Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Engine Tech => Topic started by: White85GS on December 28, 2014, 09:34:54 PM

Title: Life span of a 2.3t
Post by: White85GS on December 28, 2014, 09:34:54 PM
What's the most miles/KM's anyone has gotten out of a 2.3t (hot or cold air), without a rebuild? I know n/a Lima's have gone as much as 500K mi.
Title: Life span of a 2.3t
Post by: Ramos617 on December 28, 2014, 10:04:27 PM
The engine in my 87 TC came from an 86 TC and has right under 300k
When I installed it in my 87 I did replace all the gaskets and the rod and main bearing but left the stock pistons and piston rings since the stock style chrome rings are not available anymore
It also has a reman head on it which was installed about a month ago
The old head still ran good but it had too many cracks to be worth putting any money into
Engine burns zero oil and has zero leaks so I'm happy

I'm sure if I left the engine alone it probably would have made it to 400k no probs
Title: Life span of a 2.3t
Post by: Haystack on December 28, 2014, 10:22:09 PM
I test drove a few with around 250k.

If an engine is well taken care of, and the oil changed they can last quite a while.
Title: Life span of a 2.3t
Post by: Beau on December 28, 2014, 11:02:25 PM
They'll last till they stop. ;)

The "stop" however depends on how well it was maintained, and how it was treated. It's all subjective in the end.

But I'd put faith in one lasting a hell of a lot longer than the buzzin' half-dozen that spits HG's like an ole redneck does his chaw..
Title: Life span of a 2.3t
Post by: White85GS on December 28, 2014, 11:06:30 PM
Quote from: ThunderbirdSport302;442091
But I'd put faith in one lasting a hell of a lot longer than the buzzin' half-dozen that spits HG's like an ole redneck does his chaw..
Oh, the 3.8, took me a second, lol

Side note: 88+ were the worst offenders
Title: Life span of a 2.3t
Post by: Beau on December 29, 2014, 02:57:20 AM
I'm 50/50 on the '88 3.8....one of mine failed horribly with little abuse...the other took all I could give it many bad nights blasting down a gravel road at 2 AM not giving a  if I lived or died.
And what killed that one was simply letting it sit for a couple of weeks, then going to retrieve it, forgetting to add oil, and basically ventilating the block via piston rod. Had a gnarly rear main seal leak...I was overlooking a lot of things, still reeling from being lied to by someone I had put a lot of time into.

Anyway.....
Title: Life span of a 2.3t
Post by: turbotrav on December 29, 2014, 08:15:34 AM
The lima 2.3 turbo or non turbo....lasts forever....with minimal work....pretty cheap speed if you ask me.

Travis