I have recently purchased two Fords with 4 cyl engines and was wondering what is the outside mileage, not MPG, these type of engines will go to? I have had several 6 and 8s go to very high miles 300,000 and up. What has been your experience with 4 bangers?
4 Cyl. Engines With High Miles
- Thread starter tig1
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I've got a friend who put 200k+ on an Escort GT
Three commuter Escorts in my family at or near 300 K miles, one burns no oil at all, one burns a qt every 5K, always has. The third had a head gasket installed at 170K. All with mobil 1 0W20
All three motors seem to run and act like new.
Also Taurus 150 CID 4 cyl, 5 speed, 200k, motor like new.
1994 Saturn, DOHC model, burns some oil, acts like valve guides/seals, (great compression) 200K
All three motors seem to run and act like new.
Also Taurus 150 CID 4 cyl, 5 speed, 200k, motor like new.
1994 Saturn, DOHC model, burns some oil, acts like valve guides/seals, (great compression) 200K
390k miles on a 1986 Jetta
325k miles (approx) 1982 Toyota SR5 truck.
There is a lab up in SLC who had dozens of Toyota Corollas and all of them went over 300k. They went to the HHR now and they are doing good.
Bill
325k miles (approx) 1982 Toyota SR5 truck.
There is a lab up in SLC who had dozens of Toyota Corollas and all of them went over 300k. They went to the HHR now and they are doing good.
Bill
The local Saturn dealer near me (gonna be gone soon) has a 95 SL1 with a 509,000kms. Long live the S-series 
I just sold my daughters '01 Honda civic with 145,690 miles on it. She bought it used and always had the Honda dealer do the oil with whatever they use. It ran really good and I would have kept it but I'm 6'5" and go 330 lbs, so it was a tight fit whenever I drove it.,,
I've driven several Chevy S10s with the 2.2 4 cyl at work. They all have close to or over 200k really hard miles. One is about to hit 300k. Also drove a Ranger with the 2.3l Duratec engine with 230k hard miles.
Originally Posted By: expat
I don't believe that the number of cyls is really a factor in how long or how many miles an engine will last.
Design and the way the engine is treated/maintained are the main factors.
I agree with that. RPM ranges in normal driving are about the same as a V6, (read piston speed--and travel per mile driven) but the crankshaft is longer in the 4, and can have an extra bearing. You just don't get as much power with the 4 (all other things equal) but you only use a fraction of available HP cruising around if you don't hotrod everywhere you go.
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
...and always had the Honda dealer do the oil with whatever they use...
IIRC, that is usually Mobil conventional, like the Drive Clean 5000 or similar. That's what the Honda dealer I worked for used in bulk. Only the hybrids that were brought in got synthetic ('cause they called for 0W-20).
I don't believe that the number of cyls is really a factor in how long or how many miles an engine will last.
Design and the way the engine is treated/maintained are the main factors.
I agree with that. RPM ranges in normal driving are about the same as a V6, (read piston speed--and travel per mile driven) but the crankshaft is longer in the 4, and can have an extra bearing. You just don't get as much power with the 4 (all other things equal) but you only use a fraction of available HP cruising around if you don't hotrod everywhere you go.
Originally Posted By: BigCahuna
...and always had the Honda dealer do the oil with whatever they use...
IIRC, that is usually Mobil conventional, like the Drive Clean 5000 or similar. That's what the Honda dealer I worked for used in bulk. Only the hybrids that were brought in got synthetic ('cause they called for 0W-20).
I don't have personal experience with the Ford engines but from what I have read they should provide many years of good performance. With proper maintenance, the engines should outlast the cars.
There are many, many 4cyl engines that have gone 200k+. There is a 4 cyl Accord that went over 1 million. Unless you are driving an excessive amount of miles each year you will probably have other issues before the engine.
There are many, many 4cyl engines that have gone 200k+. There is a 4 cyl Accord that went over 1 million. Unless you are driving an excessive amount of miles each year you will probably have other issues before the engine.
Anyone have any idea of what the average life of 4-cylinder engines is? I realize there are differences between manufacturers, maintenance practices, etc., but does anyone know of any statistical data that shows an average life (in mileage) for the aggregate of 4-cylinder engines?
FWIW, there are also things out of our control that affect the life of an individual engine. Things like local metallurgical defects, tolerances, gasket quality, etc. can shorten the life of an engine that looked great to the manufacturer's QC people before it left the plant. It can go the other way, too, where an individual engine can have fewer than average defects that result in it having a much longer life than average. And then there are events, such as accidents, natural disasters, etc. that can prematurely end the life of an engine.
I keep thinking of my friend's Toyota Camry that had a cylinder wall crack at about 140K miles. A lot of people I knew with Camrys had them go well over 200K and get close to 300K. His was an example that didn't make it as far as the average for that vehicle (although people who lived 30 years ago would have been glad to have an engine that made it to 140K!).
My in-laws got well over 200K on an '88 Camry (which they passed on to my brother-in-law, who eventually sold it) and now have over 200K on our old '91 Honda Accord. Both are 4-bangers.
All we BITOGer's can do is give our engines and vehicles the best available TLC in terms of motor oil, antifreeze and other fluids (along with other maintenance) we can to keep our rides on the road as long as possible!
FWIW, there are also things out of our control that affect the life of an individual engine. Things like local metallurgical defects, tolerances, gasket quality, etc. can shorten the life of an engine that looked great to the manufacturer's QC people before it left the plant. It can go the other way, too, where an individual engine can have fewer than average defects that result in it having a much longer life than average. And then there are events, such as accidents, natural disasters, etc. that can prematurely end the life of an engine.
I keep thinking of my friend's Toyota Camry that had a cylinder wall crack at about 140K miles. A lot of people I knew with Camrys had them go well over 200K and get close to 300K. His was an example that didn't make it as far as the average for that vehicle (although people who lived 30 years ago would have been glad to have an engine that made it to 140K!).
My in-laws got well over 200K on an '88 Camry (which they passed on to my brother-in-law, who eventually sold it) and now have over 200K on our old '91 Honda Accord. Both are 4-bangers.
All we BITOGer's can do is give our engines and vehicles the best available TLC in terms of motor oil, antifreeze and other fluids (along with other maintenance) we can to keep our rides on the road as long as possible!
My saturn passed 207k. My 100 HP model has the same suspension (except for weaker sway bars/springs) and brakes as the 124 HP uplevel model, so the rest of the car is nicely overbuilt.
In-laws' records at 225k are an olds calais with the 4 cyl iron duke 2.5 and an intrigue with the 3.8 V6.
I figure your average inline 4 sitting crossways in a FWD application has plenty of room to "breathe" and won't sludge from overheating in a crowded engine bay.
Cars get junked because they cheeze off their owners/mechanics enough to not be economically viable to fix. As 4 cyls are easier to reach stuff on, this junkyard date may get delayed. (However if their performance bores the driver it may be accellerated.
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In-laws' records at 225k are an olds calais with the 4 cyl iron duke 2.5 and an intrigue with the 3.8 V6.
I figure your average inline 4 sitting crossways in a FWD application has plenty of room to "breathe" and won't sludge from overheating in a crowded engine bay.
Cars get junked because they cheeze off their owners/mechanics enough to not be economically viable to fix. As 4 cyls are easier to reach stuff on, this junkyard date may get delayed. (However if their performance bores the driver it may be accellerated.
I'm thinking you will see as many of these 2003-2009+ CR-V's, Accords, Elements on the road as you do the 1992-1993 Accords.
That Honda 2.4L I-4 is one bad engine. I haven't seen a UOA yet that shows the engine is showing any sort of wear. These engines usually go 10k miles on the OLM. Ours does.
I'd really like to see our 2007 CR-V go 500k miles. Only 470,000 to go.
That Honda 2.4L I-4 is one bad engine. I haven't seen a UOA yet that shows the engine is showing any sort of wear. These engines usually go 10k miles on the OLM. Ours does.
I'd really like to see our 2007 CR-V go 500k miles. Only 470,000 to go.
If reasonably maintained/driven and you have good luck the sky is the limit.
Cylinder# and honestly car maker is irrelevant in longevity.
About 80% of owners change vehicles after 100k miles. Of those 20% leftover only 20% make it past 150k-200k.
Automatic transmission failure and accidents lead to many engines early demise into junkyards.
Cylinder# and honestly car maker is irrelevant in longevity.
About 80% of owners change vehicles after 100k miles. Of those 20% leftover only 20% make it past 150k-200k.
Automatic transmission failure and accidents lead to many engines early demise into junkyards.
Originally Posted By: tig1
I have recently purchased two Fords with 4 cyl engines and was wondering what is the outside mileage, not MPG, these type of engines will go to? I have had several 6 and 8s go to very high miles 300,000 and up. What has been your experience with 4 bangers?
I would consider not doing 10K OCI's in the 4 banger and maybe doing 7K OCI's instead.
I have recently purchased two Fords with 4 cyl engines and was wondering what is the outside mileage, not MPG, these type of engines will go to? I have had several 6 and 8s go to very high miles 300,000 and up. What has been your experience with 4 bangers?
I would consider not doing 10K OCI's in the 4 banger and maybe doing 7K OCI's instead.
Regarding the CR-V, the 2nd gen began in 2002. Love my 2.4l. 7 yrs is the longest I've owned any car. I can't see any reason I will be getting rid of it any time soon. Racked up the first 30k miles in the first 6 months I owned it. The next 90k have been almost exclusively in town miles with the exception of 4 months using it for my daily commute before buying the Fit.
Oh, and another high mileage 2.4l, my brother has 340k+ on his 04 Acord.
Oh, and another high mileage 2.4l, my brother has 340k+ on his 04 Acord.
How long a car lasts depends mostly on how long you want it to last. If it's your intention to get 300k miles out of a Ford, then you will, unless it gets totaled by the insurance company.
When I was working as a courier, we had several drivers with between 300k and 400k miles on Toyotas... one was an Echo with manual transmission and no AC, I do not know how he did it. Another had a Mitsubishi, which did end up totaled and then replaced by an AT Echo (I kept my mouth shut about his choice).
When I was working as a courier, we had several drivers with between 300k and 400k miles on Toyotas... one was an Echo with manual transmission and no AC, I do not know how he did it. Another had a Mitsubishi, which did end up totaled and then replaced by an AT Echo (I kept my mouth shut about his choice).
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