Most reliable engine, independent of oil used?

[passport]

My choice is the 4 cylinder, red block Volvo engine used in the 240/940 models. These engines won't wear out no matter what is in the crankcase. Some owners I've talked to don't even know what their cars are running on. If they don't have a serious coolant leak they just never die.

'

 

[ThirdeYe]

There are lots of opinions, and it depends a lot on how you take care of them. However, there are some that are reliable no matter how hard you beat on them. I know of many Honda B18's that even abused, lasted well over 300k miles. Mine has 122k with no sign of slowing down. I've heard of a lot of high mileage Volvos too, that are bulletproof. Some of the early 90's Camry's had amazing motors as well.

 

[88Dakota]

Big-rig diesel.

 

[98LSC32V]

I'm not sure about most reliable but the 4.6 SOHC in Crown Vic taxis and cop cars routinely go 500k plus before being retired.

 

[onion]

Ford 300 inline 6- got no power, use lots of gas... but run forever. I saw one once that had been so hot that most of the paint burned off. It still ran ok.

 

[DINO_NO]

96 hyunday, last like a whole year!
engine runs OK, but everything else just falls apart!

 

[Camu Mahubah]

Mopar slant six

Ford 300 six

Dodge pickup Cummins

honda 4 stroke atv motors

toyota 20R and 22R

Briggs and Stratton 3.5hp

1982 BMW 320i motor, I think it was a 2.0 sohc

GM 3800 V6

 

[Aldaris]

Toyota 1UZ-FE 4L V8

 

[Sparkman]

You said reliable in the title but the body suggests that you really mean long-lived. Which is it?

 

[Anduril]

My vote would have to go to the Toyota 20/22R. You can beat the #@$%! out of those little trucks they were used in, and they'll still run fine.

 

[wgtoys]

The Ford truck 300 straight-6 and the Volvo 4 cylinder red block get my vote for engines which regularly run hundreds of thousands of miles without needing disassembly.

 

[MarkC]

Jeep 4.0.
Had mine for 10 years, 133K miles. Never let me down yet, runs like it did when it was new.

 

[Brogy]

toyota 1.8 liter, 7A-FE. Currently what I have in my corolla, i've never heard of a case of engine failure on these cars. Mine has 138k miles on it, my sisters has 146k on hers, they both run very strong and smooth.

It's common for these engines to go 400,000 without a rebuild, not sometimes, commonly.

Im sure there's more reliable engines, but if there was a top 10 this one would probally be on it.

 

[eddiehaskell]

Ford 5.0

 

[mormit]

+1 here on the Volvo red block for most reliable and long lived.

No problems with my 275,000mi '85 Volvo wagon. All fuel system parts are original. Fuel pumps, injectors, the lot all hitting 23 years old. Regular replacement of sperk plugs, wires, cap, and rotor. Starts on the first crank even below zero. Original auto transmission shifts smooth too.

Dealer dino juice before I aquired it at 170,000mi.

Speaking of old red blocks, I think Irv Gorden is about up to 2.5 million in his Volvo P1800.

 

[DINO_NO]

I bet you will never see a hyundai go that far.
I hate hyundai, regardless of their warranty.
HATE HYUNDAI ! ! !

 

[ThirdeYe]

More great engines: Toyota 4A-GE (used in the Corolla/Sprinter), Toyota 4AGZE (Toyota MR2), Nissan RB26DET(T), Toyota 2JZ-GE/GTE (Toyota Supra).

 

[aquariuscsm]

GM 3800 V6

 

[eddiehaskell]

I don't know about reliable in general, but my grandfathers neighbor has a '85-ish Cavalier owned since new with 400k original miles! The guy is 82 years old - GM should GIVE him a new car.

 

[cousincletus]

Quote:

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The Ford truck 300 straight-6 and the Volvo 4 cylinder red block get my vote for engines which regularly run hundreds of thousands of miles without needing disassembly.

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I always thought the 300 six was an overrated engine. Everyone I know that has (had) one got bad gas mileage (may as well had a V-8, as Chevy 305 got better mileage). For a while they had main bearing problems too, but I think that was resolved. From what I've been reading about the Ford 4.2 six you may as well spend the extra $$$ and get the 4.6 V-8, as there is no gas mileage difference and the 4.6 is a much better engine.