My truck is still bone stock, but I will eventually get around to modifying the engine.

Dumb question #1:
If I do the free air box mod, will my dealership say anything during service?

Dumb question #2:
I currently only drive the truck on the weekends, so miles are few (2200 since 8/02). Given this pace, I was contemplating modding the engine after my factory warranty had exprired. I was wondering if there was a mod by mileage that would be recommended. If I had 20,000 miles after 3 years I know I won't have a problem, but if I were at 50,000 is this a bad idea?

This probably won't happen. I'll probably start modding the engine this year, but was just curious as to the pros and cons of the condition of the engine.

Just thoughts that run through my head.

Thanks in advance!

 

there's no such thing as a stupid question.

 

You've got a few things going on that you need to be aware of.

Opening up the air box is not going to give you any problems at the dealer. If you open the air box and put in a K&N type of oiled filter, you might have a problem if your mas air flow sensor goes bad. This is because many times if the filter has too much oil on it it will contaminate the sensor and trigger a check engine light, as well as make your truck run poorly. No warranty coverage for that example.

Now you have something else to consider with putting so few miles on the truck. Seals dry up resulting in leaks. Exhaust systems rot. Lubricated parts don't get lubricated. Oil becomes contaminated with gas and water from condensation. Switches fail from lack of use, contacts go bad, etc.

In the car business when a car sits for a long time it is prone to "lot rot". Things break, quit working, oil leaks appear, power windows quit working, etc.

I think by not driving the truck you will cause it to have a premature death. The top end of the engine will start dry (no oil) because of it sitting - gravity at work.

Your truck needs a regular workout just like we do.

 

Well, there might be "Lot Rot" in some cases, but let me relate my experiences with little driven vehicles that I've owned over the years. Yep, you do need to change the oil yearly and you do need to care for antifreeze, etc.

(1.) Bought new in 1973 a Corvette with 454 engine. Finally sold it in 1997 (24 years!!!) with 23,800 miles. Sold it for 4 times what was paid for the car. Ran perfectly. I did have the brakes rebuilt in that time due to moisture. Engine was perfect and ran great and strong. Still runs perfectly today, although the new owner has put on another 25,000 miles

(2.) Bought new in 1973 Corvette convertible. (My dealer had two in 1973 and I couldn't pass up the deal he made!) Sold in 1985 with 6000 miles for over twice the price I paid. Ran strong, perfect in every way. I did have to replace the heater box in that whole time. Still runs great. New owner now has 70K on it.

(3.) Bought new in 1983 a Mercedes SL convertible/hardtop and kept it for 15 years and put on only 1100 miles during that entire time. The car sold for more than I had paid for it -- although as an investment, it was not good. Don't know how the new owner has done with it.

(4.) My '00 Harley truck has 1800 miles on it. No problems and I expect none. Drive it on nice weekends.

(5.) And, finally the best evidence of all. My 1950 Ford Custom with 58K on it. All is original from interior to headliner, to engine. Only thing new is tires and outside paint (spare is the still original!!). The car is pristine, no restoration and looks like the day it came off the lot. This car is 53 years old now and is still running and looking great!

All depends on how you care for 'em. IMO, don't worry too much about it.

And, yes, I do have vehicles I put a lot of mileage on, too!!!

 

Eventually the truck will be an everyday driver for me, once I find a job closer to home.

I do take care of the truck and plan on doing so for the long run. I am in no immediate hurry to modify the engine as I'd rather pay money out now for aesthetics.

Thanks for your input!

 

WOW! thats low miles! i didn't think anybody on here had that few miles on their 00 HD. Too bad ya don't have the original Leer/HD tonneau cover to go with your truck if you ever do sell it, although i'm sure it'll still bring a pretty penny I could only wish i had that few miles (and a garage. LoL) but i'm not doing too bad. turned 26K this past wednesday, and hopefully when i get my used ranger as a beater, it'll go down to under 5K miles a year.

if i was rich, i'd have 2 of every year and color one to look pretty in my monster garage, and one to drive. LoL!

 

#356... The Harley truck and the '50 Ford really ARE spoiled as they get the warm garage, but I have other vehicles in another unheated garage. Those are the daily drivers.

They get good care, too, but not as good as the "special" ones. My wife and I put on about 40K miles yearly on the Mountaineer and Camry.

 

Harley Guy

You live in an area with no humidity. You come on down to Florida and try that - in most cases it causes many problems. I not sure about Irvine CA. I have to contend with the salty air as well. The combination of salt and humidity creates all kinds of problems when things just sit. I am happy for you selling the cars for what you did, but it has nothing to do with dermastro's question. I am getting close to owning 100 cars since I started driving and when I was buying used cars I stayed away from the "low mileage driven only on weekend" cars. I would always buy "drivers".

I realize you are using your experiences, which is outstanding. I am using experience of seeing and dealing with 1,000's of cars on used car lots over the past 30 years. You take a "cream puff" in on a trade - put too many dollars in it - then it sits on the lot - and "lot rot" takes over - stuff quits working - alternators crap out - batteries die - power steering pumps decide to get noisy - power windows stop working. Talk to good engine guys and they will say that starting dry engines leads to an early death. Plus change the oil more often than only once a year. If I have a car that only gets driven once a week or so. The oil is changed every 4-8 weeks. These are carburated performance cars (i.e. Mustangs, Chevelles, Fairlanes with "built" engines) If I was putting a car away for a few months, I "fog" the engine, yank the battery/batteries out of the car and put it on blocks.

 

I think I have rot lot maybe a fogged engine too but as far as my vehicles....my 02 Harley Davidson F150 has almost 13,000 in fourteen weeks and I put 15,000 a year on my motorcycle....they're doing fine.