I just hit the 90,000 mile mark in my FD, and I was wondering if there are any symptoms that arise just before the motor goes. I know I can test the compression to see how well everything is sealing up in there--but how likely is it that you just hop in the car and try to start it and it isn't until then that you know that the motor is gone?

Gene (RX7Rage) told me that is exactly what happened to him when his motor went out (years ago). Something about a seal corroding? Correct me if I'm wrong Gene.

I understand if it blows when you're on the street boosting or something...but just giving out like that just plain sucks! Anyone else out there have a motor go like that?

 

My original motor has 89k miles on it and its still running fine. I still pull -15 to -16 in vacuum and it starts and runs/idles fine all over the place. It does a few odd things here and there, but its almost always fine. I also have about 3 hours of road racing time on it.

There are a few signs such as hard warm starting, or low vacuum tied with a rougher idle. Sometimes people just keep going untill the compression gets to the point where the motor floods out by itself; they never even blow a seal. Then if your car smokes alot when you start it, or your coolant is starting to vanish, your coolant seals could be going.

Honestly predicting when its gonna blow is just not really doable. It'll go one of these days just like mine

 

91K+ on the original engine and turbos and still going strong. I'm running 14lbs everytime I drive the car (about twice a week). Gonna see how many miles it can go before it pops. I drive it like its a fresh rebuild. I usually still see around 15 in. of vacuum at idle...the only symptom I can think of is its hard to start if its really hot outside and I've been driving it. IE-Drive across town to the store...park it...shop for 10 minutes...come back out and start the car. It starts...but usually have to give it a little bit of gas, once I get rolling...no problem.

 

120+ and still pulls hard !! Numerous mods too ...so far so good .

 

Hopefully the car was well taken care of. Mine is at 102,000 and still running strong. I drove it everyday this past year. A friend of mine is at 117,000 on the original motor. They last if you take care of em.

 

Mine kicked the bucket at 108,000.

Everything worked great pulled hard, no signs of my engine dying other than coolant would bubble out when parked (sign of coolant seal going).

One day I went to the store. When I got back in the car and tried to start the engine it sounded like metal grinding. It never turned over and engine ceased.

Turnouts I blew an apex seal (nothing to do with my coolant seal).

 

Mine went to 98K just fine until the day it blew.

 

'93 with 37k (low, but still old) and 19" vac. at 850 rpm. I really hope to hit 150k on the stock motor/tt, but we'll see.

It seems like sometimes the signs are pretty subtle till the pop.

 

82K and still running good!

 

pffffffffft you guys are *****'s

I hit 120,000 While i was racing a dodge stealth TT

im past that now i think i got 120,231 now.

mods in sig drive it everyday, redline it everyday unless its raining.

oh yeah im also non-seq

 

15 in. thats it? Whne my motor was running I was pulling 20 to 25 in. and the gauge wasn't bad or wrong. I guess my mototr was just running very strong while it was alive. But I'm happy cause I'm getting a street ported reman! Mwahahahaha!

 

25in.....gawd damn...

66K on my 93 still runs strong.. only problem i have is a cracked manifold ( exhaust ). other then that.. runs good. i pull about 15-17in.

 

I think he was reffering to his idle vaccum, not the vaccum he pulls when he lets off the throttle. When I let off the throttle at speed, it also pulls 20-25 in/hg.

 

I got 82k and problems Hope it's not going down slowely.

 

You know guys, some of the problems you may be having could be sensor related. I have had to replace the intake air temp sensor as well as a couple of others because of age/wear. Definetely replace your O2 sensor if you are above 80/90k on the original part. You may also be needing to replace your coolant thermostats if they are original etc. Many of these sensors are not designed to last beyond 100K, if that.

To the person who said parking the car and seeing coolant bubble out with engine off and under heat soak is a sign of coolant seals going... I am operating under the belief that coolant boiling over should be happening with the engine running when combustion gases are pushing past the seals. If you are running with the original filler cap and/or pressure cap, replace it/them. Those rubber gaskets in the caps do not last forever.

I direct most of these statements towards my esteemed brethren driving FDs with over 90k on the original engine.

-Kib