Crossed the 250K mile mark today

BobN wrote:
>
> 98 OBL, just routine maintenance

Hi,

Congratulations!

Now that it's "broken in," you're gonna keep us posted on the next
milestones, right? I got 360k miles on my Loyale before it broke
something bad, and it was WAY "less than pampered" when I bought it used
at 209k, so it "only" went another 150k or so on a "compromised immune
system" as it were. My understanding is some of those older ones made a
half mil or better being driven as postal delivery vehicles. I'd like to
see some 400k and 500k reports from more "current" owners. Hope yours is
one of 'em!

Rick
 >> Stay informed about: Crossed the 250K mile mark today 

BobN wrote:

> 98 OBL, just routine maintenance and a couple of front axles 100K miles ago
> when the CV boots ripped. Still averages 24 mpg, no smoke, no noises. Damn,
> I love my Subie.
>
>

Thanx for posting. Some folks think all soobs are trouble prone piles of
junk - just because folks turn to the net with their problems.

Carl


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 >> Stay informed about: Crossed the 250K mile mark today 

Thanks, Carl. I've been thinking, when I first got the car it averaged
around 26mpg. It's still using the original O2 sensor, and I wonder if
replacing that might get my mileage back.

It will take somewhat longer to complete the second 250K. I bought a
motorcycle in the Spring and I use that for 90% of my travel measured by
number of trips, although the Subie does most of the long trips. In general
I try to drive very smoothly, even though I run pretty fast on the highway
and out in the boonies. So I'm not stressing the mechanical bits very hard.
I think the brakes have been done only twice, and the fronts are still less
than half used. In a run along I-95 from Providence to Stamford, which I do
frequently, I may not touch the brake for 100 miles.

I change the oil myself, at 3K mile intervals using Purolator Pure 1 filters
exclusively and 10W40 dino oil - Castrol is in there now. I tried Shell
Rotella synthetic for a couple of changes. It has superior
cleaning/neutralizing ability being a diesel truck oil, and I use it in my
bike, but the 5W40 is too thin at startup and it's noisy for the first
couple of miles.

The interior still looks almost new - rubber floormats in the front protect
the carpet and good-quality saddle dressing (RM Williams) applied twice a
year on the leather seats. It's available at tack shops. I clean all the
vinyl and rubber parts with Meguiar's. The car has always been garaged.
That's about it.
 >> Stay informed about: Crossed the 250K mile mark today 

BobN wrote:

> Thanks, Carl. I've been thinking, when I first got the car it averaged
> around 26mpg. It's still using the original O2 sensor, and I wonder if
> replacing that might get my mileage back.
>
> It will take somewhat longer to complete the second 250K. I bought a
> motorcycle in the Spring and I use that for 90% of my travel measured by
> number of trips, although the Subie does most of the long trips. In general
> I try to drive very smoothly, even though I run pretty fast on the highway
> and out in the boonies. So I'm not stressing the mechanical bits very hard.
> I think the brakes have been done only twice, and the fronts are still less
> than half used. In a run along I-95 from Providence to Stamford, which I do
> frequently, I may not touch the brake for 100 miles.
>
> I change the oil myself, at 3K mile intervals using Purolator Pure 1 filters
> exclusively and 10W40 dino oil - Castrol is in there now. I tried Shell
> Rotella synthetic for a couple of changes. It has superior
> cleaning/neutralizing ability being a diesel truck oil, and I use it in my
> bike, but the 5W40 is too thin at startup and it's noisy for the first
> couple of miles.
>
> The interior still looks almost new - rubber floormats in the front protect
> the carpet and good-quality saddle dressing (RM Williams) applied twice a
> year on the leather seats. It's available at tack shops. I clean all the
> vinyl and rubber parts with Meguiar's. The car has always been garaged.
> That's about it.
>
>

I'd say you got about twice the life outta the O2 sensor than most
folks, but in all fairness, your usage pattern may lead to fewer rich
conditions and less moisture buildup and perhaps other favorable
conditions I can't dream up at the moment. There are ways to use a scope
and maybe even an analog voltmeter to see if lambda sensors are
switching lazily. But if you can't do the tst yourself, the cost of that
service would probably pay half towards a new sensor - so yeah, probably
wouldn't hurt to change it and maybe clean the MAF/throttle body (with
the soob or other 'MAF-safe' solvent) maybe run a bottle of Techron
through the gas tank just to see if the injector spary pattern needs a
little improvement. Certainly doesn't sound like anything severe is wrong.

keep up the good work!

Carl


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 >> Stay informed about: Crossed the 250K mile mark today 

Just thought I'd add in that my mom's 95 Legacy L wagon is at now 306,000
miles and running strong after the tailshaft seal fix last week. Her
vehicle has done ALOT of interstate driving and 2 lane mountain driving.
I've contributed a ton of mileage to that. But most of her mileage came
from driving from Nothern Virginia down to Southern Tennessee for my sister
being in college. She hasn't been as super kind to it as you have with
yours, although she's maintained it properly using nothing but Castrol
Syntec 10w40 for the life of the vehicle. The only major issues to have
happened on the vehicle in recent memory are replacing the rear brakes last
year, the catalytic converter, CV boots, rear brake rotors/pads/calipers,
ABS brake pump, usual seals, gaskets, timing belts, water pump, etc.

For the entire time of ownership when she purchased this new, she's never
had any axles replaced, no transmission replacements/teardowns, or engine
replacement or teardowns. No leaky headgaskets, no failing cooling systems,
etc. She keeps it garage kept and minus the small dings in the body from
gravels and others opening doors without looking, i think she can keep this
to 600,000 miles. I told her it'd be well worth it to let it go and go and
go and see if it gets beyond 500,000 without major engine overhaul work or
tranny work.



"BobN" wrote in message

> 98 OBL, just routine maintenance and a couple of front axles 100K miles
> ago when the CV boots ripped. Still averages 24 mpg, no smoke, no noises.
> Damn, I love my Subie.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Crossed the 250K mile mark today