I recently bought a Ford E350 extended van. The van is a 2003 - it is in immaculate condition. It was used by an institution to deliver food locally. The vehicle has 22000 miles. It looks and runs like new. It was garage kept and has nearly totally rust free. The inspection on the vehicle had just run out and I put into the shop. It took nothing for inspection. As it is new to me I had the oil changed, vehicle lubrication, drained and refilled the transmission and had the coolant system flushed. I will shortly send it back to have the rear end drained and refilled. My question about this vehicle is this - should I change all the belts and hoses? They all look good and I see no signs of dry rot or excessive wear - but the belts and hoses are 17 years old. I want this van to last a while. My old E150 which I bought new in 1998 is still running and has 344,000 miles - original engine, original transmission - I have changed the oil, replaced tires, replaced brakes , etcetera, but nothing major. I would appreciate any advice. Thanks.

 

Sorry, I can't tell you if you should or not. I'm brand-new here, and this is my first post, aside from my "introduction post."
Are you planning to take long trips? If you don't replace them now, maybe buy them and put them away somewhere in the van just in case?
it might give you peace of mind to go ahead and replace them. But, wait for the smart guys to chime in! 😊
Anyway, congratulations on your new van! Sounds nice!

 

HI Van Wilder - thank you for your reply and for the congratulations. I appreciate the fact that this was your first post ! I hope we both learn something here. Have a great day .

 

For a guy that has had a vehicle for as many miles as you and still has it in good condition, you could offer advice to others.

The majority of the time , if you follow the manufacturer's recommendations ,as you have, that alone contributes to the longevity and performance of a vehicle.

As far as replacing hoses, if you are comfortable with the condition, both internally and externally it is more important to replace the coolant every 2-3 years unless you add an additive or use Long Life Coolant. I doubt belt replacement is called for, but ,again if you are more comfortable replacing it, do so. Just stick the old belt under the seat, and as long as it is there , you probably will never need to use it, just throw it out and see how things change, (joke)
Depending on where you reside , if expecting cold weather, and the battery is original, it might pay to consider replacing it.
Brake fluid is recommended to be replaced around 2-3 years , but if hydraulic brake work was performed and new fluid added, that may not be necessary.
Don't be bashful sharing your experience with other folks on the forum.


Have a great day !

 

Hi Harley,

Thank you for the reply and the suggestions. My 1998 Ford Econoline was my first brand new vehicle. It had about 200 miles on it when I got it - it had to be driven to my dealer from another dealership. I read the owners manual and paid attention to the maintenance schedule. I changed my oil on a regular basis, drained and refilled the trans fluid, rear end and brake fluid as per the manual. I flushed the coolant system as per the manual. The one shop that I took it too was a bit surprised to find that I did this and said that nearly no one follows the recommended maintenance schedule. I did my best to do so and that van has lasted me for over 20 years and 344000 miles It is still a very reliable vehicle. I plan to adhere to recommended maintenance schedule for this vehicle. You spend a little more money up front with maintenance, but I believe that it yields positive results in the long term. I will likely leave the belts and hoses alone and play it by ear. Thanks again for your comments.

 

I would leave them on if they look good. I still have original hoses and belt on a 2003 with very low miles too. Belts and hoses last an awfully long time.