How Long Will Your HOWO Last? 4 Mileage Milestones That Decide

Two HOWO trucks leave the factory on the same day. One is still earning money at 1.2 million km. The other is being cut up for parts at 400,000. The odometer did not decide that – maintenance did.

And this year the decision is worth more than usual. China is paying owners to retire old diesel trucks in 2026: 22 billion yuan of special treasury money, up to 140,000 yuan (about US$19,600) per heavy truck, program ends 31 December (Ministry of Transport / NDRC). The result is a wave of used trucks heading out: Chinese used heavy-truck exports to Africa grew 84.4% in early 2026, and Africa took 95,000 Chinese heavy trucks in the first half of the year. Good used trucks are getting cheaper and easier to find – so a tired truck with no records is worth less than ever.

1. The number the engineers build for

Heavy truck diesels are designed to be rebuilt, not thrown away. Fleet maintenance data puts the first major overhaul near 1.2 to 1.6 million km on highway work, and an in-frame rebuild – new cylinder liners, rings and main bearings without pulling the engine – adds roughly 800,000 to 1,200,000 km more. But the same data shows a hard truth: mine and quarry trucks reach overhaul about 300,000 km earlier.

2. Four stages that decide your costs

Stage 1, 0-300,000 km: fluids and filters only. Clean oil, air and fuel now are what keep liners round later. Stage 2, 300,000-500,000 km: the wearing parts arrive – clutch hydraulics, brake pads, suspension joints. Watch oil use and blow-by from here. Stage 3, 500,000-800,000 km: injectors near the end of their 480,000-800,000 km life, a gearbox major service, the turbocharger and water pump from about 640,000 km, and wheel bearings on high-load axles. Stage 4, 800,000-1,200,000 km: the overhaul window – liners, rings, rod bearings, piston pins – and the big decision: rebuild or replace.

One tip inside stage 3 and 4: when a differential housing or a bevel gear pair starts to sing, decide fast. A planned axle job costs parts money. A broken one costs parts, towing and lost days.

3. What really decides your number

Four everyday things separate a 1.2 million km truck from a parts donor: heat, dust, oil discipline and duty cycle. None costs much money. All four cost attention. And they pay twice – a worn engine can burn 8-15% extra fuel, so the same neglect that shortens the engine also drains the tank (see our fuel-waste guide).

4. Records are money

When you finally sell or trade the truck, paperwork moves the price. 2026 Chinese used-truck market data puts a 3-year-old diesel tractor at about 60% residual value – and trucks with complete service records bring 15% or more than the same truck without them. Planned work protects that number too: emergency roadside repairs cost 30-50% more than the same job done on schedule. Keep every invoice, with the part number on it.

Further reading: how to read suspension wear and how to find an air brake leak.