# How long will an engine last? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 1, 2007, 3:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153 "2007-07-01T03:54:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jat1190](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jat1190](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jat1190)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 3:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/1 "2007-07-01T03:54:12Z")
I have 210,000 miles on my vehicle. Gets the same mileage as on mile 1 and burns no oil and has same amount of power. How mamy more miles can I expect? I would like to go to 300,000. ---
**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 4:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/2 "2007-07-01T04:41:56Z")
No one can say. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. Speaking for myself and some of my relatives and in-laws, we have gotten 400k+ on a number of vehicles and they were still running well. Eventually boredom sets in. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![armtdm](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/armtdm/32/26_2.png) [@armtdm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/armtdm)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 2:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/3 "2007-07-01T14:05:54Z")
today it is usually something else that causes a vehicle to be discarded, the engines just keep on going, modern engines and better oils, gas etc. the otehr problems, transmissions, struts, suspension etc give out before the engines ---
**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 2:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/4 "2007-07-01T14:17:30Z")
Your engine will last to the 300K miles mark but that is many years away. In between now and then your A/C will take a major hit about the same time your transmission dies, and you need a new set of tires anyway. Tough call; you’ll cross that bridge when you come to it. ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 5:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/5 "2007-07-01T17:57:45Z")
I got 325K miles on my truck before my wife got into a fight with a retaining wall. The wall won, as always. I was going for 1/2 million, and felt I could reach it. Still, I sold the engine for $800. Still miss that truck. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/6 "2007-07-01T23:04:22Z")
What kind of car? What type of maintenance do you do? What type of driving do you do? Details? I currently have an '89 accord with 430,000 miles on it, I’m going for half a million. ---
**Author:** ![bscar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bscar/32/34_2.png) [@bscar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bscar)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2007, 11:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/7 "2007-07-01T23:54:38Z")
Yeah, it’s called Jiffy Lube. 😛 Like with all things, the engine will last until you wreck the car, you lose a bunch of oil all at once, or you get tired of the car itself. Just depends on how much money you’re willing to spend. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 3:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/8 "2007-07-02T15:30:50Z")
How big is your wallet and how is your luck 🙂 At 210k miles I would be gracious for every day the vehicle start and runs without issue at this point. Remember 150k-200k is the period most modern vehicle have without major issue. Your past the point now so don’t expect miracles. ---
**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 3:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/9 "2007-07-02T15:31:59Z")
What I mean above is that NEW through 150-200k is the typical period of ownership across all cars without major issue. ---
**Author:** ![mcparadise](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcparadise/32/32_2.png) [@mcparadise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcparadise)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/10 "2007-07-02T15:34:46Z")
Many vehicles go over 300K on their original engine. Keep following the maintenance schedule and watch the miles rack up. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/11 "2007-07-03T01:01:58Z")
I have 117K on my 98 explorer. I want to keep it a long time. All is well. Very few items have gone wrong. I am trying to find the answer to this: After 120K miles do you start using the service manual from zero miles and fix/do maintenance all over again at the recommanded mileage? My manual runs out at 120K. Are there service manuals made for over 120K miles? Thanks for any ideas. Bruce ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 1:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/12 "2007-07-03T01:33:40Z")
300k is plausible however it has to be over a reasonable period of years. Engines seem to have a life of about 12 years/200k miles before major repair. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 3:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/13 "2007-07-03T03:49:18Z")
No one knows but 400,000 is not unrealistic. ---
**Author:** ![Craig58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3da27b/32.png) [@Craig58](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Craig58)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 3:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/14 "2007-07-03T03:54:19Z")
LOL. mine is currently 380K miles at 25 years and counting. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2007, 5:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/how-long-will-an-engine-last/1153/15 "2007-07-03T05:00:20Z")
All engines are NOT created equal…A 20-22R Toyota or a 318 Chrysler will run FOREVER but a Subaru, maybe not…