).

Consider the age of the posts then add miles as you wish...and remember that angle drive issues mean some odometers under-report their mileage.

Thanks to our vendor community 90K isn't a worry. Losing an engine or tranny can be expensive. The stock PRV is strong as long as the cooling system stays solid.

Since the car is nearly 40 yrs old: if you're still running the original fuel lines on the K-Jet you might want to replace them, especially if the car shows signs of having been stored outdoors for a long time. Vendors sell full kits for this, complete with correct banjo fittings and new washers.

[Nicholas R]

I don't think there's any question that the award for highest mileage is the tothefuture.org car (Oliver and Terry's). Last I heard Oliver mention I think they were somewhere in the vicinity of 900,000 miles on the car. I imagine they'd be closing in on a million if it weren't for the pandemic.

https://www.deloreantimemachine.com/mission

[Helirich]

I don't think there's any question that the award for highest mileage is the tothefuture.org car (Oliver and Terry's). Last I heard Oliver mention I think they were somewhere in the vicinity of 900,000 miles on the car. I imagine they'd be closing in on a million if it weren't for the pandemic.

https://www.deloreantimemachine.com/mission

I'm assuming that engine has been rebuilt/replaced, maybe more than once. My purpose for the thread was to see if the engine/tranny would last like a normal car. When I say normal, I mean approximately 150,000-300,000 with maintenance and luck. Yes, I've heard of people going 500,000 some cars, but I wouldn't say it was normal. I once had a Corvette that ran great at 335,000. I hated to sell it, but I just felt I was pushing my luck.

I have a Bronco with over 400,000 on it, but it's the second engine and third tranny.

[Rich]

My purpose for the thread was to see if the engine/tranny would last like a normal car. When I say normal, I mean approximately 150,000-300,000 with maintenance and luck.

With various fuel/air delivery systems and displacements the PRV was sold for >15 years in >900,000 cars worldwide. It had a solid record. In its B28 configuration the engine is understressed.

Yes, it will go the distance with normal maint.

As for the transmission the 5 spd is pretty rugged. If a PO abused yours with speed shifts or crummy clutching or not tending to lip seal leaks then all bets are off, same as any other transmission.

[WHO1DMC]

I don't think there's any question that the award for highest mileage is the tothefuture.org car (Oliver and Terry's). Last I heard Oliver mention I think they were somewhere in the vicinity of 900,000 miles on the car. I imagine they'd be closing in on a million if it weren't for the pandemic.

https://www.deloreantimemachine.com/mission

Back in 2018 Oliver told me that there car was on there 3rd engine. He also said that there first engine didn't need replacement on further inspection after taking it apart. I can't remember what he said the problem was.


Dave B.

[Citizen]

Who has the highest and how high?

Here are the top 10 Highest Mileage VINs (http://www.citizenkidd.com/DMC/pages/vinview_totals.aspx) we know about (based on last owner submitted information).

65659

...

[Helirich]

Here are the top 10 Highest Mileage VINs (http://www.citizenkidd.com/DMC/pages/vinview_totals.aspx) we know about (based on last owner submitted information).

65659

...

Thanks for that. It's really cool.

[ssdelorean]

16506 is just over 233,000 miles. (need to update sig)

Original engine (manual)
Clutch replaced at 180,000
K-Jet is stock
Fuel lines are still original (except pickup hose in tank)
Injectors are original (cleaned 3 times)

[David T]

The PRV is a pretty rugged little motor. An earlier version had problems with camshafts but the one in Deloreans has a very good track record. If you don't overheat it or leave it sitting for many years, change the oil and filters regularly, it will give you a long life.

[CFI]

Fuel lines are still original (except pickup hose in tank)


May I ask why you choose not to replace your fuel lines? They are a consumable item. They were not meant to be in service for so long.

[Helirich]

16506 is just over 233,000 miles.
Fuel lines are still original (except pickup hose in tank)


May I ask why you choose not to replace your fuel lines? They are a consumable item. They were not meant to be in service for so long.

I have to agree with CFI here.

On mine, the fuel lines didn't leak. After removing all lines on one side of the dist and carefully lifting it up and putting it back down, one of the lines leaked. I was not rough with it. If that's all it took to leak, I can't imagine I was going to get far driving it. I was still diagnosing it and had a smal fire. It was no big deal because I was in my garage with the hood open, but it wouldn't take long if you were driving to cause damage.

It's funny they put the electrical distributor below the fuel distributor. Ive seen gallons of gas pour on top of red hot manifolds and it just boiled, but the slightest electrical spark and it's game on.

My new lines arrived last night. Can't wait to install.

[ssdelorean]

May I ask why you choose not to replace your fuel lines? They are a consumable item. They were not meant to be in service for so long.

My mechanic and I check them regularly and we have not seen a need to change them. The main need for change is due to sitting unused for years on end.

My mechanic has not seen an unusual number of failures for the under the hood fuel lines. Maybe a couple in 20 years. The ones at the fuel pump and the fuel accumulator are where he sees the failures. I have changed those out a few times on my car.