• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-

how many miles will a 5.0 last??

  • Thread starter Thread starter BadAndy
  • Start date Start date May 16, 2006
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
Next
1 of 4 Next Last
B

BadAndy

Founding Member
Feb 21, 2001
766
0
0
Ohio
May 16, 2006
#1
  • May 16, 2006
  • #1
how many miles have you got out of your 5.0???
 

ryan218

In just 10 years, I'll be old enough to drive!!!!
Dec 28, 2005
0
1
38
columbus ohio
May 16, 2006
#2
  • May 16, 2006
  • #2
106,559
 

5.0's 4 ever

The #1 Stunna
Founding Member
Jan 22, 2000
5,794
0
76
Orlando, FL
May 16, 2006
#3
  • May 16, 2006
  • #3
My 88 had 101k, my 91 had 150k. My friends have owned 5.0s with over 230k on the original engine.
 

QUICK91LX

Founding Member
Dec 7, 2001
968
3
39
New Jersey
May 16, 2006
#4
  • May 16, 2006
  • #4
mine is at 134,000

usually they dont last too far beyond that because they are severley beaten on...things dont last as long as they should when they are abused...

when treated humanely, a mustang and its 5.0 can easily surpass 200,000 miles, provided you take care of it
 

srothfuss

Last night I stabbed the same guy 7 times in a row
Oct 17, 2004
1,796
3
0
Woodward Ave.
May 16, 2006
#5
  • May 16, 2006
  • #5
Driven hard right off the dealer lot, my dads lasted 120,000 miles until it was stolen.

I would say 200,000 is the limit for the stock parts.
 
9

90lxfoxbody

Member
Jan 11, 2006
264
0
16
May 16, 2006
#6
  • May 16, 2006
  • #6
hold on to your seats. my 1990 lx is at over 400,000 miles. verifiable miles. granted i have had the bottom end rebuilt once and i have refreshed the top end twice, as well as several clutches and a few rear end rebuilds. i have had the tranny rebuilt once and it needs it again now. i bought it at the ford dealership in montgomery alabama brand new. my typical commute to work for about eleven years was 75 miles one way to work and 75 miles home. i drove back and forth to daytona a few times a year for about fourteen years or so and countless road trips, plus almost five years of back and forth between palm coast florida and alabama / south carolina. i have replaced many of the oem parts and i suppose that has contribuited to its longevity. i change my oil every three weeks religiously. the only two times i ever missed a regular oil change was once when i had pneumonia and once when we had a death in the family. the longest the car has ever sat without being driven was about two weeks while it was in the body shop. ( deer ran out in front of me. bambi and mustangs don't successfully interbreed no matter how hard they try ) i am determined to make her last to 500,000 miles, then i am going to write a letter to the ford motor company - maybe they'll give me a new mustang - yeah i wish. this mustang is the first car i bought new, and it's also the first car i ever worked on. my cousin who is arguably the biggest ford fanatic on the planet showed me how to do my own brakes and oil changes, and i have been picking up experience along the way. one thing that i strongly believe has helped it last so long is that after i had the engine rebuilt i added an oil cooler, and i change the hoses twice a year just as a preventative measure. matter of fact i am installing a new larger oil cooler tomorrow, so my oil capacity will be right at 6.5 quarts. i use valvoline dura bland 10w40. i also keep a close eye on the antifreeze and the rradiator. if it starts to crud up i flush the cooling system and add new coolant.

needless to say, I love my Mustang.
 

Skoobie

Damn...Tyler65's hot!
May 25, 2003
655
0
17
Vancouver, WA
May 16, 2006
#7
  • May 16, 2006
  • #7
188K on the short block and its keeps on going. Thats with some regular track time too
 

gruvee87vertgt

20+ Year Stangneter
Oct 7, 2003
272
26
28
Chicago, Il
May 16, 2006
#8
  • May 16, 2006
  • #8
mines was driven hard, had about 175k miles when when sold and was going strong but had some compression issues. but ran quick for a car almost 30 years old.
 

85_SS_302_Coupe

it sucks (I know) to be on the receiving end
15 Year Member
Nov 11, 2003
6,945
1,598
223
Northern KY
May 16, 2006
#9
  • May 16, 2006
  • #9
232+ before the odometer died. That was 3 hard driven years ago...i'm sure it's 260+ now and doesn't even smoke.
 

302RollinHard

New Member
Sep 26, 2005
0
0
0
Columbus, OH
May 16, 2006
#10
  • May 16, 2006
  • #10
190K and never touched. Replaced engine for the fun of it. The old one still kicks. IMO 302's are one of the most bullet-proof engines ever made (as long as you treat them right).
 

santos

Founding Member
Dec 11, 1999
362
19
39
Camp Hill, PA
May 16, 2006
#11
  • May 16, 2006
  • #11
142+, and just now replacing the original clutch
 
D

Demented4.6

Founding Member
Mar 14, 2001
1,055
1
38
DAYTON, OHIO
May 16, 2006
#12
  • May 16, 2006
  • #12
mine was at 229,000 before i replaced the motor. The motor is still running strong just not in my stang. Id say it has 300,000 on it or more now and never had a head off yet. only thing he has on it is a ported stock lower, and headers Oh ya he did do a timing chain and a rear main seal before install into his stang. only reason i changed it out is i went with a DSS 306 block with low compresion for boost ( which it still doesn't have)
 

RYC CUKR

Founding Member
May 19, 2002
1,437
1
38
Orlando
May 16, 2006
#13
  • May 16, 2006
  • #13
My current 5.0 is at around 165k, just an estimate cause the OD is broken and reads 136k. Bought it like that almost 3 years ago.

My last 5.0 was sold with 160k on the clock and never smoked, used oil and it started everytime you turned the key. And I was hard on the car. Went through 3 clutches and 1 trans in 5 years I owned it.

My brothers 89 was sold 6 years ago with 190k on the clock and the valve seals were going on it. It would give a puff of smoke on start up but that was it. He beat on his pretty good being that he was about 19 and had a pretty fast car.

The moral of these stories is that the 5.0 is a pretty tough motor and given the proper maintenance it should last for at 200k and probably more.
 

stang730

New Member
Apr 30, 2006
56
0
0
Long Island N.Y.
May 16, 2006
#14
  • May 16, 2006
  • #14
165k here
 

Lyncher

New Member
Jun 14, 2005
434
0
0
May 16, 2006
#15
  • May 16, 2006
  • #15
QUICK91LX said:
mine is at 134,000

usually they dont last too far beyond that because they are severley beaten on...things dont last as long as they should when they are abused...

when treated humanely, a mustang and its 5.0 can easily surpass 200,000 miles, provided you take care of it
Click to expand...

Holy **** i live in wantage!! Where do you live there!
 
M

Mark89coupe

Member
Apr 5, 2005
206
0
16
May 16, 2006
#16
  • May 16, 2006
  • #16
I have 198,000 plus. Burns oil. Just today I did a sick burnout. No signs of slowing down.
 

bryce93lx

Member
Jan 20, 2006
88
1
19
Luke AFB AZ
May 16, 2006
#17
  • May 16, 2006
  • #17
mine had 140 and was going okay when i yanked it i have a buddy with an 86 speed density car with 265k and he has never had the valve covers off
 

afast93stang

Founding Member
Jan 6, 2002
1,407
4
39
North Texas
May 16, 2006
#18
  • May 16, 2006
  • #18
189k miles on the original engine, on my last tank of gas I also got 22mpg with lots of highway and some city driving. I can get 25-26 if I do all highway.
 

pb_paulie_b

Founding Member
May 19, 2001
894
0
0
Chaptico, Maryland
May 16, 2006
#19
  • May 16, 2006
  • #19
My ol' 85' Lincoln towncar went 180k untouched before the oil pump let go and I junked her. Definitely not beat up on as much as a Mustang, but it's still a 5.0.
 
W

wazazzle

New Member
Mar 30, 2005
618
1
0
In the dumpster behind McDonalds. WA
May 16, 2006
#20
  • May 16, 2006
  • #20
Last owner had about 150k on it and beat it to death. I picked it up last year rebuild the top end and it's prob got 165k babied miles. Runs strong but bottom end needs rebuild badily cause main bearings going out. Running thicker oil right now to help with the low oil pressure. Hopefully this summer it'll get a transplant. Tranny needs rebuild too, shifter fork is bent.
 
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
Next
1 of 4 Next Last
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Fox Good shop in Washington state or Oregon
  • keel
  • May 14, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
101
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 20, 2026
keel
M
85 mustang 5.0 cranking in run position
  • Mamaclean
  • May 23, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
3
Views
128
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 1, 2026
General karthief
The Dilemma! 1988 LX 5.0
  • TTSaleen
  • Sep 11, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
2
Views
331
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Sep 11, 2025
Noobz347
C
Strength of Crank bolt
  • chazmanaz
  • Nov 21, 2025
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
6
Views
210
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Nov 25, 2025
DadLife0724
M
Misfire
  • Mike3
  • May 30, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
1
Views
84
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- May 30, 2026
Mike3
M
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?