An Engine Runs Hotter As It Ages ?

[Tham]

I've been told that as an engine ages and the
piston rings, pistons, combustion chambers,
valve seals, etc. all get worn and loose, the engine
will run hotter and tend to overheat.

I wonder if this is the case ?

[tooch]

I would think that as everything loosens up, the decreased friction will mean that it doesn't run as hot anymore. When an engine is new, and the pistons and rings are tight in the bores, they have more friction against each other, the more friction, the more heat.

I think so anyway......

[river]

Hi,

My engine is 33 years old and runs at the same temp now as the day it was new.

seeyuzz
river

[Hiro]

It is true that a car runs better after 6 months or so than brand new, but it doesn't mean that it gets better with age. After initial run in, wear sets in and loose components means power loss, thrashing and the like. What might contribute to an engine running hotter would be corrosion or buildups in the water jackets and radiator, as well as carbon on the valves and the cylinder head (causing hot spots and pre-combustion), particle build-up in air cleaners, throttle bodies, plenums etc and a billion other things. A good clean smooth engine should run as well 20 years after it was made as it did 6 months after.

I drive (on occasion) a 25 year old KE55 with a re-conditioned long motor, and it runs like a dream once warm, with the temperature needle barely above the cool line (huge-ass fan and small engine in big engine bay really help, along with the severe lack of power inherent to the 4kc)

[Tham]

My engine is 33 years old and runs at the same temp now as the day it was new.

Wow, that's one really hardy, well taken care off engine.

Must have been overhauled once or twice at least.

[river]

Hi,

It's a 1973 18R-G. It had done 99,000km when it was rebuilt in 1989. It now has 130,000km - so it's only done 31,000km in the past 17years.

And yes, I do look after the engine. Don't thrash it when it's cold. Actually I don't thrash it at all. Regular services and oil changes. It's amazing how long and how well a good engine can last if its maintained properly and not abused.

seeyuzz
river

[o_man_ra23]

And yes, I do look after the engine. Don't thrash it when it's cold. Actually I don't thrash it at all.

I hope when you say you dont thrash it, you mean that you still give it a good rev out regularly, and enjoy its accelerative propertys, you just dont sidestep the clutch etc. Otherwise, shame on you River for babying an 18RG, you should know they dont like that.

Cheers, Owen

[kingmick]

an engine will run hotter with age if yuo have crap ad corrosion in the water system! in a race motor we run big clearances{3 tho on mains etc} so the engine will not loosen up much but a new stock rebuild takes a 1000km or so to get loose!
but your heating problem is either, thermostat or crap in the radiator or engine and as a last resort, water pump!

[myne]

Are you drunk Kingmick? Or is it a funny I'm not finding?

[Screamn_Sleeka]

my 18r-c, smoky, probably 200,000km, unknown history runs cold, even in the middle of sydney summer sitting in traffic.

[river]

Hi,

I hope when you say you dont thrash it, you mean that you still give it a good rev out regularly, and enjoy its accelerative propertys, you just dont sidestep the clutch etc. Otherwise, shame on you River for babying an 18RG, you should know they dont like that.

Cheers, Owen

Hey, I took it up to 3100rpm the other week!

seeyuzz
river

[Vios-GT_07]

hm
i always felt that as an engine gets older (treated and driven well, not trashed everyday and that sort of abuse) it tends to use less fuel and rev easier.. then it'll come a point when it feels weaker and in need of a freshen up i.e. compression down from worn rings etc etc.. but this happens aroudn the 150,000 to 200,000 mark.. then again there are some toymodders who've done beyond 200,000 without any internal work / maintenance. I have an uncle that's driven his K series (1.8 SOHC) motor till 250,000 kms and all he's done is a water pump, and is still as quick and torquey as the day he bought it.. toyota power

saying that, my first ride, the 18R-C.. 270,000 kms, i trashed it everyday until i took it off the road and it sat on 6000 RPMS all the time. (dun worry was in a farm / backroads and wide open spaces).

[o_man_ra23]

Hi,



Hey, I took it up to 3100rpm the other week!

seeyuzz
river

Oooh, you naughty boy, my ol RG always ran better after I gave her some revs... if i sat down at the 3000 mark most of the time... it would have fallen over in a fit. I bet your motor dislikes your lack of throttle opening Mr River

Cheers, Owen

[river]

Hi,

So.... you think I should remove that block of wood I glued to the bottom of the throttle pedal so I can give it a few more revs?

seeyuzz
river

[Hiro]

hm
i always felt that as an engine gets older (treated and driven well, not trashed everyday and that sort of abuse) it tends to use less fuel and rev easier.. then it'll come a point when it feels weaker and in need of a freshen up i.e. compression down from worn rings etc etc.. but this happens aroudn the 150,000 to 200,000 mark.. then again there are some toymodders who've done beyond 200,000 without any internal work / maintenance. I have an uncle that's driven his K series (1.8 SOHC) motor till 250,000 kms and all he's done is a water pump, and is still as quick and torquey as the day he bought it.. toyota power

saying that, my first ride, the 18R-C.. 270,000 kms, i trashed it everyday until i took it off the road and it sat on 6000 RPMS all the time. (dun worry was in a farm / backroads and wide open spaces).

My 7AFE is coming up on 260,000km, and still going strong, no smoke and barely burns oil now that we've changed to 20W50. Never had anything more than regular dealer servicing, and a couple of dud batteries - no internal work whatsoever thats not on the maintenance schedule.