Low KM engine failures

[kalex]

Just wondering how many of you have had vehicles that have experienced non fixable engine failures at lowish km's, ie under 100,000km?
I recently had to put a new engine in my wifes '08 Ford Focus Diesel with 97,000km on it. I have owned it for 2 years and it has a full service history. Mechanics said the bearings were gone due to no oil pressure. Ford agreed and wanted $9000 for a new engine Ended up with a engine with 40,000 on it for $2600.
It seems that engine failures are becoming more common these days and very costly.
Have you experienced similar?

[jimc1]

I have been told that car manufacturers no longer notch the crank bearings, so they can slowly rotate in their journal..blocking the oil hole. (I am not a mechanic so if I am using incorrect terminology I apologise).


The motor I am referring to is a 2.7ltr diesel found in a good number of different brands. For the quantity of these engines in use, the failure rate is incredibly small however if its your $40K car that has a shagged engine, you would be pretty annoyed laying out another $10k on a long motor...as you cant buy replacement bearings, genuine ones at least.

[fishfinder]

I have been told that car manufacturers no longer notch the crank bearings, so they can slowly rotate in their journal..blocking the oil hole. 

Never heard of that but have been out of the engine game for about 5 years now.FYI they're called locating tangs

[McGirr]

A 2000 model Landcruiser with only 136,000 on the clock. New recon motor and air conditioner total $11,000. The mechanics are stumped why it went.

Mark

[Jon]

2004 model petrol rodeo, used no oil up to 80k service, after service used 5 litres per week

GMH sealed and monitored oil use for 1 month then replaced the motor, diagnosis was mechanic/apprentice/someone used transmission fluid in the engine at the service as the engine was noisy when I picked it up after the service.
I went back in to comment and the just said "yeah, it's got lots of valves, it's going to be noisy"
Dickheads.

[gronk]

You're always going to get a percentage of failures in engines.....even for high quality "name" brands...

All components are prone to failure, although the better quality engines are less likely..

That's of course if the engine hasn't got known inherent problems ( like the Patrol 3 ltr time bomb ).............

If you're lucky, and your engine has a weak link ( or part ), it fails while it's still under warranty !

[achjimmy]

As fish finder said there called tangs, but should the motor be machined correctly and the bearings made correctly they are not needed. The slipper bearings are made with "crush" which will hold them correctly and stop spinning. You should never rely on the tang to prevent a bearing from spinning. i have seen a lot of motors with "spun" bearings that have had "tangs" .

[dazzler]

We are asking too much of our modern diesel engines.  If you think back before common rail diesels they lasted forever unless you skimped on the servicing.

The 3L (2.8diesel) fitted to hilux was a classic.  Leave it stock, oil filter every 5k and the thing would last forever.  Skimp on the oil or put a turbo on and boom chicka chicka.

Our obsession with wanting a diesel for super economy but as fast as a petrol is biting us on our butts.

[Moto Mech]

We are asking too much of our modern diesel engines.  If you think back before common rail diesels they lasted forever unless you skimped on the servicing.

The 3L (2.8diesel) fitted to hilux was a classic.  Leave it stock, oil filter every 5k and the thing would last forever.  Skimp on the oil or put a turbo on and boom chicka chicka.

Our obsession with wanting a diesel for super economy but as fast as a petrol is biting us on our butts.

I reacon youve got it in one. There making smaller capacity engines but dragging double the power out of them. Also usually they have smaller filters and smaller oil capacity.
It will be a worrying time for anyone buying second hand diesels.

[achjimmy]

And heaven save you if you overheat a modern engine, pretty much assign it to death.

[achjimmy]

We are asking too much of our modern diesel engines.  If you think back before common rail diesels they lasted forever unless you skimped on the servicing.

The 3L (2.8diesel) fitted to hilux was a classic.  Leave it stock, oil filter every 5k and the thing would last forever.  Skimp on the oil or put a turbo on and boom chicka chicka.

Our obsession with wanting a diesel for super economy but as fast as a petrol is biting us on our butts.

Yeah I agree with the exception of the turbo, many Diesel engines have lasted lifetimes with blowers on them. Just need to be well built.

[Barry G]

...
It will be a worrying time for anyone buying second hand diesels.

Which why my Monterey is a petrol engine, although the turbo diesels are reliable, provided they have been rigorously maintained.

[dazzler]

Which why my Monterey is a petrol engine, although the turbo diesels are reliable, provided they have been rigorously maintained.

Funny that - the Jackaroo was the first of the real intro to high performance diesels.  They were a sweet powerplant but as you say, turned turtle when given a sniff of the wrong grade of oil.

[achjimmy]

Yeah the pins oval out if you are not on top of changes, but they are solid ours will probably hit  300k soon.  I always thought the izuzu V6 a POS would crack heads very easily. But here seems to be some who have had excellent runs.

[jclures]

It wont be the first time I have reard of an engine blowing up, and then finding out that the engine was run without oil, the owner knot being told.
One instance the engine bung had not been fitted, new oil added, taken for a test drive. The survo then tried to cover up the mistake and blame unknower causes.
I heard a story only recently of a rather large mining dump truck this was done to, when it shut down on the shutdown system it was then over riden to start, $500,000 later fixed.

[kalex]

After the Focus failure, it is making me rethink any further diesel purchases. Even only using 5.8l/100km it takes a long time to recoup from putting a new engine in.
All up the new engine cost me more than my 4wd is worth ('95 Discovery V8)

[D4D]

There's a D4D Prado currently having an engine rebuild in Kununurra, 100,000 klms $18K.

[kalex]

There's a D4D Prado currently having an engine rebuild in Kununurra, 100,000 klms $18K.

$18,000
Is that just the engine or was there more involved?

[GeoffA]

There's a D4D Prado currently having an engine rebuild in Kununurra, 100,000 klms $18K.

But there are only 4 cylinders.......

I like my OLD SCHOOL.....

[D4D]

$18,000
Is that just the engine or was there more involved?

Long motor, turbo & WA Tax

[Tjupurula]

People are saying low kilometres, which is a fair comment I guess, but Brad, the owner of Kununurra Diesel Service (yes he is a mate and I would promote his busness unashamedly), told me that every km in my vehicle is worth about 5 km in a city vehicle, as our roads are unforgiving.  I guess I wpould wonder what I would therefore conside to be low km's.
Tjupurula

[dazzler]

Yeah I agree with the exception of the turbo, many Diesel engines have lasted lifetimes with blowers on them. Just need to be well built.

I meant aftermarket turbo.

[Jeepers Creepers]

I've seen a few engines at the drags fail with very little "miles" on 'em.

Always a good look with the rods punching windows into the cylinder block and a sump full o' lumps.

[GeoffA]

.......
Always a good look with the rods punching windows into the cylinder block and a sump full o' lumps.

PCV ......

[GGV8Cruza]

But there are only 4 cylinders.......

I like my OLD SCHOOL.....

I come from the same school

GG