GM 3800 II
Most reliable engine, independent of oil used?
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Well, I know of an engine. The Toyota 3A (or 3AC). I swear that little engine would run on no oil. I cannot say I ever abused an engine more! My 1982 Tercel was powered by this first ever transferse mounted front wheel drive from Toyota. I am still looking for another one. Todays engines can't hold a candle to this little beast.
The 22R ate timing chains, but was a great engine for sure. the 20R double timing chain was so much better!
Five-O roller motor Ford? It survived multiple 120+ MPH blasts, missed shifts, rev limiter bouncing, and sideways fun for 2 years and 30,000 miles from me. It lived on excellent maintenance and oil, but it should have died. Great motor!!!!!!!
The 22R ate timing chains, but was a great engine for sure. the 20R double timing chain was so much better!
Five-O roller motor Ford? It survived multiple 120+ MPH blasts, missed shifts, rev limiter bouncing, and sideways fun for 2 years and 30,000 miles from me. It lived on excellent maintenance and oil, but it should have died. Great motor!!!!!!!
I would vote for the Dodge 318, Ive seen them run out of oil and start knocking like crazy, add oil and they would smooth out again. We have alot of Ford Rangers where I work with anywhere between 120,000 to 300,000 miles and still running, the 2.3L I think. They look like #@$%!, more dents than Snow whites cherry but run really good yet. We dont have such good luck with the 4.2s. But our trucks get serious abuse, 10,000+ oil changes, lots of idling, dusty and overloading. Alot of the Techs dont take care of them. Iam tempted to pull a sample on one of the seriously neglected ones but they would think I was some sort of Freak.
- Ford 300ci I-6
- Mazda F and B series engines
- Volvo red block I-4
- Toyota 20/22R I-4
- Most diesels
- Mazda F and B series engines
- Volvo red block I-4
- Toyota 20/22R I-4
- Most diesels
I vote for the toyota V8 (4.7) 2uz-fe. Check the UOA's on this engine, probably the best ever seen on this board on a consistant basis regardless of the oil used, weight of oil used, location and conditions vehicle driven in, etc. Just an oustanding engine.
Engine wise, the J30 series which is Accord V6 is so legendary, they say everything else will break before the engine. Ahem, I cannot say I have witnessed it first hand but I bought one in Dec 2005 and it's a beast. It was refreshed including the engine +4 hp and gear ratios were changed. It pulls hard and one essential reason I posted this engine as most reliable is I beat a Supra engine with it. Not only do I want the engine to last forever, but the tranny better as well.
Make that 2 votes for the AMC designed 4.0. 163k; starts every day, no maintenance except external components, and doesn't use a drop of oil after ARX. It does seem to chew up the oil quickly, but that just makes me feel like it is king of the meat grinders and gives me an excuse to crack a cold one and change the oil more often...
We have a company p/u (1999 Ram 1500 w/318) and they've run it out of oil too. It knocked like crazy (lifter noise), and when filled up w/oil the noise stopped. Truck has been abused and keeps on running. Transmissions (had one replaced in 150K miles) and ball joints are another story, though. This truck gets used (abused) as a truck so maybe the trans was driver abuse, but have heard of pre-2001 Dodge trucks having weak trannies.
Briggs and Stratton 3.5 HP pull start. Most reliable engine ever made.
350; 454; and 3.1L GM engine's used in trucks.
3.2L sohc Isuzu V6 engine - takes a beating, keeps on ticking at 173k carefree, never opened engine.
3.2L sohc Isuzu V6 engine - takes a beating, keeps on ticking at 173k carefree, never opened engine.
+1 for the Volvo red block
Also, for a bit more performance, I'd recommend the eta m20 from BMW, used in the 325e(s) and 528e from the 80's. Low hp, but huge torque. The akilles (sp?) heel is the interference head design.
Also, for a bit more performance, I'd recommend the eta m20 from BMW, used in the 325e(s) and 528e from the 80's. Low hp, but huge torque. The akilles (sp?) heel is the interference head design.
+1 i also had an 86 Nova, but mine had the 5 speed tranny. I had the cat cut out and the performance improved slightly...wow, I ran that thing on gear oil (it burnt oil) and all that happend was that I cracked the oil sending unit sensor..after I replaced it, it was good to go again! I threw everythign at that car, and it never stopped running...and the fuel economy with a 2bbl carb still beats my 97 Escort that's 11 years newer!!
I dunno what went into that motor, but whatevere it was, it was sure engineering magic!
The 4A-FE engine used in 1988-92 Toyota Corollas (I think they used it later, but I am assuming that it was changed) is certainly the most reliable engine my family has used. We have owned three Corollas with this engine and none of them have left us stranded for anything but for problems such as the battery dying or the lights being left on. The two I have worked on only use 1/2 a quart between 3k oil changes (I may extend this soon). It has been a rock-solid engine for us, though it is certainly not a powerhouse!
Well it seems that the best engines of all times have been identified. I guess this might take the thread 180 degrees in the opposite direction but which are the worst engines of all times?
My candidates are:
The diesel engines from GM during the 1980s which were made from gasoline engines.
The 4 cylinder engines in the 1970s chevy Vega.
The corvair engine (might be unfair because Chevy mechanics never really understood air-cooled engines the way german mechanics did).
Most any GM V-6 engines
My candidates are:
The diesel engines from GM during the 1980s which were made from gasoline engines.
The 4 cylinder engines in the 1970s chevy Vega.
The corvair engine (might be unfair because Chevy mechanics never really understood air-cooled engines the way german mechanics did).
Most any GM V-6 engines
The quality of the flatheads was outstanding.
(350?) CID Chevy V8 used in Marathon Checker cabs. The ones that I saw had a 1bbl carb. The engine literaly could not rev enough even in netural to be blown up. Legend (urban?) has it that many ran over 500K miles without any internal engine work.
And I'm sure that the Chrysler Slant 6 in it's various forms has already been mentioned.
My dad bought a blue '62 Valiant with a 225 CID Slant Six. It had a hole in the trunk from an altercation with a forklift (cheap ride).Stuffed a rag in the hole and he never changed the oil in it in the time that he owned it.
He just added some Wolfs Head or Quaker State or whatever was cheap when it was a quart low. I remember some early reprocessed stuff that really stank. I did talk him into changing the oil filter one time. Car never let us down... amazing when you stop and think what one of our "modern"wonders with "modern" lubricants might do after such treatment.
Must have been at least 100k miles without an oil change as he still had it into the early 70's. Then he sold it for what he gave for it ($300.00).
In my mind the legend of the Slant Six is real.
Rickey.
My dad bought a blue '62 Valiant with a 225 CID Slant Six. It had a hole in the trunk from an altercation with a forklift (cheap ride).Stuffed a rag in the hole and he never changed the oil in it in the time that he owned it.
He just added some Wolfs Head or Quaker State or whatever was cheap when it was a quart low. I remember some early reprocessed stuff that really stank. I did talk him into changing the oil filter one time. Car never let us down... amazing when you stop and think what one of our "modern"wonders with "modern" lubricants might do after such treatment.
Must have been at least 100k miles without an oil change as he still had it into the early 70's. Then he sold it for what he gave for it ($300.00).
In my mind the legend of the Slant Six is real.
Rickey.
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