Best advice for engine longevity?

[V50 Craig]

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone has advice on the best things to do to prolong the life of an engine. Basically, thanks to poor geographical planning on my part, my home to work roundtrip is approx 120 miles a day, and I work between 5 and 7 days a week depending how busy things are. As you can imagine this adds up quickly. I'm a huge hiking fan too so on my days off I'm constantly travelling to different hiking locations. The result of this is I've done just shy of 20,000 miles since the end of November. The engine is now just over 112k and its a 2008 v50 2.0d.

Now, I would say probably 80% of my driving is up and down the M4 and I tend to cruise in the slow lane at 60mph 99% of the time, so I dont abuse the car. When I bought it it had full service history and it's booked in for it's 3rd service since being in my ownership.

Short of your regular fluid and filter changes, is there anything else I do to keep the engine in top condition? It's recently had a new clutch and DMF and the timing belt/water pump was changed on purchase. I want it to see 200k miles, which at its current rate will probably be in around 2.5 years time.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

[Sotosound]

Originally Posted by V50 Craig

Hi all,

I'm wondering if anyone has advice on the best things to do to prolong the life of an engine. Basically, thanks to poor geographical planning on my part, my home to work roundtrip is approx 120 miles a day, and I work between 5 and 7 days a week depending how busy things are. As you can imagine this adds up quickly. I'm a huge hiking fan too so on my days off I'm constantly travelling to different hiking locations. The result of this is I've done just shy of 20,000 miles since the end of November. The engine is now just over 112k and its a 2008 v50 2.0d.

Now, I would say probably 80% of my driving is up and down the M4 and I tend to cruise in the slow lane at 60mph 99% of the time, so I dont abuse the car. When I bought it it had full service history and it's booked in for it's 3rd service since being in my ownership.

Short of your regular fluid and filter changes, is there anything else I do to keep the engine in top condition? It's recently had a new clutch and DMF and the timing belt/water pump was changed on purchase. I want it to see 200k miles, which at its current rate will probably be in around 2.5 years time.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

The fact that you're doing so many miles will help. Doing lots of short journeys would do the opposite.

Following the service schedule will help and if you fancy changing the engine oil halfway between services then that won't do any harm.

If looked after properly, that Ford/PSA engine will probably get you past 200K without an issue but my suspicion is that it won't last as long as a Volvo engine, so I'd look to move the car on at around 200K. By then, it's resale value will be very low, but you will have gotten massive value out of it.

[V50 Craig]

Originally Posted by Sotosound

The fact that you're doing so many miles will help. Doing lots of short journeys would do the opposite.

Following the service schedule will help and if you fancy changing the engine oil halfway between services then that won't do any harm.

If looked after properly, that Ford/PSA engine will probably get you past 200K without an issue but my suspicion is that it won't last as long as a Volvo engine, so I'd look to move the car on at around 200K. By then, it's resale value will be very low, but you will have gotten massive value out of it.

Yeah that's my plan to be honest. There aren't too many modern engines that will comfortably continue to sail past 200k problem free even with good maintenence. This is my general car cycle, keep it 2/3 years, look after it and change it near the 200k mark. This is why ill never buy a newer car as the depreciation would kill me with the mileage going up so quickly

[Sphinx2000]

If its an auto, look at getting the gearbox oil and filter changed. As well as diff oil.

[The Thong]

Interim oil changes are a good way of reducing engine wear. I used to service my old 2ltr DOHC Sierra every 6.5k miles, the bore wear was minimal at 130k after it was inspected after a head gasket failure. I used to fit a new filter every other service and I was using Castrol Semi Synthetic, I was happy with the results and so was the garage it seems.

TT

[AndyV7o]

Just do what you do, and service every 12k rather than extended oci. Dont labour the engine often, and dont be scared to use the revs once up to temp.

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Sphinx2000

If its an auto, look at getting the gearbox oil and filter changed. As well as diff oil.

If it is an auto , it is on the 50000 service schedule to change it's gearbox oil and filter this is essential for long life .

[V50 Craig]

Thanks for all the replies. It's a 6 speed manual not an auto, however a few weeks ago the gearbox came off to have a driveshaft input bearing replaced, so obviously fresh oil was put in it then. Just fingers crossed it lasts the time!

[BrianH]

245 GL 1989 1986cc CI (constant injection) converted to LPG at 151k.
This engine went to 500k where the cylinder pressure went down 11 bar. Volvo minimum 9 bar. It was slowing down, too slow to tow the caravan, but was still doing 5k ltr of oil.


Now a used 2326cc from Braydon Motors London for £265 while another 2.3ltr is being rebuilt, this cost £150 for ebay. The 2ltr could not be bored out as it would break through to the water ways. Shame!

In order in my opinion what matters.

1. Very clean oil always. This is achieved with by-pass oil filtration. The ordinary full flow filters to 16 micron. At quarter flow the larger by-pass filters to 2 micron. Interference at the piston ring and bore interface is 6 micron. Herein I think lies the secret to long life. Before you change the oil you send a sample to the North Wales Laboratory for a detailed analysis, this tells you change or go to the next service period. A detailed report picks up fuel, coolant, and all the metal wear rates. Generally, my change rates for the 2ltr engine was 70k. Once it was 150k.


2 LPG is clean fuel little carbon gets into the oil. No particulates, no NOX. Current cost 59.9ppl. TfL seem happy with this to. Conversion paid for its self in 2 years, but only petrol engines with hard heads will last.


3. Engine preheaters. I had the Kenlowe original but was not as reliable as the Volvo engine. There was a modification to switch on the cab heater fan when up to temperature. Hard work though.

4. Quality 0/30 fully synthetic oil.

5. Often thought a filter system on the gear box would be good as the my M47 gearbox started bulking at 5k miles.

bobistheoilguy is a good place to get information.

Regular maintenance of course. Garages don't like bypass filters.


BrianH
800 to 1000mls a week