what is the best v6 ever made?

[threeputtpar]

I'm biased, but I'd say the 2.7t in an Audi S4, A6, or allroad is a beast of an engine. They came stock with 250hp and ~250lb of torque, but with some fueling parts and tuning they can put down 350-450 awhp. Just don't do that with the automatic trans.

If you're looking to go north of 500 awhp, then you need to start swapping out the internals.

Maintenance isn't any worse than any other timing belt V-6, but the engine has quite the potential.

 

[threeputtpar]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
Chevrolet 2.8L V-6, 1979-1989.

They had an awesome growl too them, and were great in the smaller J-bodies. They were also pretty reliable, seen lots of them go 200k+ miles.


I had one in a 1986 Z24 with a 4-speed manual and one in a 1988 Z24 with the 4-speed auto. They both had that cool rasp from the exhaust, but neither one could accelerate up any kind of hill above 35mph. I did see 200k miles with both of them, though without having to open up either engine.

 

[rjundi]

Interesting folks consider the "supposed" longevity a quality that makes an engine the best.

The 3.8L is fine for loafing around however it not really that enjoyable of an engine coupled to GM automatics. The 4.3 is a truck engine not sure what is so wonderful about it. Not a bad engine just not the "best".

Honda v6 is great mid-upper but low end is well lackluster for me. Incredible motor back in its day all the way back to 1990(NSX). Nice though coupled to a manual transmission.

I really did like the Nissan V6 coupled to a manual transmission. Not sure if it qualifies as best though.

 

[DuckRyder]

VR6 is best.

 

[sasha]

nissan vq blocks for the doch market are hard to beat. love mine despite what i put it through.

ohv the gm3800 despite the IM problem. bullet proof

sohc the honda j series are excellent despite my hatred for timing belts. oh yeah the ford modular 4.6/5.4 ancient but robust and easily moded.

 

[supton]

I thought the VR6 had that funky timing chain on the back of the motor, which tended to get sloppy around 150k and then require motor removal in order to replace the (guides? chain?)? Small, narrow, powerful, sure; but... Well, just what makes for a great motor? Longevity, hp/L, cost, efficency? I'm going to guess everyone has a different point on the curves for this one.

 

[301]

i had great service with the gm 4.3 in blazers which i used as rural route vehicles delivering mail,,,tough,,,dependable,,

 

[mcrn]

Mercedes Benz OM642.

 

[301]

a neighbor of mines runs a small grocery store 17 miles away from town in a rural mountain community,,has a gmc with the 4.3 v6 with 409000 miles on it ,,1 1994 model,,no overhaul,,,im sold on their reliability after seeing that plus my own experience as a rural carrier on a mail rt.

 

[juanw]

Another vote for the Toyota 5VZ-FE engine (3.4L). Slow but durable. Timing belts have known to go 200,000 miles but the water pump usually will not make it that long. Early models of this engine in 4runners (96-97) can have head gasket issues around 200,000 miles.

Also want to include the 3800 as well despite its issues. My parent's neighbors have a 3.8L series II in their Bonneville NA with 384,000+ miles on it. All four kids had it in high school and the youngest is still driving it while in nursing school. It has lived on a diet of GTX its whole life in the South. I think the 4T65 has been overhauled once.

 

[grampi]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Buick GNX


I had an '87 T-Type....loved that 3.8 turbo!

 

[lexus114]

Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
just V no inlines if we did inlines the answer is obvious. the 300 i6 lol



What the [censored] is so terrific about the 4.9L Ford inline? It`s a gas guzzler, huge, and power isn't all that great either. So please enlighten me here.

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
just V no inlines if we did inlines the answer is obvious. the 300 i6 lol



What the [censored] is so terrific about the 4.9L Ford inline? It`s a gas guzzler, huge, and power isn't all that great either. So please enlighten me here.
They are pretty hard to kill, run forever as long as they have oil and water in them.

Plenty of them from the 70's are still on the road today.

 

[cchase]

Hard to kill hardly seems like a glowing endorsement.

 

[TFB1]

Quote:
what is the best v6 ever made?


Apparently none I ever owned...

I did manage to run a '79 Chevy 200 V6(the 4.3 little brother) up to 132K mi... The first one I owned(a '78) cracked a head and destroyed itself at 89K mi...

Since then I've run nothing but V8 RWD Fords, with a few '80s Turbo 4cyl thrown in(again RWD only)...

 

[RobertISaar]

fairly certain the series 2 (and possibly series 3?) 3800s are automatically disqualified due to their tendacy to light on fire, even after GM's half-assed fix.

then again, i'm quite biased to liking nearly any GM 60V6, at least they're not rolling fire hazards and sound glorious.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: RobertISaar
fairly certain the series 2 (and possibly series 3?) 3800s are automatically disqualified due to their tendacy to light on fire, even after GM's half-assed fix.

then again, i'm quite biased to liking nearly any GM 60V6, at least they're not rolling fire hazards and sound glorious.


Compared to what, a dentist drill???

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: lexus114
Originally Posted By: chevyboy14
just V no inlines if we did inlines the answer is obvious. the 300 i6 lol



What the [censored] is so terrific about the 4.9L Ford inline? It`s a gas guzzler, huge, and power isn't all that great either. So please enlighten me here.

They were unkillable. They went in to everything from dump trucks to power generators. They have a timing gears,no chains to stretch. They were simple,easy to fix and could build crazy torque with mild headwork and cam.
They were a working mule. And I don't really get the fuel comment.I've got one in one of my work vans. It's fully loaded with tools. So much in fact I've got blocks on the axle so it doesn't pull wheelies. It's not going to win any races but it gets 20 mpg fully loaded with tools for a 5 man framing crew,and half a pallet of nails.
A friend had one in a 4x4 truck when I was in high school. It had awesome torque. We would go cruising the trails up and down blue mountain,bring Jerry cans because we easily burned a couple of tanka of fuel.
They were extremely durable and could take more abuse then most could throw at them.

 

[KD0AXS]

Look up the word "indestructible" in the dictionary, and I think you'll find a picture of a 300 I-6.

I did manage to blow a head gasket in one, but that was because I forgot I had put mostly water in the radiator and it froze. Overheated and puked all the water out the overflow on my way to work. I drove it a good 15 miles back home with no coolant and the temp gauge pegged out. Any other engine would have been destroyed but not the 300. New head gasket was dirt cheap and an easy afternoon job and it ran like new again.

 

[GearheadTool]

Originally Posted By: RobertISaar
fairly certain the series 2 (and possibly series 3?) 3800s are automatically disqualified due to their tendacy to light on fire, even after GM's half-assed fix.

then again, i'm quite biased to liking nearly any GM 60V6, at least they're not rolling fire hazards and sound glorious.


What the [censored]... ? Had a Gen 1 3800, and also know soeone close to me with a Gen 2 3800 (OK... Series 1 and 2 of the GM 3800 3.8L V6. The Series 3... is amazing...) But.. ?

These aren't Fieros.

And if you are moving it to I-6s (inline..) Pretty much any BMW inline-6...

Oh, and I also need to second/third Castrol GTX (10W-30??) being the ideal oil for a 3800. 5W-30 in winter.

(Of course, if I owned one again, I would use something else *NOW*... but, still that works extremely well.) 10W-30... which caused quite a bit of confusion, early on. (Remember how oil was in the early 90s.)