How long will these 5.0's last?
4th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,107
From: Virginia
How long is a rope? That's a question that is framed in the same way as the question in the original post.
A rope might be five feet long if used for a piggin' string, or 35 feet long if used for a lariat. An engine might not last until it's warmed up good, or it might go a million miles. It's almost totally determined by two things; how it's maintained and how it's driven.
Today's engines regardless of brand or size or configuration are ALL long lived. The reason?????...... Electronic Fuel Injection! There are several other less important factors that improve todays engine life, but EFI is BY FAR the most dramatic.
With EFI, you don't have a choke on a carburetor that is mostly not working properly or misused. Even if the choke is working properly, you are still dribbling raw fuel droplets down the cylinder walls during cold starts washing all the oil off the cylinder walls.
Additionally, EFI under most all driving conditions, while in closed loop mode, maintains a constant air/fuel ratio. Thanks to knock sensors, the system also prevents preignition which is a SERIOUS engine destroyer.
Add to EFI, the less dramatic of todays improvements including better lubricants, more precise parts machining and improved cylinder/piston/ring material packages, among a few other things and you have engines with the capability to last forever if maintained properly.
BTW, the highest miles I've ever put on an engine is 533K miles. If you're curious, it is a Mercedes diesel. The reason for the long life of diesel engines is a whole different story.
A rope might be five feet long if used for a piggin' string, or 35 feet long if used for a lariat. An engine might not last until it's warmed up good, or it might go a million miles. It's almost totally determined by two things; how it's maintained and how it's driven.
Today's engines regardless of brand or size or configuration are ALL long lived. The reason?????...... Electronic Fuel Injection! There are several other less important factors that improve todays engine life, but EFI is BY FAR the most dramatic.
With EFI, you don't have a choke on a carburetor that is mostly not working properly or misused. Even if the choke is working properly, you are still dribbling raw fuel droplets down the cylinder walls during cold starts washing all the oil off the cylinder walls.
Additionally, EFI under most all driving conditions, while in closed loop mode, maintains a constant air/fuel ratio. Thanks to knock sensors, the system also prevents preignition which is a SERIOUS engine destroyer.
Add to EFI, the less dramatic of todays improvements including better lubricants, more precise parts machining and improved cylinder/piston/ring material packages, among a few other things and you have engines with the capability to last forever if maintained properly.
BTW, the highest miles I've ever put on an engine is 533K miles. If you're curious, it is a Mercedes diesel. The reason for the long life of diesel engines is a whole different story.
in limbo
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,300
From: Iowa
my motor had 400k(reported to me by previous owner) on it before it was rebuilt and all it really needed was some new valve cover gaskets. my car was beat to hell when i bought it and in really bad condition. trans i dont think was original since i have a 92+ tailshaft with a pre 92 overdrive set up. it was in good condition when i rebuilt it though, just needed some new blocker rings is all.
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 366
From:
my stang has about 215000 km on it, from the engine to the rear end and obviously on the body. i got it with a little over 200 000 on it about 3 years ago when i was 17 now, im now 19, i have modified my car to make more power, beat on it daily weather premiting and it takes it all, i love my 5.0 i would never get rid of it.
Yukon Cornelius
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 11,812
From: deep in the heart of dixie GEORGIA
ive got 186k currently on my fox runs really strong, only thing i need for it is to change the oil pan gasket. i plan on pulling the motor and detailing the engine bay when i do the gasket. gonna paint the compartment black instead of the white 
