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on average how long do zuki engines last?

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Offline squeaky

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on average how long do zuki engines last?
« on: August 29, 2003, 08:50:36 AM »
I have almost 140k miles on my '93 kick. When should I start worrying or thinkin about a rebuild? (or replace) I read in the "project turbo sidekick" thread that Darrin didn't rebuild that one until 250,000mi! Is that the rule or the exception? Just a quick question. Thanks all! Bye.  ;)
« Last Edit: August 29, 2003, 08:57:18 AM by squeaky »
'93 JLX 4dr kick
2" Calmini lift

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Offline Natebert

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #1 on: August 29, 2003, 12:25:29 PM »
One of our local 2dr Kick owners with a 1.6 8v motor, lasted until 230K, then the timing key on the crank died.

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Offline biker

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #2 on: August 29, 2003, 02:33:26 PM »
I have 270,000 on my 91 Tracker. I do all my maintenance but drive it real hard. I just checked my compression about a week ago and I have 3 holes at 160 and one at 165. ;D
94 Kick with bigger tires
99 Vitara 2wd
10 Gr Vitara

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Offline squeaky

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #3 on: August 29, 2003, 07:12:19 PM »
WOW! I had no idea. I knew suzukis were reliable and great cars and all that and I've never had any problems with mine...but WOW! I'm impressed. So as long as I do my maintinence I geuss I have nothing to fear then! Yay! I am so excited now. I'm off  on the wrong foot though. I just learned that my dad hasn't changed my oil in over 7,000mi. I checked it today and it was so low it didn't even show on the dipstick! I'm changin it myself first thing in the morning! Thanks AGAIN guys!
'93 JLX 4dr kick
2" Calmini lift

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Offline trackinstile

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #4 on: August 29, 2003, 10:14:19 PM »
Definitely a big key thing is to keep your oil clean, I always change mine |removethispart|@ 3,000 miles, and I drive a lot.  I just always used Castrol Dino juice, although others prefer Mobil One synthetic, but anywho, don't let it get low, and keep it clean, and you'll be posting with these other guys about having 250,000 miles!!! ;D
A wise man once said, "Wherever you go...........There you are.............." 2000 Tracker 4 door with the 2.0 liter "Big Block". 5 speed 4WD  2001 XL-7 EX II

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jdraper

Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #5 on: August 30, 2003, 12:47:46 AM »
My Zuk motor is about to turn over either 200k or 300k (don't know which since the title just says "odometer exceeds mechanical limits") and I'm not the first owner.  I had to install a new head when I got it (odometer read 93k) because someone had overheated it and warped the head, but other than that it still runs fine.  Uses a little oil, but it just keeps on chugging.   If they are properly maintained, they will last a looooonnnnnggg time

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Offline Samurai_Hamster

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #6 on: August 30, 2003, 03:27:40 AM »
Forever ;D :P 8) :o
The Zuke is on its way out.  Getting a vehicle that will behave and be supported by the dealer.

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Offline DSHornet

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2003, 03:20:35 PM »
Mobil 1 is good. I use Valvoline Max Life with a filter change every 3K miles. What little oil I leaked was stopped by the oil itself and new gaskets for the cam cover and distributor mount. I can park my car in the apartment complex parking lot for a week and see no - that's NO - leaks under it. The underside and the engine are clean and dry. Not bad for 130k miles.

Don, y'all
.
Paw-paw Don, y'all
.Late '94 Sidekick 1.6 ragtop, slightly modified.
Favorite saying: "One need never apologize for exercising the Golden Rule."

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Offline 1bigtracker

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2003, 04:05:19 PM »
My 93 only has 114K on the clock and its dryer then a popcorn fart(i love my dads dumb jokes).  i didn't know they lasted that long.  i guess i'll be waiting whlie  for that .040 over kit from Calmini. lol. well ttyl bye
« Last Edit: August 30, 2003, 04:06:09 PM by 1bigtracker »
   

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Offline rabidray

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #9 on: September 03, 2003, 11:39:52 PM »
i gotta find out what you guys are doing.....

kuz im going thru a motor about every 14 months.....

the rings and clyender walls go away , low comp then i

go to the next motor ........

the one in line is a g 13 b out of a swift its actualy tight

im hoping it will last a couple years but i dont know???????? ???

88 sammy with a few mods

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Offline Zukipilot

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2003, 03:48:35 AM »
I want to know what your doing :o I have 3 Zuk's, all have the 1.6 ranging from 98K to 200K, and the 98K is my 1000 mile/week daily driver at 80mph+. I havent touched the guts on any of them and my 200K engine is still running strong. 8)
Zig
Zukipilot
'92 Liberty Overland Sidekick

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Offline wildgoody

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #11 on: September 04, 2003, 04:06:36 AM »
Dude, your a motor killer, try changing the thermostat
to a 170 or 160 degree, and use a good small engine oil
Castrol or Mobil 1, I go to Costco and get the Chevron
5-30 Winter, 10-30 Mild Weather and 20-50 Hot Weather.

The #1 thing I have found for long engine life, other than
keeping the oil clean and full is let it warm up, don't drive
an ice cold engine, give it 2 or 3 min to warm, it's not hot
yet but the oil is warming and flowing to all the parts, if
you can stand to give it 5 Min all the better, if you must
drive it cold, go real easy no full throttle, just barly press
to get going.

I knew a girl in high school, many moons ago, who got
a new car for her 16th birthday. We had an open campus
so at breaks or lunch we would go to buy somthing, well
she would rev the S*i+ out of that poor car from a cold
start and drive the P*55 out of it, by the end of the
school year it was blowing oil smoke all over the place,
I learned my lesson at her expence, and saved many $$
in longlived engines.  :)

Change oil every 5000 Miles !!, it is easy to keep track of
so you don't have to remember your mileage, change the
filter every time. Remember Motor oil is the most tested
fluid on the earth, and oil of 10 Years ago is nothing like
the new stuff, it is so much better just in 10 years.

I drive a Semi, standard oil change is at 10,000 Mi, some
companies have gone to 30,000 Mi, testing every 10K mi
and have found the oil is good for more miles than they
were getting out of it. In the case of a big truck, service
costs $500 so you can see the savings right away, I don't
reccomend going that long in your little cars, as $20 per
change is not too hard to afford.

Hope This Helps,
Darrin
Real Trucks Are Built, Not Bought,
And Chrome Don't Get Ya Home.  

An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

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Offline dschwab9

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #12 on: September 12, 2003, 05:50:15 PM »
Quote
i gotta find out what you guys are doing.....

kuz im going thru a motor about every 14 months.....

the rings and clyender walls go away , low comp then i

go to the next motor ........

the one in line is a g 13 b out of a swift its actualy tight

im hoping it will last a couple years but i dont know???????? ???



Are you changing the oil every 3-5K miles?  What weight are you running?

Quote
try changing the thermostat
to a 170 or 160 degree, and use a good small engine oil . . . and 20-50 Hot Weather


You will be killing one soon too.  Those are two of the worst things you could possibly do to it.  With the tight clearences and high revs of these engines, any oil with the second number bigger than 30 is not lubricating it properly and will dramatically shorten the life of the engine.

The tiny clearences and precision parts in an engine are also machined assuming you are running the correct thermostat.  When the engine runs to cold, it's running outside of specs, and will weat quicker.  The effects of running it too cold can be just as bad as too hot.
Derek Schwab
Where The Road Ends...Zuwharrie Begins!
http://www.zuwharrie.com
http://bbs.zuwharrie.com

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Offline Z3bra

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2003, 07:16:56 PM »
If you're running full synthetic I'd even suggest going with a 5w30 or even 0w30, flows good cold and since it's synthetic it's still good at high temps despite being only 30w.  

The truck engines as Wildgoody mentioned run a long time but that's typical of diesel engines in general. True when you drain the oil it's blacker than black from the carbon in it, but diesels are amazingly long wearing just from the way the diesel engine works vs the gasoline engine.  

Also don't forget to use a good oil filter as well as changing it every 3-5k with the oil change.  

I forget the website but on it the guy dissects a whole bunch of oil filters of varying brands and compares the construction.  The website is a mopar enthusiast site just do a search on google and you should be able to find it.  After looking at the way various filters are put together, I'll never use a Fram filter on anything again.  The Mobil 1 filters are really nice but at 10 bucks each they're a bit steep.  The Bosch, Napa Gold/Napa Silver are also pretty good for being a bit cheaper, but seriously do not use the Fram filters they are just craptastic all around.

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Offline Samurai_Hamster

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Re: on average how long do zuki engines last?
« Reply #14 on: September 13, 2003, 02:14:05 AM »
Agreed......NAPA filters are good. Never use Fram unless you want to keep your engine rebuilder in business. 8)
The Zuke is on its way out.  Getting a vehicle that will behave and be supported by the dealer.