Rethinking engine life in general

[k24a4]

Is it Sopus that has as part of their marketing campaign the 300k engine warranty if you use their oil? Well maintained engines will outlast the rest of the car. It is the transmission, suspension, and body you have to worry about. That, and the inattentive, preoccupied, driver that rear ends you while you are minding your own business.

To the OP, the k24 is a stout 4-cylinder. I say, 300k with ease. Care for the rest of the vehicle, drive defensively; you'll get there!

 

[2KBMW]

Clevy, I forgot that they don't use much salt in
the colder areas of Canada. Here in Southern
Ontario, the roads are a messy slop if it snows.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: 2KBMW
Clevy, I forgot that they don't use much salt in
the colder areas of Canada. Here in Southern
Ontario, the roads are a messy slop if it snows.


Yup. Which is why I'm a big fan of Krown

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: whip
I've had many cars go over 200,000 miles. The engine was never a problem, and always on conventional oil. I don't see a need to use synthetic oil to increase the engine life.


I've never bought a new vehicle. My 99 silverado had 50000kms when I bought it,the 4V in my mustang has 30000kms. These are the newest engines I've ever owned(I have a built 306 going into the Capri. It has 0kms) and the only issue I've ever had was an 83 cutlass with a 305 suffered the soft cam issue accelerated by using restore( I was 17,I didn't know it was junk)at every oil change which clogged my filters sending the unit into by-pass accelerating wear,and my air filter housing I flipped the cap upside down so it completely exposed the filter element,which I'm sure was allowing gravel into the combustion chambers.
I dropped a 350 in it,a posi unit with 3.73s and that car became an animal.
Anyways what I'm getting to is I've had vehicles with over 400000kms and the engines were still decent but suspension,brakes,tie rod ends etc ended up sending them to scrap,not the engines.
I've got 3 full size work vans. 2 fords. 1 with a 351,and 1 with the 4.9 straight 6. The 351 has 350000kms,the 6er has 300000. Both were bought used and were used as work vehicles,fully loaded since they rolled off the line. Neither consume a drop of oil and run like a dream.
The other is a chev with a 305. Its got 480000kms on the original engine. It too was bought used from a plumbing and heating contractor so it was fully loaded since new as well. Its just starting to burn some oil between oil changes,about 1 quart per 5000kmsish or so.
I use the PYB jugs I bought on sale in those vans(had 30 jugs)for 12 bucks a jug. They all are basically city driven. Rarely highway use.
Once I use up my stock they will get the supertech 5 gallon pail oil that costs 45 bucks per 5 gallon pail.
All these vans have been work vans their entire existence. They were beaten on by employees,maintenance was sporadic yet they keep on rolling.
Then I've got 2 cube vans. Both fords. 1 with a 7.3 the other a 5.8. Again they were loaded their entire lives. The 7.3 has 500000kms and will start in -30 without being plugged in. The 5.8 has 450000 on it. Engine still runs great but the front end has pretty much had it so it goes from site to site and stays on site.
What I'm getting at is engines will usually outlive the body even with poor maintenance and all the money spent on PM could just be a waste considering the lifespan of the other components.
Just spitballing

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: Kool1
With the use of synthetic oil I believed:
100,000 miles = engine broken in
200,000 miles = got my money's worth
300,000 miles = running on borrowed time

I've been with this forum for a while and have learned a lot about today's synthetics. I may readjust my thinking and start spending more money on other parts of my vehicle if my engine will last longer than I originally anticipated.

Is it correct to believe with synthetic oil and relatively short oil change intervals?
150,000 miles = engine broken in
300,000 miles = got my money's worth
450,000 miles = running on borrowed time


You should totally adjust your thinking and perhaps read this forum some more. Some of the highest mileage cars posted were run on conventional.
Also, I've yet to see a study that would show less wear with synthetics.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: Kool1
I may readjust my thinking and start spending more money on other parts of my vehicle if my engine will last longer than I originally anticipated.

Sensible OCIs with a sensible oil (which depends on the vehicle's requirements and service intervals) will give you a long lasting engine. And you'd be quite correct to not ignore other parts of your vehicle.

 

[artificialist]

Thinking engine life in general is an appropriate title, because there are still certain engines made within the last 15 years that are awful.

Anyway, in Florida cars don't rust away. However, they all reach a point where the electrical stuff doesn't function properly, the interior is coming apart everywhere, and replacing all the failing suspension components is higher than what the car is worth.

And here is another thing I deal with. Sometimes the bottom end of an engine in such a car is fine.... But the head gasket fails, and replacing the head gaskets is so high that it may make more sense to get rid of that car.

 

[Kool1]

I've seen the Volvo commercial on television with a guy going 3 million miles and he is still driving his car. After seeing the commercial I looked on youtube and found more videos on the guy and his car. His devotion to properly maintaining his car is motivating. COOL!!!!!

 

[k1rod]

I t really depends. All miles are not equal. I believe you could drive from Boston to Baltimore straight through without shutting off the engine (approx 450 miles) and pult less wear on your engine than you would starting the motor on a sub zero degree day and driving it to the corner store. But that is just my opinion.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
I don't buy into the synthetics making engines last longer propaganda,especially the ones that are just de-waxed dinos (Although I use them ocassionally). Paso/ester oils,I couldn't say. Maybe?

I agree. Syns last longer in service requiring less oil changes over the life of the vehicle however conventionals changed at 5000 miles(or oem spec) will also provide long engine life.


Agreed. Conventional has improved tremendously recently, many here are not aware of exactly how good it really is these days. The old "synthetic is leagues better" mantra is not as applicable.

But as mentioned previously, it is all about application and duty cycle. What works great in your car may kill mine, you must understand what the oil's capabilities are in your car in your style of driving...

 

[Familyguy]

I'm one of those that subscribes to the "regular oil changes" (regardless of synthetic or conventional) theory as well. Given the price delta between conventional and synth isn't that much anymore, I opt for synthetic so that I can lengthen my change intervals while still offering adequate protection for the motor.

$17/5qt jug every 5k
(20 oil changes every 100k miles = $340 spent on oil)

or

$24/5qt jug every 7.5k
(13 oil changes every 100k miles = $312 spent on oil)

6 of one...half a dozen of the other. Compared to the overall cost of running the vehicle, the cost delta is statistical noise.

Best,