I found a really clean 2014 F-150 3.5L with 250K miles on it. Thinking about picking it up, but wondering how much more I can get out of it. If it makes it to 300K miles, I’d be happy.
What do you guys think? Worth the gamble?
Hard to say without knowing the truck’s history.
Was it hauling a heavy trailer every day, idling through long lunch breaks, and getting oil changes every 10K miles?
Or was it a sales truck that spent most of its life on the highway, getting oil changes every 5K miles like clockwork?
@Casey
Looks like mostly highway miles. The body is super clean—one small ding on the tailgate, no other scratches.
I also have oil change records every 3,500-5,000 miles.
Dru said:
@Casey
Looks like mostly highway miles. The body is super clean—one small ding on the tailgate, no other scratches.
I also have oil change records every 3,500-5,000 miles.
If that’s the case, it comes down to how good the deal is and whether you have extra cash set aside for a potential transmission replacement or timing chain and cam phasers.
At 250K, the truck is definitely on borrowed time.
Dru said:
@Casey
Looks like mostly highway miles. The body is super clean—one small ding on the tailgate, no other scratches.
I also have oil change records every 3,500-5,000 miles.
See if you can get a list of other maintenance work that’s been done. If you can, post it here and I’ll help you figure out what’s still good and what might need attention soon.
250K miles is risky, no doubt. But if the owner took care of it, that definitely helps.
Darin said:
250K miles is risky, no doubt. But if the owner took care of it, that definitely helps.
If it made it this far without looking like it’s been beaten to hell, it was probably babied.
Did the seller mention anything about transmission fluid and filter changes?
Are oil changes the only service history you have? I’d be a little wary of the turbos at this mileage. Also, any history of servicing the transmission, differentials, or transfer case?
Before you buy, let it idle for a while after warming up. If you start smelling coolant, those turbo coolant lines might be leaking.
Also, when you say you have oil change records, do you mean actual receipts, or just a list of dates and miles?
@Jensen
Just a list of dates and miles.
Thanks for the advice, guys. I’m gonna pass on it.
The turbos worry me, and at this mileage, it’s definitely on borrowed time.
At 250K miles, that engine is way past its expected service life. I wouldn’t expect much more out of it.
Thanks for all the input! I’m walking away from this one. Too many unknowns with the turbos and long-term reliability.