There is a debate among motorists: does a non-killable engine exist or not? And do such motors really exist? This article will provide a list of cars with engines of one million people.
What is a millionaire engine?
The first step is to find out what lies behind this phrase "millionaire engine". This can be deciphered as a power unit that covered a distance of more than 1 million km.
Many will immediately begin to object that this is all a myth and this cannot be, but in fact such motors exist, and there are many of them.
The flawless reliability of the internal combustion engine is determined by the following main indicators:
- Maintainability.
- Durability.
- Reliability.
But it is worth saying that the concept of million-plus engines does not at all mean that the car will pass such a run without major repairs. This means that the manufacturer provides a resource of parts for a run of one million. The undoubted leaders in the production of such motors are:
- Japanese cars;
- American-made machines;
- German cars.
It should also be said that not all engines will be able to pass such a run, because in many respects the condition will depend on the timely completion of maintenance (MOT) and driving style.
Which engine is better gasoline or diesel?
Also, among motorists, disputes do not subside, which type of engine is more reliable and the resource put into it comes out, gasoline or diesel? To answer this question, it is necessary to resort to statistics that show that diesel cars are no longer killed. Motors that have actually run such a resource can be divided into several types:
- diesel. These types of motors have gained a reputation for being durable and reliable;
- gasoline inline "fours"... Cars with such engines vie for popularity and reliability with diesel ones;
- gasoline inline "sixes"... These motors are very powerful and vibration-free while driving;
- V-shaped "eights"... Such engines come in large sizes, and unlike the first three, they cannot boast of a long service life of the vehicle, although this cannot be said about engines made in the United States.
There have also been rare cases when a domestic GAZelle car with a 406 engine exceeded the 1 million km mark. We figured out what a millionaire is, now we should go to a small list of such cars, because many motorists do not know on which cars such units can be found.
List of cars with engines of one million people
Now it is worth presenting a small list of engines that really passed the resource inherent in them, i.e. are millionaires. Among the gasoline ones, the following can be noted:
- Toyota 3S-FE;
- Honda D-series;
- Toyota 1JZ-GE and 1JZ-GE;
- BMW M30 and M50.
Diesel long-livers include the following engine brands:
- Mercedes-Benz OM602.
Well, now each model needs to be considered in more detail.
The Japanese 2-liter engine was born in 1982. The first models were produced with one camshaft, but after 5-6 years, cars with two camshafts began to be produced. Such motors were installed on Mitsubishi, Huyndai and Kia. Over the long years of production, they have been repeatedly modernized.
It is worth noting that its licensed copy is still being produced at factories in China, and is currently being installed on a Chinese-made Brilliance car.
Toyota 3S-FE
Also, the 2-liter Toyota 3S-FE engines are considered millionaires. Among the row "fours", he is one of the most reliable and not killed. The period of its production is from 1986 to 2000. The 16-valve four-cylinder engine is highly maintainable and can withstand high loads. If the scheduled maintenance is carried out in a timely manner, such motors are capable of passing over 500 thousand km of run without major repairs.
Honda d-series
The lineup of the Honda car manufacturer, in its range, has more than a dozen different engine modifications, with volumes from 1.2 to 1.7 liters, and are rightfully considered not to be killed. In such engines, the power of the internal combustion engine reaches 130 horsepower, which is quite good for cars with small volumes. As shown by numerous tests, the models D15 and D16 are considered the most unkillable.
Toyota 1JZ-GE and 1JZ-GE
Such motors already belong to in-line "six", and they were produced in the period from 1990 to 2007. They are presented in two volumes: 2.5 and 3.0 liters. There have been cases that some cars with such engines have passed a million kilometers without major repairs. Some motorists call them “legendary”. They were installed both on their cars and some models of the American Lexus.
BMW M30 and M50
Cars equipped with an engine of such models should also be classified as millionaires. The M30 model was produced with volumes of 2.5-3.4 liters, and had a capacity of 150 to 220 "horses". But the M50 model was produced with volumes of 2, -2.5 liters, and engine power from 150 to 195 horsepower.
The main secret of the reliability of these engines was in the cast-iron housing of the power unit, and the timing was driven by a chain. Such motors are capable of running 500 thousand kilometers without the need for major repairs, and the resource laid down by the manufacturer is a million kilometers.
Cars in which there are such models of motors also belong to the millionaire. They were produced in the period from 1998 to 2008, and were installed on almost all BMW cars that were produced during this period. In addition to high reliability, the main positive feature of such motors was the impressive dynamics of the car.
Mercedes-Benz OM602
This diesel engine was produced from 1985 to 2002, and had a capacity of 90 to 130 horsepower. As you can see, this model is not very powerful, but its main distinguishing feature is its high reliability. If you fulfill all the prescriptions of the service book on time, then such engines are able to travel under a million kilometers without serious damage.
Outcomes
Based on the results of all the above information, it's time to summarize. Cars with engines of million people exist, and there are many of them. But in order for the car to depart so much, it is necessary to carry out maintenance on a planned basis, as well as monitor the state of the internal combustion engine. There is also a contract engine, but it will be discussed in the next article.
In the opinion of most car enthusiasts, the list of cars with a million-strong engine is decisive evidence in the dispute, whose car production can be considered the most reliable. Legendary models are put forward as indisputable arguments in the battles between supporters of European and Japanese cars. Often, fans of the "Americans" also get involved in the dispute. Even if none of the debaters have ever seen such a car, the main thing is to know that it is. Or at least once existed.
Dreams and legends of a car that never breaks down and can run more than you can imagine will never die. However, these dreams cannot be called completely groundless: mythical cars, whose engine has an estimated mileage of 1 million km, were actually produced. We did not find a single reliable evidence that any of them actually covered the planned distance, but for 600-700 thousand km you can be absolutely sure.
The list of cars with a million-strong engine is actually not so small. There was a time period when the desire to supply a car with an unkillable engine spread almost all over the world. Some companies lasted with this idea until the new millennium.
BMW family
If we compare the number of models that can run the maximum distance without overhaul, then the Bavarians can be considered the winners. At different times, they gave the world several models designed for a million kilometers.Engine BMW M30 the carmaker equipped its cars with 5-7 models from 1968 to 1994. The volumes of the engine were different, from 2.5 to 3.4 liters, producing 150-220 horses. Reliability was provided by a simple design, and half a million BMWs of those years ran without difficulty. And they often did not reach the ordered result, not because of the motors, but because of the difficulties with the rear-wheel drive.
The next version is - Bmw m50- in terms of power it was somewhat inferior to the previous one (maximum 192 hp with a volume of 2.5 liters) and lived a slightly shorter life: from 1992 to 1997, but in terms of reliability it still proudly held the banner, and a mileage of 500 600 thousand km for these engines was considered something ordinary.
BMW M57: a 6-cylinder in-line, with a capacity of 201-268 hp, was installed on almost all models born in 1998-2008, from series 3 to 7. It also supplied the off-road legend - Range Rover.
BMW M60(this is already V8) was put on 5 and 7 in 1992-1998. An innovation in it was the installation of nikasil cylinders, which had an extremely high hardness and were considered virtually wear-free. True, the fragility and intolerance of sulfur inclusions in the fuel were added to the characteristics, so that the version was discontinued, and nikasil was replaced by alusil.
The most successful option for the Germans was, perhaps, the M57. But with him the cars have long gone out of the way.
Japanese suggestions
Millions were produced by different companies and at different times. Some concerns started even earlier than the Bavarians - and also stopped production of cars with such engines earlier.
The most prolific was Toyota. The Toyota 3S-FE series engine was installed in 1986-2000. on Camry (the last one was released in 1991), Celica T200, Carina (this one survived right up to 1998), Corona T170 / T190, Avensis (long-liver: it was produced with this engine back in 2000), RAV4 (you can also find 2000 onwards) , Picnic (there is even a model with the above engine in 2002).
The engine was particularly good at being highly tolerant of poor maintenance with high loads and good maintainability. The Toyota 1JZ-GE and 2JZ-GE motors are legendary. Years of life - 1990-2007; they were equipped, in particular, Mark II, Crown, Soarer, Chaser, Supra and the Americans Lexus Is 300, GS300. A million kilometers on them is a fixed fact.
Millions of Mitsubishi 4G63 engines appeared in 1982, and varieties are still found today, not only in native models, but also on Kia and Hyundai products, although whether they can be called millionaires is a question. Only naturally aspirated versions are considered capable of covering 1 million km. The latest released model is the 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX.
The next "Japanese" with a great resource is the Honda D-series. The motor had a long line of varieties: volumes varied between 1.2 and 1.7 liters. The engines were produced in 1984-2005. They were supplied to HR-V, Civic, Stream, Acura Integra, Accord.
Progress and development in the automotive industry is taking place at a rapid pace. The development of units is proceeding in a similar way. Rating of the best modern engines, characteristics and cars on which they are installed.
The content of the article:
Talking about which engine is the best, gasoline or diesel, as well as about the manufacturer - Japanese, German or American - opinions are unequivocally divided. Some drivers prefer a powerful and reliable unit, others - an engine designed for speed, and still others - so that it is durable and does not let down. The main difference between the engines is the class of the car on which it will be installed. As a result, the volume of the unit, characteristics and power will change.
Experienced car owners will say that the main thing in a car is for the engine to work normally. Usually, the first signs of engine wear appear after 100-150 thousand kilometers. It is good if the owner of the car is alone and looks after the engine, but if from the beginning of the purchase there were several owners and did not look after the car's engine, then repairs will be necessary much earlier, and the cost may be much higher.
Before buying a car, buyers are often concerned with the same question, which engine is better to choose. Engineers have thought over some engine models to the smallest detail, and despite the inexpensive cost of the car, there will be no problems with the engine. In another case, having bought an expensive premium car, the engine does not leave even 50 thousand km, as the first problems and breakdowns begin to appear.
Best car engine
Nowadays, engineers develop an engine how quickly that sometimes they do not think about quality, in order to announce a new model of the unit. Suffice it to recall the subcompact versions with turbocharging, in which the first breakdowns appear even up to 40 thousand. But still, despite the rapid progress, there are also legends in the updated version - these are the so-called "millionaires", which declared themselves from the best side.
Modern cars are considered disposable among specialists, since repairing the engine and individual components can be as easy as the whole car from the passenger compartment. The average service life of such cars is from 3 to 5 years, but much will depend on the nature of the car's operation. There are options, one and the same machine, with the same operating conditions, but different engines, can travel a different distance. This is due to the availability of different engines, their build quality and design.
Rating of the best modern engines
Diesel millionaire OM602 from Mercedes-Benz
Diesel engines from Mercedes-Benz are quite popular and have gained a good reputation among competitors. The famous Mercedes-Benz diesel engine was developed back in 1985, but during its existence it has gone through more than one modification, which has made it possible to survive to this day. Not as powerful as the competition, but economical and hardy. The power of the unit ranges from 90 to 130 hp, depending on the modification, on modern cars it is marked as OM612 and OM647.
The mileage of many such specimens starts from 500 thousand kilometers, although there are also some rare specimens, the record of which is a couple of million kilometers. This engine can be found on Mercedes-Benz in the back of the W201, W124 and in the transitional W210. Also found on the G-Class SUV, Sprinter and T1 minibuses. Experienced drivers say that if they take care of replacing the necessary parts in time and sort out the fuel system, then the engine is almost unkillable, which adds a lot of stars to its rating.
Bavarian BMW M57
The Bavarian manufacturer BMW decided to keep up with Mercedes-Benz and developed an equally worthy M57 diesel engine. The inline 6-cylinder unit has won the trust of many car owners of this company. In addition to the previously said reliability, the unit stands out with power and agility, which is not often found on diesel engines. For the first time, the M57 diesel unit was installed on the BMW 330D E46, then the shorty was immediately transferred from the class of slow cars to the class of sports and charged ones, despite the diesel under the hood. The power of the unit, depending on the modification, ranges from 201 to 286 horses. In addition to BMW cars of all possible series, this engine is also found on Range Rover cars. Suffice it to recall the ethnographic expedition of Artyom Lebedev and his famous "mumusik". It was under its hood that the M57 from BMW was installed. The manufacturer's declared mileage is about 350-500 thousand kilometers.
Toyota's 3F-SE petrol engine
Despite the huge mileage of diesel engines, most drivers prefer to buy a car with a gasoline engine. The gasoline unit does not freeze in the cold season, and the engine itself is much simpler.
For a long time you can argue which gasoline engine is better and which is worse, because each has its own pros and cons. Toyota's 3F-SE opens the list of 4-cylinder petrol units. The volume of the unit is 2 liters and is designed for 16 valves, the timing belt is driven by a belt and a fairly simple distributed fuel injection. Average power, depending on the modification, is 128-140 horses. More advanced versions of the unit are equipped with turbines (3S-GTE). This modified unit can be found both on modern Toyota cars and older ones: Toyota Celica, Camry, Toyota Carina, Avensis, RAV4 and others.
A huge plus of this engine is the ability to freely transfer heavy loads, convenient arrangement of units for maintenance, easy repair and thoughtfulness of individual parts. Provided good care and without overhaul, such a unit can safely move 500 thousand kilometers with a good margin for later. Also, the engine does not go over in fuel, which does not bring additional worries to the owner.
Japanese unit 4G63 from Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi does not give up its position in the structure of mid-range engines. One of the most famous, surviving 4G63 and its modifications. For the first time, the engine was presented in 1982, despite the prescription, a modified version is being installed today. Some come with a three-valve SOHC camshaft, another DOHC version with two camshafts has gained more popularity. As an example, a modified 4G63 unit is installed on the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, various Hyundai and Kia models. It is also found on Chinese cars of the Brilliance brand.
Over the years, the 4G64 unit has undergone more than one modification, in some versions a turbine has been added, in others the timing adjustment has been changed. Such changes are not always beneficial, but as the owners note, the maintainability of the unit remains the same, especially in the event of an oil change. The million-plus units include the Mitsubishi 4G63 units without turbocharging, although with careful operation, the turbocharged versions also reach a record distance.
D-series from Honda
The first five leaders are closed by the Japanese D15 and D16 engines from Honda. Better known as the D-series. This series includes more than ten modifications of these units, with a volume of 1.2 liters to 1.7 liters. and really deserve the status of unkillable units. Engine power from this series reaches 131 hp, but the tachometer needle will show about 7 thousand revolutions.
The platforms for the installation of such units were Honda Stream, Civic, Accord, HR-V cars and the American Acura Integra. Before a major overhaul, such engines can go about 350-500 thousand kilometers, and due to a well-thought-out design and the right hands, you can give the engine a second life even after terrible operating conditions.
European x20se from Opel
Another representative from Europe is the x20se engine of the 20ne family from Opel. The most important advantage of this unit is its endurance. Repeatedly there were statements from the owners when the unit experienced the body of the car. A fairly simple design, 8 valves, a belt on the camshaft drive and a fairly simple fuel injection system. The volume of such a unit is 2 liters, depending on the modification, the engine power ranges from 114 hp. up to 130 horses.
During the production period, the unit was installed on Vectra, Astra, Omega, Frontera and Calibra, as well as on Holden, Oldsmobile and Buick cars. On the territory of Brazil, at one time they produced the same Lt3 engine, but with a turbocharger, with a capacity of 165 horses. One of these variants of the C20XE engine was installed on racing Lada and Chevrolet and as a result the cars were marked in the rally. The simplest versions of units of the 20ne family can not only cover 500 thousand km without overhaul, but also with careful attitude can overcome the bar of 1 million kilometers.
Famous V-shaped eights
The engines of this group, although not very famous for their reliability, do not bring worries with minor or major breakdowns. V8 units capable of easily overstepping the 500 thousand kilometers mark can be easily listed on the fingers. The Bavarians have taken over the cell again with their M60 V8, a huge plus: a double-row chain, a nikasil cylinder coating, as well as an excellent safety margin of the engine.
Thanks to the nickel-silicon coating of the cylinders (more commonly found as Nikasil), it makes them virtually indestructible. As practice shows, up to the mark of half a million kilometers, the unit should not be disassembled, and replacement of the piston rings is not required. Fuel is considered a minus, it is necessary to carefully monitor the quality of gasoline, since the nickel coating is afraid of sulfur in the fuel. In the USA, because of such a problem, they switched to a softer protection technology - Alusil. The modernized modern version is the M62. Installed on BMW 5th and 7th series.
Six cylinders in a row
There are a lot of millionaires among such engines, simple design and balance - this is what leads to reliability and durability. Two engines 1JZ-GE with a volume of 2.5 liters and 2JZ-GE with a volume of 3 liters from Toyota are considered the best in this class. These units are available in simple and turbocharged versions.
Most often, such engines are found on right-hand drive cars Toyota Mark II, Supra and Crown. Among American cars, these are Lexus IS300 and GS300. Thanks to their uncomplicated design, such engines can easily overcome the million kilometers mark before major repairs are required.
Bavarian BMW M30
The history of the Bavarian BMW M30 engine stretches back to 1968. During the existence of the unit, many modifications were produced, but despite different situations, the engine still has established itself as one of the most reliable. The working volume ranges from 2.5 liters to 3.4 liters, with a capacity of 150-220 horses. The highlight of the unit's design is a cast iron block (in some modifications it can be from a special aluminum alloy), a timing chain, 12 valves (the M88 modification goes for 24 valves) and an aluminum cylinder head.
Modification М102В34 is a turbocharged М30 with a capacity of 252 horses. This engine in various modifications is installed on the 5th, 6th and 7th BMW series. There is no data yet on what the mileage record of this engine was, but the mark of 500 thousand kilometers is an ordinary barrier. As many people point out, this engine often outlives the car itself as a whole.
Another Bavarian - BMW M50
The last place in the ranking of the best engines is occupied by the Bavarian BMW M50. The working volume is from 2 to 2.5 liters, the engine power is from 150 to 192 horses. The advantage of such a unit is the modified VANOS system, which contributes to better work. In general, it does not differ much from the previous options, therefore it overcomes the mark of half a million kilometers without major repairs.
The presented rating of the best engines is not complicated enough. Yet ask which car engine is the best. Car enthusiasts can say that some units were not included in the list, but the rating was formed on the basis of durability and resource. Hybrid and electric motors are not included for cost reasons, and the maintenance of such units is special. Individual copies simply cannot be repaired at home, which is why they say that modern cars are mostly disposable.
Video review of the TOP 5 worst engines:
The Toyota3S-FE engine presented itself to the list of such engines. This is one of the main representatives of its series. It is considered the most reliable and unpretentious.
Volume 2 liters, 4 cylinders, 6 valves.
Such indicators are typical for cars of the 90s. A camshaft with a belt, works with a simple distribution injection. Such an engine was produced from 1986 to 2000.
Power in different variations from 128 horses to 140.
The 3S-GE engine, together with the turbocharged 3S-GTE, took over a pretty decent walking resource.
The 3S-FE engine was installed on a whole range of Tayota models: Toyota Camry (1987-1991), Toyota Celica T200, Toyota Carina (1987-1998), Toyota Corona T170 / T190, Toyota Avensis (1997-2000), Toyota RAV4 (1994) -2000), Toyota Picnic (1996-2002), Toyota MR2, and turbocharged 3S-GTE also on Toyota Caldina, Toyota Altezza.
This motor is capable of serious loads, even with unimportant service. It was easy to work with him and return him to duty. With decent maintenance, such motors can travel 500 thousand km or even more (without overhaul).
Buying a used car is always associated with certain risks, but if you find one of the following five engines under the hood of a potential “candidate”, you can count on the car will not get stuck fifty meters from the place of purchase - after all, these motors can survive a lot ... No wonder their reliability is admired by motorists around the world.
Volkswagen PD 1.9 TDI
Modern engines of the Volkswagen concern often become objects of criticism (and inconsistency with environmental standards, in this case, just "flowers"), but at the end of the XX century VAG built a very successful turbodiesel - PD 1.9 TDI. The engine not only became the "Engine of the Year" in 1999 (in the class from 1.8 to 2 liters), but also earned a reputation as an extremely reliable power unit - largely thanks to the Pumpe-Düse injection system, devoid of the drawbacks of Common Rail. 500 thousand kilometers for this turbodiesel is more than real mileage, there are more than 750 thousand examples in the world. Plus, the engine tolerates tuning quite tolerably, so the factory 160 power is by no means the limit for it. The engine was installed mainly on golf class cars.
