Dino Diaries - 165,567 Miles & Counting

[Jason Edge]

I always get a kick out of the expression when someone asks how many miles are on my 64 Cadillac "Dino". Given the nice condition many expect the hear some low number, however, when I blurt out 165 thousand miles I sometimes get a deer in the headlight look. 

What got me thinking about mileage is two days ago a guy come running out of the store where I got the high octane gas asking the mileage. He couldn't believe 165K miles. He really, really couldn't believe the miles when I popped the hood, but did confirm the engine was rebuilt 12 years ago.

I was also thinking about mileage this morning as I was changing the oil in my 2002 Escalade EXT "Brutus". I have an Excel spreadsheet where I record all car maintenance for all of our cars, and noted its mileage was 166,565 .... very close to Dinos!    I bought that 2002 in 2004 with 22K miles so I have put the majority of the miles on it, being my daily driver for 18 years.

My 2013 Escalade EXT "Et2Brute" is in the paint ship getting the front clip repainted as it was starting to show some age and that Xenon Blue had been touched up one time too many!

Anyway, perhaps if you read this you can share your cars mileage!

[Logan Robb]

My 1964 Fleetwood, whilst not as nice as Dino, supposedly only has 60,XXX miles on it! I purchased it with 52,XXX miles, so I have got some time behind the seat for sure! And I have loved every minute of it! Part of me wonders if it has rolled over, but the title has never had any issues that I can find and I can verify mileage pretty far back, but as you mentioned, miles really doesn't matter if its cared for and fixed PROPERLY. 

For some reason, I am still apprehensive to take it on longer trips, yet in those 8k miles, it hasn't left me stranded ONCE. Except for when I ran it out of gas about a month after I brought her home! But that's my fault, not the cars!

[Jason Edge]

Logan, It very well could have been an original 52K tire. A pretty much sure fire way to quickly tell if  it is a 52K mile versus 152K miles to to look at the rubber and stainless steel trim on the brake pedal. At 52K you will have some wear on the rubber, but at 152K the rubber is usually worn smooth on right side and often the stainless is worn thru.  Parts cars I have brought in that I know are say 125K or more have always had smooth-ish rubber on the right and again often wearing thru that the stainless trim, again on the right side. You could have a gentle pedal pusher owner but that break wear has always been a good indicator.

If you have the front of the engine off and see the camshaft mounted timing gear it should still have all the nylon coating on the gear teeth; however, at 152K they are usually starting to chip apart.  Other indicators would be excessive wear on the driver side front seat, and just general wear and tear in generally.