Poll: how many kms?

[GWr]

Hi, just doing our due dligence, and hoping you all can help. When you bought your Delica how many kms did it have, and how many kms does it have now?

In hindsight, what are your thoughts about kms/mileage? I.E. not an issue b/c it's a diesel & you expect it to last for maybe _______ kms???

ANY feedback would be much appreciated!

[DelicaMark]

I have had mine since August 2007 and it had 68,000km and it now has 95,350km...total 27,350km put on by me. Since the CVI tune...plug ...I have not thought about this van other than oil and fuel

-Mark

[mararmeisto]

-purchased in Sept 07 w/ 192000km
-now got 209000km
-there were a number of things which were done during CCAutos' "E-routine" before sale

Only corrective maintenance I've had to do since purchase would be what I'd call 200000-km-replacements: the alternator, a temperature sensor and the glow plugs. Other than that it's been oil and fuel.

Are you worried about the condition of your vehicle?

[marsgal42]

97,000 km at delivery (Japanoid) in September 2007. Just rolled over 108,000.

Non-routine maintenance: hypersensitive horn (fixed myself), dead glow plug controller (ditto), dead alternator (fixed by Japanoid). For a 15 year old car, these are minor teething issues.

...laura

[ccautos]

I bought mine with 207k on the clock in Japan and now have in excess of 230k . I have changed the oil three times and washed it once since it went on the road . It needed the usual work carried out when it came into the country but has needed nothing since except for one flat tire !!!

[glenn]

What I learned about buying a delica is to not obsess over KM's. With a 15 year old vehicle there are many things to consider as well as mileage - how/where was it stored, how was it cared for, etc. I was lured into the world of delicas partly by the promise of the abundance of low km vehicles. I was determined to get a vehicle under 50 000 kms. However, what I learned as I began looking was that there is less correlation than I thought between overall vehicle condition and mileage, under like 150 000 or so. In fact, my favorite vehicles were all over 100 000, some as high as 169 000. I got the impression from the very low mileage vans that I saw that they were neglected and forgotten - while some of the ones that were driven more were often better accessorized and cared for and in much better condition.

I may just be post-rationalizing my choice, but I've not once had any doubt about the 117 000 on my van. It drives like it's new (esp after the CVI delica tune), and it was obsessed over by its japanese owner. It has a clean bill of health from CVI, and I don't anticipate any non routine maintenance for a long time. And I often remind myself that 100 000 is only about 4 years of driving here in Canada.

So, I would say to find out as much as you can about the history of the van, and, of course consider the KM's - but only along with all the other factors that indicate condition.

[GWr]

Thanks so much for all the replies so far! Keep them coming please!

Are you worried about the condition of your vehicle?

We're not really worried per se about the condition. If we purchased, it would certainly be the first diesel i've ever owned, and although I have read that diesel engines can last as long as 500,000 kms, one wonders if that is more the exception versus the rule. Some of the archived posts refer to vehicles that sat idle for years, and the various belts losing their integrity. I suppose that's why the dealers replace some of those things on purchase.

And I often remind myself that 100 000 is only about 4 years of driving here in Canada.

I also agree with this point. Basically we are in a rural area (off the beaten path),and we need something super reliable because there are no mechanics near us much less ones that know diesel engines. I should also mention that we know absolutely nothing about fixing cars ourselves...

We also do a fair bit of "highway" driving since we are distant from usual resources. We occasionally go off-roading, but not in an extreme way. It's more like on logging roads. We are just worried about wether a 15 year old vehicle would be a risky purchase ; and if we are being realistic considering the demands that will be placed on the vehicle.

The kms don't really worry us, but at the same time you wouldn't want to purchase a vehicle that dies on you 10k after you bought it; or requires a major overhaul of some sort. So your responses to this poll are really insightful. Thanks again.

[MadB0mb3r]

92 Chamonix.. had 119,000kms when i bought it from Maximum overdrive (positive experience..) now at 132,000kms. Zero problems. just slowly replacing everything rubber that has aged.. something any vehicle will have to have done at this age. best vehicle i have owned.. and the fact that my Van has a name where all my previous cars and bikes have not.. must say something..

When i bought my Van and before i drove it i had CVI do all the work on it..They know there stuff (Butch and Edwin) and have alot of common parts laying around and lots of experience.
belts, timing belt, injection pump seals & cleaned injectors, new water pump, suspension bushings, engine flush, coolant flush, new fluids, greased all universals, machined rotors and new brake pads. later on i did shocks, transmission mounts, two new batteries, steering linkage boots.

Things i must do still like upper and lower rad hose. they look ok.. but still old and look original.. not keen on a complete failure while driving up a hill loaded with gear on a hot summers day.. and get my alternator checked aswell (maybe get it serviced and rewound before i run into a problem). and 4 new glow plugs. install lower rad coolant heater aswell.

Don't mess around when you get one of these great Vans.. do yourself and your Van a service and do some preventative measures..

beats being stuck in the middle of nowhere.


some or most of this is done by dealers like Sabbir and Mardy before you take ownership of your Van. others i cannot speak for. But when i saw the Van i wanted it hadnt had anything done(just off the boat) and wanted to have more of hands on with what was to be done and observe.

Nothing but positive things to say about the help i have gotten from people who deal and love these great Vans.

my rant for the day..

couldnt stop myself..

[konadog]

Bought at 64,500 at the end of Feb. and are just about to roll over to 69,000. No problems, so far... If I knew then what I know now I would likely have been more wary of anything UNDER 100,000, but Hazel is in "good" condition, as well as being the barest, most basic model I have yet seen and one of the lowest priced too We did spend more money having ccautos do a refit as the dealer was new to the game and we wanted a specialist to give her a going over 'cause, yeah, these buses need a serious and detailed refit - belts, hoses, rads, injectors, etc. etc. And while the mechanical work done was great and enough to see us driving with confidence, there are still lots of things to do. We plan to take her in to ccautos every six months or so for a regular tune-up / inspection and check off a few of those projects that would-be-nice-but-can-wait each time. If I lived way off the beaten path and didn't wrench on my ride I would firstly get a delica that has been refitted by ccautos or Mardy or one of the other speciality mechanics and secondly, I would read this forum through and perhaps prepare to get at least a little grease on my fingers!! We use our bus as our main work vehicle now, towing our gardening trailer everyday. At work or play it is the best vehicle I have ever owned - JUST love it!!!

[jessef]

Bought at 140k

Looking to hit 600k easily

The 'low km' under 50k ,etc.. Delica's that salesmen push is moot since we're talking about diesel's.

[asorensen]

I bought my van at 73,000 and now I have a little over 130 000.

I have to say that this van is very good but unless you are willing to do a little wrenching, preventative maintenance and research this van could be expensive to own. Let me qualify that: the consumables, oil, filters, brakes, seals can be more expensive than your average North American vehicle. Also as already noted these vans are old, so I think it wouldn't be prudent to at least have some access to parts and be willing to attempt some basics like filter changes etc. That being said I wouldn't have another vehicle (well if I were rich.....?). No I love this van. I am not sure if I read this some where or this is an original idea but I like to think that this van is like a sailboat (not that I have a sail boat). Like a boat it can require a lot of attention. And just like sailboats some people really like to give there boat attention. Some even choose to name there boat!

Andy

[clw54]

I was more worried about how long it had been sitting in Japan without being a regular use vehicle. From what I understand seals go from no use, not regular use. Mine had 157k on the clock and I have not had any issues since I bought it in April.
Cheers
Chris

[FalcoColumbarius]

'92 (November) Chamonix; under 61,000 kms when I got her in Jan, 08 ~ Now just under 75,000 kms. One thing you ought to consider, GWr, The average speed in Tokyo is Eight KmH, which tells me that all that time, sitting in traffic the engine was likely running at idle, which would explain why so many Delicas have a small leak in the turbocharger (the turbo stresses when it is not revving). Diesel is more about the hours and not the kilometreage. When you get your Delica I would recommend a full service, as you noted ~ the rubber is still 15 years old, or older. I copied this out of DeliWiki and I would highly recommend your serious perusal of it:

Delica Wiki
To Do list on newly acquired Delica
This list is an attempt to answer what we should do to our Delica's once they first come off the boat. The is a check and fix/adjust/replace list:
* Clean your EGR or Block your EGR - often fixes the smoke problem
* Check the Turbo Pressure

Tires; DOT, 235x75x15 (or 30"x9.5x15) Delica stock tire is a 215x75x15 and a 31"x10.5 can be fitted if there's room (using a wider rim, from a Toyota truck is good match for the right offset)

Tranny oil: Take out pan, put new gasket & strainer metal filter ($25-30, '90 Montero kit),
use Destron 3 oil from Toyota (every 20-25K)

Timing Belt; replace at 80k (Always check Injection Pump Timing after replacing belt)

Injection Pump Timing; Set at 7* w/ engine off.

Engine/Tranny mounts; At least one shop (Coombs) has these in stock.

Check and Clean Battery Terminal; If original replace.

Front Brake Pad Replacement; (if below 40%) Front: Raybestos, PGD349C ('90 Montero - these are Ceramics which are hard on the rotors )

Rotors Machined;

Front/Rear Wheel Bearing / HUB Re-Grease;

Torsion Bars; check/adjust (Raise to improve handling and braking)

Alignment; (Must, especially after Torsion Bars adjustment)

Ball Joint; (Check/lube/ Replace)

Tie Rods / Steering Link; (Check/lube/ Replace)

Sway Bar Bushing; (replace)

All Suspension Parts; regressed.

Shock Absorber Inspection; (Check / Replace)

Coolant Flush; (Radiator Rebuild if Necessary)

Engine Flush; (ATF in oil)

Oil; Chevron Delo 400 15W40 (6.5L with new filter) or Esso XD3 15W40

Power Steering; Fluid Flush

Clutch Fluid; Flush

Brake Fluid; Flush

Transfer Case Oil;

Differential Oil (don't forget LSD additive if you have one);

Transmission Fluid;

Thermostat; (Replace)

Water pump; (Check/Replace - this seems about 50/50 and water pumps are reasonably priced)

Radiator Hoses (Check/Repace - stock Delica Rad hoses are known to fail catastrophically (sp?))

Radiator Cap; (Check /Replace)

Power Steering Belt;

Alternator Belt;

AC Belt;

Air filter; (or K&N filter 38-9207, luberFiner, Fram's); replace

Fuel Filter; Change

Oil Filter; Change (FRAM> PH6355 or NAPA> 1067)

Change Muffler or Pipes when needed.

New Wipers Installed

All Hinges Greased

All compliance items (headlights, DRL, reflectors...)

Undercoating for rust prevention (just a good idea...)

Anything else? Go ahead and add it but with this list your vehicle should definitely be on a good start to be a "Keeper", Happy Delica!

Butch & Edwin at CVI do a wonderful "Delica Tune". If you are available this Saturday (12th July) There is a "Breakfast At The Tomahawk" meet at 09:00, in North Van, followed by a seminar at CVI at noon, why not tag along?

Falco.

[Green1]

I have read that diesel engines can last as long as 500,000 kms,

I think you misunderstood... diesels should last AT LEAST 500,000 kms, higher than that is not at all unusual, some pass a million...

My old mercedes diesel (1938 300SD) was at well over 500,000kms when I parked it a year ago, and not a hint of any engine trouble at all (the body was rusting out and none of the accessories worked any more, but the engine had no issues at all)

That said, the Delica's diesel is a small diesel, and although it has a good reputation, it's still not the heaviest duty engine, these ones are still expected to last easilly to around 600,000 kms.

[39Ronin]

I got mine in May with 20,000 km on it. Yes it is true, and no it did not sit in Japan... still under SHAKEN when I bought it. Also it was stored indoors, no effects of weather what so ever. Edwin (CVI) went through this vehicle, no belts needed, he said it was in factory condition, only an oil change and fuel filter change when it hit 21,000 as the maintenance records called for. I know there will be doubters on this forum, but Edwin can verify the km's were true on this and I think Falco has had a good boo at it also. I am at 24,000 km and still going strong.