"Engine failure" is something everyone thought was a last century problem, yet it's back. Some blame extra thin oils, and some are pointing to cheap parts (ex. plastic manifolds and plastic timing guides). There are now engine lawsuits in 2015-2025 model vehicles from all the big vehicle manufacturers, with new failures clustering in late models. They literally don't make them like they used to.
Japanese four-cylinder engine is so reliable still in production after 25 years
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Re: Japanese four-cylinder engine is so reliable still in production after 25 years
#92Re: Japanese four-cylinder engine is so reliable still in production after 25 years
#93Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Jag XK platform had 45+ year run. I'd bet that as long as the 911 is made, it'll have an inline 6 and to someone's thinking it will be the same platform as the air-cooled version from 1964. Engine architectures tend to last unless they are bad. They can do a lot on one also, the Toyota GR platform started out as a fairly vanilla V-6 but it has variations with GDI and variations with turbochargers and has been use…
Indeed, long lived engines are not unusual Chrysler LA - 1964-2003 Ford Windsor 1961-2000 Ford Inline 6 1960-2016 Modular V8 1990-2014
Nissan VQ series, 1994-today
Re: Japanese four-cylinder engine is so reliable still in production after 25 years
#94When I was a kid I wanted a classic Mini with a transplanted Honda K-Series engine. It's a big engine for that little car but I'd completely forgotten about them over the years. It's wild that people are still doing this: https://potentialmotorsport.com/ I might have to reserect that dream. :D
Classic Mini would work perfectly with the electric motor and battery.
Re: Japanese four-cylinder engine is so reliable still in production after 25 years
#95Even before clicking through, I said to myself "... and it's made by Honda."
I don't know precisely what special sauce they have, but while I've parted with a couple of Hondas over the years due to rust or accessory breakdown (and one, sadly, to a crash; hey, I know the Fit has a reputation as a deathtrap, but it saved my life), I've never had one give me engine trouble.
Their starter has a very iconic sound too; I'm a little surprised marketing has never seemed to catch onto that. You can identify the sound of a Honda starting up in a parking lot.
Re: Japanese four-cylinder engine is so reliable still in production after 25 years
#96Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Jag XK platform had 45+ year run. I'd bet that as long as the 911 is made, it'll have an inline 6 and to someone's thinking it will be the same platform as the air-cooled version from 1964. Engine architectures tend to last unless they are bad. They can do a lot on one also, the Toyota GR platform started out as a fairly vanilla V-6 but it has variations with GDI and variations with turbochargers and has been use…
Indeed, long lived engines are not unusual Chrysler LA - 1964-2003 Ford Windsor 1961-2000 Ford Inline 6 1960-2016 Modular V8 1990-2014
> Modular V8 1990-2014
Still lives to this day. The 5.0/5.2 engines are modular.
Re: Japanese four-cylinder engine is so reliable still in production after 25 years
#97Earlier quoted context omitted.
The Jag XK platform had 45+ year run. I'd bet that as long as the 911 is made, it'll have an inline 6 and to someone's thinking it will be the same platform as the air-cooled version from 1964. Engine architectures tend to last unless they are bad. They can do a lot on one also, the Toyota GR platform started out as a fairly vanilla V-6 but it has variations with GDI and variations with turbochargers and has been use…
Indeed, long lived engines are not unusual Chrysler LA - 1964-2003 Ford Windsor 1961-2000 Ford Inline 6 1960-2016 Modular V8 1990-2014
The BMC A Series is another exceptionally long lived one. 1951-2000 in original form, and then licenced by Nissan until 2009.
Re: Japanese four-cylinder engine is so reliable still in production after 25 years
#98From my experience the K20 is indestructible.
Re: Japanese four-cylinder engine is so reliable still in production after 25 years
#99I’ve noticed Honda puts an emphasis on reducing stress. I have a 20 year old Honda which still runs fine because everything about it seems “overbuilt” - other owners say it runs fine without coolant, oil, etc - just keeps plugging along.
You reminded me of a stunt/promotion I saw on TV in the 1970's where they drained the oil from a Japanese import and then ran the engine (red-lined it as I recall, perhaps a brick on the accelerator) until they blew the engine. This was when there was a lot of grousing about those cheap (and fuel efficient!) Japanese cars catching on in the U.S. market. Hilariously, the Japanese car just kept running and they had to…
Reminds me of the 1990's Prolong commercials on late-night TV. They drained the oil out of a Dodge Viper and drove it around a track on the desert.
Re: Japanese four-cylinder engine is so reliable still in production after 25 years
#100That's a series of engines, not a single model. The FIAT FIRE [1] series has been in production for 36 years from 1985 to 2021 and, maybe you wouldn't expect it from FIAT, those engines were reliable. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fully_Integrated_Robotised_Eng...
In the couple years I've owned my (now) 10 year old wee-Fiat I think I've opened the hood once, when I first bought it, just to confirm the engine was actually there. Other than that, what engine?
Probably should pop it open (heh, Fiat Pop, no pun intended) to fix the headlight which has been out for about a year but it was a lot easier to get a (free) veteran's plate than poke around in there and you pretty much have to commit vehicular homicide in front of a cop to get pulled over with a veteran's plates so... I mean, it came with an extra headlight for a reason.
But, yeah, tiny little engine for a tiny little car which does it's job without issue, what's not to love?