Hi, My first post here and really new to Raiders.

I have looked for answers but can't find to the following.

What kind of gas milage are you getting city/highway with a 89 V-6 5 spped?

What is the value range of an 89 with 116 miles, very clean shape, w/bull bars?

Are these reliable drivers, everyday use?

Thanks!

Welcome. 89 v6 5 speed gas mileage won't be that great. IIRC probably 18mpg on the highway at most. don't recall a city mileage. Realize it's the shape of a big brick so you don't have much aerodynamic advantage with it.

I purchased a relatively clean 89 v6 automatic for 1500 a few years back. It had stock bumpers, & was the RS model (no power windows or door locks, or LSD). Paint and body were in pretty good condition with no rust to speak of and it only needed a good clean and polish to get rid of the paint haze/oxidation that had accumulated from years of sitting in the sun.

As for bull bars, IMHO other than being purely cosmetic (I check posers at the door <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> ) they can actually create more damage than if you didn't have them to begin with since they will bend into your vehicle in a mild or greater collision where without them the most damage would have been a bent up bumper.

When inspecting the vehicle, check for leaking valve guide seals by letting it idle for 5 minutes or more then quickly revving the engine. If you see a cloud of blue/dark exhaust, then they're leaking and at some point will need to be replaced and until then you'll have to check for lost oil on a regular basis.

As for long term reliability, the engines are about as reliable as most Japanese engines. Mine has over 170k on the ticker and still doesn't have the dreaded leaking valve guide seals (knock on wood).

Other than the valve guide seal issue which is not a critical one these are very, very reliable rigs and quite capable off road (more so than most 4x4's).

Thanks for your post! The guy said it used a little oil, a quarter of a quart per month. I'm getting another rebulit engine lower end with it, an automatic tranny and rear end, but thinking it might be better to stay with the 5 speed. He wants 2K. Yea, the bull bar is just for looks, will need something a little heftier. Thanks again for your reply.

2k is a bit high I'd say especially with the current trend of buyers wanting vehicles more fuel efficient. Also being such an old vehicle, parts are becoming harder and harder to find although most are available here from various sources.

As for something heftier than a bull bar, Justice R is currently making bumpers for our rigs. So was Don H although I haven't seen nor heard from him in a long while.

Alternatively if you have fab skills or access to someone with those skills it's easy enough to fab a bumper or an adapter for a bumper for another rig.

I agree, it's an old one. I'd like a basic car to build up somewhat, nothing for baja racing but just a good little off roader, outings, camping, etc. I'm willing to put time, effort and a little money in it, change out the seats, inerior to my needs. It would be a car to build up and end up as a keeper.

I have seen a few threads about going deisle and multi-fuel which I would also be intered in doing, if it was worth it. I guess what I'm wanting is a Land ROver Defender, but save 50K. The Rovers are horrible for reliability and drink gas from what I have seen. Seems to me that the Raider is pretty close from a practicle stand point, that it would go about anywhere the Defender would go, would be more comfortable and easier to drive everyday. It would be my everyday driver. If gas gets really high, I do have a Transalp dual sport bike and a 1600 Vulcan I could ride, LOL! Is the Raider a good one to start with for this purpose?

Based on what you're looking for, I'd say you've found it. Welcome aboard! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

I have gotten 18-20 highway and 17-18 around town. Strangely enough, I've gotten better mileage at 3000-5000 feet in Eastern Oregon then at sea level. Keep the cooling components in top shape and it will be reliable. I was advised to change the oil and filter religiously - which I have done every 2500 miles.

A proper bull bar is designed to put you up and over a kangaroo (kangaroos get very big). The one I have on my Raider is for sagebrush and lights..., if I decide I'll use it at night enough to warrant the expense.

The jury is out, as far as I'm concerned, on snorkels. Here in Australia, they are ubiquitous. I don't plan to ford any rivers, but in the outback here they are necessary. I have never seen any proof that they positively affect performance.

Don't neglect timing belt service, also. Recommended change interval is 60K miles, although it's 100K in CA, for some weird reason (at least on later models).

Make sure the bolt that holds the main pulley, a.k.a. harmonic balancer has been changed to the current style. You can search for topic threads on here concerning this.

My view on oil leaks/burning is this: oil is cheap. Maybe that's why two of mine leak oil and I don't really care too much. Just don't park in friend's driveways if it drips.

Keep an eye out for disappearing coolant, too. The V-6's have a pipe that runs from the water pump, between the "V" of the cylinders that sometimes goes bad and leaks.

If your turn signals cease to function, suspect the hazard light switch.

Welcome. You made the right call, and hopefully you will get to pull a broken-down Defender out of trouble some day.

John B.

Gentlemen posting before forgot:

Welcome to the 4x4Wire!

Russell

We did?