Should you buy a diesel truck with 200,000 miles?

A 200,000-mile diesel is not automatically worn out. But it has to earn your trust. Look for records first. Oil changes, fuel filters, coolant service, transmission service, differential service, emissions repairs, and front-end work matter more than a seller saying it was maintained. Check cold starts, blow-by, smoke, leaks, coolant pressure, transmission shifts, tire wear, rust, and warning lights. Also look at the kind of miles. Highway miles with records are different from job-site miles, idle hours, heavy towing, and short trips. Ask what the truck pulled, how often, and whether it was used for commercial work. At 200,000 miles, price should leave room for repairs. Batteries, injectors, turbo parts, suspension, brakes, tires, emissions parts, and transmission work can all be real costs. Buy it if the condition, records, and price line up. Walk if the story is vague.