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albertq (Jun 10, 2025), clydeman (Jun 15, 2025), KustomsbyKent (Jun 10, 2025), marksbug (Jun 15, 2025), that_other_guy (Jun 10, 2025)
A lot of that can be attributed to the newer formulations of anti-freeze coolant. When the primary metal used in engines became aluminum new formulations needed to be invented. It was also to meet the more stringent environmental laws. selling coolant as a 50/50 mix meant if coolant had to be added you were supposed to use the mixed stuff and never add plain water except in emergencies and then it was recommended to use distilled water
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Frank S (Jun 10, 2025)
there are stull some issues with production runs like everything else. the gm 2.0turbbo direct injected engine (LNF ecotec)from 2007 to around 2009 had a rash of pumps go bad in warranty and just out of it. and stupid gm runs that pump off a chain...behind the timing cover, the chain also operated the 2 out of balance balance shafts...those engines also had rubber sealed thermostats that the rubber swelled up in the thermostat causing sticking and leeking then the compuuter takes over and puts car in limp home mode...also the 2.4 ecotec non turbo had that junk thermostat.it's these out sourced parts for the lowest price that gets the blame. but they build to gm's specs. IMHO the **** made these days is not as good as the **** made in the 60's&70's but we do have much much better oils.
When I hear tht an engine is porously designed ot require not one but two out of balance, balance shafts I call tht selectivly lazy poor engineering practices.
There are a few things which have improved or had up to a point then has taken several steps backwards then forwards again
At the begining of the automobile industry cast iron blocks had to be seasoned or aged for two years before machining This was because the iron ore couldn't be processed well enough at the time. The Blume needed beat to remove the impurities. then the BLUME was smelted into iron and poured as castings. At that time it was not well known which minor metals could strengthen and stabilize the iron. As it became better known by the 40s.
The first and second world wars contributed greatly to the advancement of better stronger castings such as adding manganese molybdenum chromium silicone even different carbon molecules to name a few. Since in war time it was not possible to allow a casting two years to cure. Furnaces with higher temperatures Forging presses grew to absolute gargantuan proportions cast steel came into play drop forged steel and cast-iron forgings leading to higher quality machining processes. Aluminum alloys advanced alongside of iron and steel
Better knowledge of how to bond dissimilar metals for bearings and higher quality crankshafts camshafts and such when coupled with the improved oils we now have engines which could run indefinitely Diesel truck engines during the early 2000s that regularly ran for one two and even three million miles.
Then in 2007 some idiot decided that what was really needed was to add a bunch of emissions controls because diesel was being reformulated to meet cleaner air standards much of which was good on paper because who doesn't want to breathe cleaner air. in practice it began to shorten the engine life. So, add more controls and still more controls Fuel economy went down engine failures increased. Until now Some of the newest large trucks on the road are almost never actually on the road because they spend more time in a service bay costing tens and tens of thousands of dollars and never completely curing the problems, in some cases making them worse instead of better.
Last edited by Frank S; Jun 15, 2025 at 02:43 PM.
Never try to tell me it can't be done
When I have to paint I use KBS products
I personally dont believe the shorter life is from the "emissions crap" as for the balance shafts.. thats not the engine thats the coustomer that dosent want a "vibration" the engine isant out of balance but the longer strokes and weight savings of the modern crankshafts. on 4 cylinders make the engine " vibrate" but not a out of balance vibrate. so lets add some balance shafts to smooth out the seat of the pants feal...those shafts also use up hp and millage...and wear stuff out...as well as adding weight to the vehicle. many of the failures are due to cost cutting crap. like thinner castings or bigger holes in castings, leaving out supports in the castings that tie one serface to another. gm had major issues with the gen5 big block heads as so many supports were removed and thinner castings..result blown head gaskets from the head getting dips in it where the supports were, as well as the seats moving around... ex sets moved a **** load as it heat cycled causing the seat to sink on one section...( intragel seats not removable just part of the casting and hardned.) once you do a valve job and serface the heads...there good to go as the iron has found it's happy place. look at all the new gm v8s discentragrating....the fix put thicker oil in... like gm does all the time its a patch.nothing has been fixed.
I don't fool around much with gasoline engines if I can avoid them. But when you return burn exhaust gases into the intake of a diesel you are going to cause it to slowly self-destruct. There is little enough lubricity left in the ultra-low Sulphur diesel to begin with. once you burn it the only thing left is carbon in the form of already once burned hydrocarbons these are mixed with the fresh air lowering the overall oxygen content at higher boost pressures when under a strain requiring more fuel to achieve the Torque needed to pull the heavier loads. Then to cap it off the engine has to run hotter, or the computer will throw it into regen mode holding the engine at a higher RPM. failing to regen it will go into limp mode leaving the truck without enough power to pull even a modest load in any but the lowest gears
Right now, there is only one engine manufacture in the world that I know of who can make a 750HP heavy duty truck diesel engine which requires almost zero emissions add on's to meet the USA's emissions requirements. That is Saania Cummins has gone back to living up to the name it had in the 1980s 'come apart'
Detroit had a good thing in the second-generation series 60s not so sure now since I don't know anyone who owns one of the newer engines. Caterpillar completely pulled out of the truck engine market and is trying to get back in. Volvo/Renault/Mack maybe the Renault has been dropped makes the smallest displacement engines while trying to maintain the 500 to 550 HP range. The heavy haul guys I know hate their Pack more engines. Deutz and Mercedes were never very popular in the states Isuzu Was among the first diesels put in trucks but never made it itself very well Kown in the larger truck engines. Perkins is strong in countries like Turkey and in other European countries. Daff, and Mann used to be big in Europe don't know about anymore though.
One of the reasons why I don't fool with gasoline engines is I don't care for cars, and when the big three dropped the last of their inline 6's they missed the boat. for a longevity engine. Sure, they weren't power houses Who actually needs a vehicle that will do 0 to 60 in 3 seconds, but for the most part they had a fair reputation for fuel economy and were almost bullet proof even with poor maintenance practices.
If you absolutely want a good V8 graft the Ls upper to a cast iron small Block. It can be done.
Never try to tell me it can't be done
When I have to paint I use KBS products
It can be done...
[https://www.hotrod.com/how-to/gm-l83...ogle_vignette]
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