370GT k's on motor

[threeseventygt]

I own a 370gt, does anyone know when the motor starts having issues and things start going wrong at a certain amount of k's? Mine are at 200,000 k's right now.

 

The only issue iv had so far is smoke blowing, as oil is getting into/on the spark plug, every 4 months or so I need to change it.

[GTSBoy]

2 hours ago, threeseventygt said:

The only issue iv had so far is smoke blowing, as oil is getting into/on the spark plug, every 4 months or so I need to change it.

So, that's likely rings, which is not a small issue. It's the beginning of the end.

[threeseventygt]

If I replaced the rings it would fix it though, yeah? The rings are the seals? Nothing else can go wrong from having bad ring(s)? 

[Duncan]

Unfortunately replacing rings is an engine out rebuild, you would do bearings and seals at the same time, likely cost 5-10k.

Before you did that you would do a compression test to confirm it was rings not something in the head, and unless the car is running terrible you would almost certainly just live with it and top the oil up between changes.

Another possible (more likely) reason for burning a bit of oil on a mid age engine modern engine is the valve stem steals leaking. You would generally notice that most the longer since you last ran the car, it would burn a bit of oil as it first warms up then you probably wouldn't notice it after that. As with rings, you would probably just live with it; it is possible to fix in the car with a bit of fiddling but it would still be a big job. I've previously improved but not fixed older valve stem seals using an oil additive like this https://www.liquimoly.com.au/2782-engine-oil-resealer

[threeseventygt]

Thanks for that, my partner said what you said is exactly what he knew was wrong with the car when I read it.

I would like to know though what you think the average life expectancy of the engine would be?

 

Thank you

[GTSBoy]

13 minutes ago, threeseventygt said:

I would like to know though what you think the average life expectancy of the engine would be?

It's a bell curve. Some will last infinitely longer than the average, through luck and/or good maintenance. Others will shit the bed as you drive out of the dealer - from bad luck. Others will crap out before 100000km - from bad maintenance. I don't think these VQs have any particular famous weaknesses (ie, oil pump drives, timing idlers, etc, the sorts of things that are famous on various other engines, from RBs to BMWs).

And it's not the 1980s anymore, where manufacturers make simple fatal mistakes like completely stuffing up the design of the ring pack or the ring material. Treated correctly, engines just don't wear the way that they used to - can run for >500000km. But there's always those that don't get treated correctly, even if it's only for a while, and then you end up with ring wear, or bad valve stem seals.

External failures are more common these days. Plastic intake manifolds, valve timing actuators, coil packs, etc etc.

[Duncan]

Totally agree....life of the engine will depend on treatment, maintenance and dumb luck due to the tolerances involved. You can expect trouble very early for any manufacturing/assembly issues, then anywhere between 150,000-500,000 for life issues.

Also worth noting that a properly rebuilt engine (rings, bearings, seals and correct tolerances) resets those estimates, so if you really like the car it is a valid option

[threeseventygt]

ok thanks heaps for your help everyone

[niZmO_Man]

What oil are you using? I suggest going to a thicker oil since engine is worn.