Gasoline Engine Lifespan

[Turk]

Here's a question...

I have a 2003 GMC Sierra, 5.3L, 4x4 and I do "Kick 'er down" to 5000 RPM on occasion to (literally watch) the carbon blow out of the exhaust pipe.

So, does driving it nice and reving it up once and a while better or worse on the engine than if I did not blow the carbon out and drove it "grandma nice" all of the time...???

 

[KBFXDLI]

There was a guy with a 1,000,000 mile Honda Accord in Ohio. Hondas MoCo traded him a new one for it. No rebuild. My best friend has a 96 Chevy Blazer V6 with 280,000 and still going no rebuild but the fuel injection is starting to crap out. My Suburban will go 125k then Ill give to my baby brother who will go to 250-300k with no rebuilds. He has a 96 Suburban 350 with 180k and it runs like a top. The kiddies usually destroy it inside so bad you hate it before it blows up. We only use 5w30 dino with 3000 oci and any wallyworld filter. BUT, the new green engines get an oil change at 100/500/1000 miles with elcheapo 5w30. Seems to be working based on all the crap that comes out of the drain at 100 & 500.

 

[Matt_S]

quote:

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Originally posted by thooks:

quote:

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Originally posted by Matt_S:
I read an article the other day about GM trying to improve it's products.

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There's an idea!!

Afraid they are too late.

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That was uncalled for.

 

[PandaBear]

I think the engine is the last thing that will fail if the owner/driver takes care of it.

The things that usually goes and cause the car to be dumped, IMO, are:

1) rust
2) driving accidents
3) transmission
4) electronics
5) natural disasters

Of course, lack of maintanence causes 10x more engines failure than the above combine.

 

[dailydriver]

quote:

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Originally posted by carock:
Also, the Japanese do produce some lemons. A lot of Camry's have had engine and transmission problems, even though the car is rated very high for reliability.

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This CANNOT be!!

You mean to tell me they are not the "refridgerator on wheels" epitome of reliability and perfection??

100 million lemmings/herd mentalities can't be wrong!!

 

[hominid7]

quote:

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Originally posted by PandaBear:

Of course, lack of maintanence causes 10x more engines failure than the above combine.

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I heard a friend of mine start his ford escort the other day. It sounded as if the valves might explode through the hood at any moment. I asked him when the last time he changed his oil was, he looked puzzled and said he didnt know. I checked the reminder sticker and it was approx 13 months ago. I gave him a stern lecture about proper maintenence and sent him on his way.

As he drove off i also noticed 2 or his 3 brake lights were burned out.

Stop the insanity!

 

[cousincletus]

quote:

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Originally posted by GMorg:
It seems the thing that shortens the life of my vehicles is how often my wife drives them.

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I think it's kinda funny when you see an ad in the paper that states "lady driven." That would be the car I would stay away from.

(I can feel safe saying that because I'm sure very few if any ladies visit these maintenance forums).

 

[thooks]

quote:

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Originally posted by Matt_S:
That was uncalled for.

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I've had 5 GM vehicles and have paid them over $100,000.

I feel I have every right to say whatever I want about them, when I want to. Out of those 5, I've had ONE that didn't have constant, ridiculous problems. I'm done with them.

 

[brianl703]

Why would you buy 5 GM vehicles if you've had nothing but constant problems with 4 of them?

I think I would have been done with them after the first vehicle.

 

[Evil Ron]

One GM vehicle was all it took for me. I'm totally done with the General.

 

[thooks]

quote:

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Originally posted by brianl703:
Why would you buy 5 GM vehicles if you've had nothing but constant problems with 4 of them?

I think I would have been done with them after the first vehicle.

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I guess I felt like I needed to 'Support American Made' and the big, mighty Corporate America.

I've also owned Mazdas and made the mistake of giving D-C a chance with the "New Ram" in 1995. Boy, did that one blow up in my face.


After getting rid of all the GM vehicles and now we have all Hondas in the garage, I can say that I now see the light. There's a world of difference between Honda and GM, Chrysler, Ford, etc.

Just as there is between Honda and BMW.

 

[brianl703]

quote:

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I guess I felt like I needed to 'Support American Made' and the big, mighty Corporate America.

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In other words, you continued to buy the crap they made so they could continue to make more.

Real smart.

 

[thooks]

Yeah, well, you see, I am from Alabama. We kinda stoopit down here. Heck, errybodie can't be as smart as you and yours.


Have a good one. May you never make a mistake in your life.

 

[brianl703]

I try to learn the first time I make a mistake.

 

[dailydriver]

quote:

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Originally posted by thooks:

I guess I felt like I needed to 'Support American Made' and the big, mighty Corporate America.

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As opposed to what, feeling the need to "Support Nippon owned/made" and the big almighty unconquerable Corporate Japan (as you and most of this country do now)??

 

[Win]

From my cars:

Shortest gasoline engine lifespan: Honda, barely enough compression to run and start after less than 70K miles.

Longest: Jaguar AJ6, still ran like new after 238K miles. Barely a day would pass without that engine hitting the redline.

 

[dinosauract]

Originally posted by Win:
[QB] From my cars:

Shortest gasoline engine lifespan: Honda, barely enough compression to run and start after less than 70K miles.


Was that a car of recent vintage? I haven't heard of many vehicles of any make crapping out at such a mileage in many many years? Can you give some details?

 

[CBR.worm]

I have not yet had an engine failure in any car or truck. I have never had an engine consume more than .5 quart of oil between changes.

Usualy buy cars/trucks new, usually sell them between 200 and 250K.

All japanese cars except for one ford which was really a mazda.

They are all subject to towing trailers and generally severe duty.

 

[White850T5]

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2002/02/21/036086.html

I have a co-worker that recently passed the 800k mile mark on his 1985 240; original engine and transmission.

 

[Win]

quote:

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Originally posted by dinosauract:

Was that a car of recent vintage? I haven't heard of many vehicles of any make crapping out at such a mileage in many many years? Can you give some details?

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Sure. It was a new 1979 Prelude with the fawned over (by the automotive press) CVCC motor that was going to save the world from the evils of high fuel consumption. By late 1982 it was shot, and I bought a new 1983 Ford Thunderbird Turbo Coupe to replace it ( A fabulous car, BTW ).

In my opinion, the short lifespan was a direct result of a gutless engine that had to run at a high rpm to make any usable power and was simply not up to that task, and the poor quality of materials used in the manufacture of the rest of the vehicle. At the end of its life, I had to use that thick motor honey in it to keep from looking like a mosquito fogger going down the road.

In my opinion, Honda quality and engineering prowess was grossly over hyped at the time I bought my Honda. Perhaps that has changed, perhaps not ....