I once killed an Audi GT, a 1986, with metal fatigue.

It had about 225,000 miles on it and all I did was put in a new clutch and PP. But the thing started to handle funny and I found I had cracked the engine sub-frame.

And then I could not find one that was not cracked in the wrecking yards, and a new one was $650.

So yes, it can be done. All it takes is a lot of abuse!

This is the 3.4 that was in my wifes 4 Runner. If it had a good timing chain system in lieu of the belt, it might be one of the best engines ever IMHO.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

Back in the late 80s, when I was living in Tucson, a friend of mine asked if I had time to look at a Nissan truck belonging to a friend of his; it was running a little ragged and apparently needed a tune-up. I said sure, so his friend brought it by. I don't recall exactly, but it was around a 1980 model, four cylinder. I started talking to him about it to see what we might need to do at 120,000 miles.

Turns out he'd bought it with about 40,000 miles on the clock. Other than replacing things that completely wore out (like a battery and brakes) he'd never changed anything. No plugs, no coolant, no brake fluid...not even oil. Nope, he'd simply been adding oil whenever it needed it.

I spent a while getting it back in somewhat ship-shape order for him and it was still running okay when I moved away a couple of years later. I don't know how much he shortened the engine's life by never changing oil (or filter), but I was impressed it had made it even that far.

Imm now looking for a decient 88-2002 v6 chevy or GMC -longbed , ive given up on finding a nice old 4wd yoda-- every one here has been too molested by dumbass kids--like bobbing the last foot of the bed and other nonsense.

It took me two solid years of hunting to find the 93 I have now. You're right. Every other one i looked at was one giant jacked up wrinkle with no bumpers, cracked glass, cracked frame and dopey teen macho stickers all over it and they STILL wanted 4K for them and GOT it.

I just happened to open up CL for the day about 5 minutes after the original owner of mine posted it for sale for 2900 bucks with a nice shell. I called him and said "if your descriptions and pics are honest and you've got the paperwork you say you have I can be there in 45 minutes and I'll give you asking price. I'm leaving the house now, don't sell it. Please!

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

Around here those trucks don't really have such a great reputation, all the newer Tacoma's have rusty or cracking frames. Last time I was at the Toyota dealer they had 3-4 in parts out back waiting for a new frame. One of the guys that works for my dad had an 03 or 04 that Toyota bought back because it was about to break in half. He brought it in for tires and the tire guys got underneath it and were like no, were not touching it. So he brought it to the dealer, and in Toyota's defense they gave him 1.5 times the value.

The 80's and 90's vintage ones have long turned to dust in my area.

OTOH my 7 year old GM truck looks like new underneath, +1 for GM.

Oh and a ton of GM and Ford trucks run that kind of mileage without a rebuild. I know of a couple 6.0's running around with 300k or in one case 400k plus on them and nothing but a few plug and coolant changes. Modern truck engines are almost maintenance free. On the GM's they say you have to change the plugs at 100k but they usually look like new, so its more like 200k or never. Coolant is every 5 years, and oil is only when the OLM calls for it which is every 5k-15k depending on what you drive. Very long lived, low maintenance motors.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

OK, I'm wrong about model number of a crappy engine in a vehicle that I haven't seen in more than 15 years. But, you get my point; tens of thousands of them required major work that wouldn't have been necessary had Toy done their homework...Toy should be ashamed, that engine was seriously under-engineered.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Yeah Hat, in rust country, the game changes. Down here, that's not a factor. You're right about the Ford's and Chevy's. Most ANYTHING today, if even a little bit cared for, will give high mileage.

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2001 SLK 320 six speed manual
2014 Porsche Cayenne six speed manual

Annoy a Liberal, Read the Constitution

I had a 90 4 runner that had the 3.0 v-6. 220k it got traded off. The main issue we had with it was it kept blowing head gaskets every 40K. After the 2nd time the dealer wound up replacing one head. Good vehicle,went like a badger through the snow,sand and mud. BUT the 150hp motor wasnt worth crap in a hilly area.

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86 300SDL. 250,xxx on #14 Head. One eye always on temp gauge.. Cruising towards 300K

Same with the pickup Thing One had...ran like a top until about 190k and then started in on left bank head gaskets. After about 50-60k miles and gasket #2 I said enough is enough and sold the POS as was.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

22RE for me. I've never trusted the V6.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

X2

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

Had an 89 Camry with the 2.5 v-6 (same motor) gas mileage was deplorable for a little car..... 14 in town 21 highway trips.
Ran hot, and just didn't seem suited for the car, and very hard to work on crammed into a small space...
It didn't seem toyota-ish.

I had a very nice, first year 1984 4runner; I loved that rugged truck except the carbed 22r just didn't have enough power & That is the only reason I sold it.

I was shown a 1982 Toyota farm truck with 440,000 miles on it, all original motor; the owners were going to see how long it would last with the same sporadic maintenance and abuse...... Cats would get in and out through the rust holes.

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"Our Lady of Blessed Acceleration...
don't Fail Us Now"