Does increased performance cause a decrease in engine lifespan?

[Sport]

What do you guys think? Lets say for example, a bone stock 360 with a fixed plenum, vs a 360 with the works, cams, heads, tuner, and a full exhaust. Both engines are regularly maintained. Which one do you think would last longer?

Obviously one of those engines is a lot more fun but this is just hypothetical.

 

[Grown in Tx.]

I think you can add what ever you want to a motor and it will last just as long, now if you drove one like a hot rod and the other like grandma, grandma's truck is gonna last longer no matter which motor she had. Imo it's the high rpm's that kill the motor.

 

[Merc225hp]

It comes down to how it's maintained, person spends big bucks building a motor good chance that person will take care of it. Grandpa/ma don't care if it gets an oil change when it needs one. I see more failed motors owned by older people.

 

[darthdzl]

If engines were tuned from the factory for maximum efficiency (not just fuel efficiency but combustion and performance efficiency), then the answer would be yes.

But they're not. A lot of mild performance enhancements can/do actually increase the combustion or performance efficiency of the engine, sometimes indirectly increasing reliability as well. That's not to say all of them do, and that's only up to a point.

So it's not an easy answer, but here's the bottom line:

If you're doing mild performance increases, and you don't do anything stupid, your engine will likely last as long, if not longer (maybe, if you're lucky).

If you're adding a ****load of power, you'll probably see a shorter engine life but not dramatically shorter unless you (again) do something stupid.

The whole thing depends on what mods you're doing and driving and maintenance habits. Frankly, those will determine your engine's life far more than whether or not you mod it (once again, unless you do something stupid to it).

EDIT: Needless to say, if you're doing this to a 2nd Gen, your engine probably has some miles on it. Make sure the engine is completely healthy before doing anything to it.

Does that help at all?

TL;DR: If you're gonna do some mild mods, do it and stop worrying.

 

[dapepper9]

Like Merc who takes awesome care of his engine will likely have am engine that lasts a long time.

Me on the other hand who beats the **** out of mine likely won't lol

 

[dodge dude94]

These engines last a long time regardless....soooo modded and beaten it'll last about the same length of time as a Chevy 5.3.

 

[1SilverBullet2]

I wouldn't worry too much about gas engines and wear on stock vs. modded. Diesels are a different topic.

 

[darthdzl]

I wouldn't worry too much about gas engines and wear on stock vs. modded. Diesels are a different topic.

Not necessarily. Diesels are a perfect example of the "make it more efficient, and you make more power" mantra. Up to a certain point, performance mods on a diesel actually increases reliability, except where stupid emissions devices get in the way. Beyond that point, of course, is a different story, just like with a gasser.

(Not all emissions devices are stupid, but the ones the EPA saddled modern diesels with are idiotic in their execution.)

 

[1SilverBullet2]

Not necessarily. Diesels are a perfect example of the "make it more efficient, and you make more power" mantra. Up to a certain point, performance mods on a diesel actually increases reliability, except where stupid emissions devices get in the way. Beyond that point, of course, is a different story, just like with a gasser.



(Not all emissions devices are stupid, but the ones the EPA saddled modern diesels with are idiotic in their execution.)

I sorta beg to differ, I'm not saying your wrong but when you crank a diesel up, say a C15(I know it's not a pickup diesel) but when you turn it up to +650 hp the life of the bearings, packs, head gasket etc are lessened. Pickup diesels are a little different for the fact they're not pulling 60,000 lbs of weight either.


Sent from the howitzer

 

[darthdzl]

I sorta beg to differ, I'm not saying your wrong but when you crank a diesel up, say a C15(I know it's not a pickup diesel) but when you turn it up to +650 hp the life of the bearings, packs, head gasket etc are lessened. Pickup diesels are a little different for the fact they're not pulling 60,000 lbs of weight either.


Sent from the howitzer

That's why I said "up to a point". +650hp is beyond that point.

 

[1SilverBullet2]

That's why I said "up to a point". +650hp is beyond that point.

Such is true haha


Sent from the howitzer

 

[dapepper9]

Not necessarily. Diesels are a perfect example of the "make it more efficient, and you make more power" mantra. Up to a certain point, performance mods on a diesel actually increases reliability, except where stupid emissions devices get in the way. Beyond that point, of course, is a different story, just like with a gasser.

(Not all emissions devices are stupid, but the ones the EPA saddled modern diesels with are idiotic in their execution.)

After lift pump, injection pump, intake, exhaust, emissions delete, and some turbo upgrades, they begin losing reliability from what I've seen.

 

[1SilverBullet2]

After lift pump, injection pump, intake, exhaust, emissions delete, and some turbo upgrades, they begin losing reliability from what I've seen.

That's my point, honestly it's the higher engine temps that kill them and the fact people will then rod around with that new power and wear things down quicker.


Sent from the howitzer

 

[darthdzl]

After lift pump, injection pump, intake, exhaust, emissions delete, and some turbo upgrades, they begin losing reliability from what I've seen.

That would also be beyond that "certain point" I spoke of.

That's my point, honestly it's the higher engine temps that kill them and the fact people will then rod around with that new power and wear things down quicker.

That's true of any car: push it harder, make more heat, and you'll kill it sooner.

 

[Sport]

One thing I look at is that most performance enhancing modifications to an engine have something in common, they generally lead to the engine running leaner. My experience with autos is a bit limited, but I have done lots of work on motorcycle engines. On my race bike for example, bone stock I could get 300 hours out of it before needing a rebuild. Once I pulled a lot more power out of it, that schedule went to needing a rebuild every 100 hours, and this is with meticulous maintenance. Wouldn't a truck engine be the same case, but on a larger scale? Not as extreme, I would imagine, but I think there's a common theme with pulling more horsepower, decreasing the lifespan of the motor.

 

[darthdzl]

One thing I look at is that most performance enhancing modifications to an engine have something in common, they generally lead to the engine running leaner. My experience with autos is a bit limited, but I have done lots of work on motorcycle engines. On my race bike for example, bone stock I could get 300 hours out of it before needing a rebuild. Once I pulled a lot more power out of it, that schedule went to needing a rebuild every 100 hours, and this is with meticulous maintenance. Wouldn't a truck engine be the same case, but on a larger scale? Not as extreme, I would imagine, but I think there's a common theme with pulling more horsepower, decreasing the lifespan of the motor.

Not necessarily even close to the same thing. Motorcycle engines are an entirely different beast in general.