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Car motor longevity

K

Keeth1123

Well-known member
Curious as to how many people have logged a lot of hours on their car motors? Trying to gauge the reliability of them holding up to the abuse. I’m typically running 2,800 to 3,000 to cruise and 3,800 to 4,500 on the ground depending on conditions. Ran with some a/c boys that had me cursing at 3,600 :shock:

Who has had a v8 and been wearing it out with good results
 
Ps. Trying not to open a can of worms. Don’t want to read a pissing match between the to. I simply wanna hear from other car motor owners who have longevity on their rigs.
 
I've seen some go over 2000 hours and I've seen some that didn't make 2 hours. A lot of factors lead to longevity. How it's built. How it's driven. And how it's maintained. I would say a factory crate engine or a decent custom build with proper maintenance and keeping it within the safe rpm operating range should last a good long time. How long? Who knows. Maybe not 2000 but certainly more than 2 hours.
 
Keeth1123 said:
Curious as to how many people have logged a lot of hours on their car motors? Trying to gauge the reliability of them holding up to the abuse. I’m typically running 2,800 to 3,000 to cruise and 3,800 to 4,500 on the ground depending on conditions. Ran with some a/c boys that had me cursing at 3,600 :shock:

Who has had a v8 and been wearing it out with good results
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Really depends on which V8, the tune, and the cam and valve train. Running a stock Cadillac at 3600 RPMs all day is asking for problems. A properly built LS will handle 3600 all day no problem.
 
As stated above many variables are in the question here. I have friends with LS engines built by excellent builders and have well over 2-2.5k hrs and don’t show any signs of slowing down anytime soon. With that said I’ve seen brand new “crate” engines “eBay specials” LS/Sbc/bbc throw rods, eat cams, drop valves, etc. in less than 10hrs.If engine whether aircraft or auto is not maintained nor operated properly it will not last no matter the application. Guy in my clubs had same engine for 30 yrs no rebuilding. No telling the hours on that. As far as the RPMS if it’s built to run high rpms it should last if not and you spin it up your on barrowed time. The Lq4 on my boat was built in 07’ it’s a straight crate engine Levitator/ PCM gets from GM and throws their fuel pressure cell, computer and plastic cover on runs excellent not a single issue from it but I meticulously maintain it and tho it has rev limiter I don’t wind it up all the time nor ramp on constantly.
 
What type of maintencaine Schedule are y’all running. Be more specific please to anyone who stated proper maintenance e
 
I currently have 1500+ Hrs and going up weekly on a SBC 385 fastburn and it lives its life between 3200-4900 oil change every 25hrs still going strong
 
I treat my airboat like an aircraft! It’s inspected before, during and after use EVERY time. Oil and filter changed at a maximum every 45-50 hrs, coolant is changed bi annually or at least annually regardless of extended life coolant. Every oil change I go over every bolt and insure it is snug or retorqued, all bolts on engine, fuel rails, alt.bolts everything! Use top quality oil and filter, I run a mobile 1 301 or Royal purple filter out of all test they are top. I have buddy that does oil filter swap at approximately 50 hrs and does oil only every 100 hrs, no issues with is motors at all either. Keeping you operating temps down to 170ish will increase longevity ten fold. On my rig a lot of folks I’ve talked with say I go a little over board on maintenance and inspection however it’s not me I’m worrying about it’s someone else getting hurt because I didn’t do something or could have prevented it. I do walk around constantly looking for anything loose or cracked. I change fuel/water separator filter and fuel cell filters once a year. I have a schedule or routine I don’t stay from so I don’t get complacent and forget to check something. This is just how I do it I am sure I have forgot a few things I check and I’m sure others will chime in on what they do or don’t do to keep running without wearing out an engine.
 
unforgiven11B said:
I treat my airboat like an aircraft! It’s inspected before, during and after use EVERY time. Oil and filter changed at a maximum every 45-50 hrs, coolant is changed bi annually or at least annually regardless of extended life coolant. Every oil change I go over every bolt and insure it is snug or retorqued, all bolts on engine, fuel rails, alt.bolts everything! Use top quality oil and filter, I run a mobile 1 301 or Royal purple filter out of all test they are top. I have buddy that does oil filter swap at approximately 50 hrs and does oil only every 100 hrs, no issues with is motors at all either. Keeping you operating temps down to 170ish will increase longevity ten fold. On my rig a lot of folks I’ve talked with say I go a little over board on maintenance and inspection however it’s not me I’m worrying about it’s someone else getting hurt because I didn’t do something or could have prevented it. I do walk around constantly looking for anything loose or cracked. I change fuel/water separator filter and fuel cell filters once a year. I have a schedule or routine I don’t stay from so I don’t get complacent and forget to check something. This is just how I do it I am sure I have forgot a few things I check and I’m sure others will chime in on what they do or don’t do to keep running without wearing out an engine.
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Good Information and thank you for the direction.
 
I have built 4 ls gulf fishing boats (2) with 5.3's and (2) with 6.0's. The 1st 2 5.3 motor were straight out of the junkyard and put msd setup on it.
Motor had 113K verified miles on it when we put it on the boat over 7 years ago. It is on a heavy alumitec deckover with very little running bottom. Takes 3,800 to be on plane loaded for fishing usually running it about 4-4200 for 45minute to an 1.5hr on the way and maybe 4-5hrs for the day, but it gets run very hard.

1st 6.0 has been running for 2 yrs and was bought with verified 68k on it, Started EFI then after some issues we changed it back to a carb, but motor is stock.

2nd 5.3 was unknown bought it from a buddy that got off craigslist, lol, so who knows. That motor was on my boat for 4 years. Cruise was 3600 loaded for a day of fishing and 3 people. Took it off still running great to replace with a 6.0 and a mild cam.

Then I got the 2nd 6.0 with an unknown history. Stock used bottom end with reworked heads, truunion bushing kit, chromoly pushrods (proper length for my cam) and new timing set, lifters trays and lifters. Runs very well had it running for a year. How to swap it to EFI and see how it holds up to the saltwater

I certainly have not put over 1000 hrs on one but have close to that on the one 5.3.

I do change my oil at around 50-75hrs, but change filter every 25hrs or so. The walk around inspection before you ride and while your out the is something for any boat. An airboat is something that is trying to tear itself apart when you running it and that required constant minor maintenance in my opionion

Only real weak points about an LS are the rocker bearings, early year lifters, stock springs and pushrods .
 
I change my oil and filter about every 20 hrs. Use a quality oil and filter. Change fuel filters. I have aluminum heads. Fast idle engine until it comes up to temp. I never push a cold engine. Never run it hot either. My engine is rated for 5500 rpm's. I'm pitched at 5000. Stay within your engine's safe rpm range. Periodically check timing. Learn to read spark plugs. A lean engine is a time bomb. I don't know what type of valves and rockers your engine has. Periodically check valve settings. I'm running a roller cam and roller rockers. Not much to adjust but we still look at them every other year or so. Check the guide plates and the valve tips and rollers for wear. Check everything for tightness. I had a .50 cent carb stud break sending my carb cover into the prop totally destroying it along with part of the cage and the rudders. One eyed gator said an airboat is trying to destroy itself when you are running it and he's not lying!
 
DeniroEnn said:
Hello everyone, it seems to me that in old cars, engines could last much longer than in current ones. I still find some cars of the 70s and will serve for a long time.
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A car is a different animal then a boat or an aircraft.
 
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