# Odometer on older cars

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [November 15, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597 "2010-11-15T17:07:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mallt926](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mallt926/32/2118_2.png) [@Mallt926](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mallt926)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597/1 "2010-11-15T17:07:56Z")

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When looking at older cars and trucks, when did the odometer change reading 99,000 to 100,000 miles to account for the 6th digit?

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**Author:** ![\_Deleted\_User1111116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/ac91a4/32.png) [@\_Deleted\_User1111116](https://community.cartalk.com/u/_Deleted_User1111116)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597/2 "2010-11-15T18:06:30Z")

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It appears late 70s to early 80s was the change over years. Yes it varies. Google

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597/3 "2010-11-15T18:11:14Z")

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Yes, it varies; my 1984 Impala had readings only to 100,000 while the 1988 Caprice read to 1,000,000. Volvos have always read to 1,000,000 since they were kept for such a long time.

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**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597/4 "2010-11-16T22:54:38Z")

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Mid 80s I think. Most of them could have just painted a “2” or even a “1” on the ‘extra’ digit and left the rest of the little wheel blank and the average owner would never notice–most cars don’t make it to 300,000 miles regardless of make.

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**Author:** ![\_Deleted\_User1111116](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/ac91a4/32.png) [@\_Deleted\_User1111116](https://community.cartalk.com/u/_Deleted_User1111116)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597/5 "2010-11-17T01:25:58Z")

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Toyotas are famous for going 300,000

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**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597/6 "2010-11-17T01:53:08Z")

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Have Volvos always had million mile odometers?

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597/7 "2010-11-17T01:55:19Z")

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Anything will go 300K if you put enough money into it…

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**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597/8 "2010-11-17T01:57:27Z")

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I have driven 2 trucks well beyond the 300,000 mile mark. Both were Fords and the original engines were running well long past 300,000. I rebuilt a Ford engine that lasted over 240,000 miles.

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**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 3:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597/9 "2010-11-17T03:17:32Z")

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I’m not saying it can’t be done… just that most don’t make it that far, including people’s beloved Toyotas.

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**Author:** ![jdmere](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/jdmere/32/3002_2.png) [@jdmere](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jdmere)\
**Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 12:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/odometer-on-older-cars/57597/10 "2010-11-17T12:35:01Z")

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Actually, up to 999,999. Only six digits on my 1970 and 1983 Volvos.