High mileage LS1 engines? Where is the limit?

My '02 B4C car has 205,066 on it today. I am the second owner, and when the state owned it the average oil change interval was 3,003 miles. It was in a bad accident at some point, the transmission was replaced due to being broken causing the flex plate to contact the rear of the block, and the exhaust stsyem was pretty well banged up too. I bought the car at public auction with 156,000 miles, and since them I have replaced; right side rear wheel bearing and axle shaft, front/rear brakes rotors etc., shocks/struts (AGX set at 8), oil pan gasket and rear seal, motor mounts, alternator, water pump, battery, plugs and wires, roof panel, hood, front bumper/fascia/headlinghts (due to accident), pass side window motor, radio light bulbs replaced. I cut the oil filter open at every oil change and oil samples tested every other oil change. To date not engine problems noted, other than the usual ticking sound when cold. Still has the VASP bule and grey paint. When I replaced the oil pan gasket at 177,000 the pan was clean inside, and I never see and metal stuck to the drain plug when I do the oil change.
Thanks, Andy
I was told that a Corvette was sold at the Carlisle show with 350,00 miles.

As long as you give it some TLC you should get 400k or so. Just don't beat it too much and change all the fluids on a regular basis.

When properly maintained, our engines will run for a good long time. Lots of guys on here have well over 100,000 mile and are still flogging them at the track on a regular basis.

I want to put more miles on mine, these damn city commutes only need a bike, when will summer get here

i've had my z28 for 9 years, and no internal engine work has been done to it. I'm at 238,000 miles and have replaced the water pump twice, the radiator once, alternator, battery (interstate battery lasted me 6 years), u joints, shocks/struts and window motors 3 times. Used to be my daily driver for a while and it is more reliable than my current daily driver. :)
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I have customers with 150K+ still spraying a 150 on stock bottom end lol

The only limit to anything is your wallet..:)

The main difference between getting 100,000 and 400,000 is regular fluid changes, like Jeff said. You can clearly see when preventive maintenance wasn't a priority in an engine.

It has everything to do with maintanance, and I also think it's up to the individual and how they use the car.
For me when an engine reaches 150,000 miles or so, and it's my daily commuter as well as a long trip vacation vehicle, it doesn't matter to me if the engine is still running fine. It's getting to a point where I would feel better with a refresh of everything (not just the engine).

Dependability and no oil usage is more important to me than the "how many miles will it go" thinking process. Once an engine starts sucking oil past the guides, that's when I start thinking it's time for a tear down. If I had to add oil every 500-1,000 miles, it's no good to me. I can't take that on a vacation trip without hassles or worries of fouling plugs.

Now if it's just a weekend toy, run it till it breaks, or until the oil usage drives you nuts or fouls plugs :shrug:

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Originally Posted by Firebirdjones

It has everything to do with maintanance, and I also think it's up to the individual and how they use the car.
For me when an engine reaches 150,000 miles or so, and it's my daily commuter as well as a long trip vacation vehicle, it doesn't matter to me if the engine is still running fine. It's getting to a point where I would feel better with a refresh of everything (not just the engine).

Dependability and no oil usage is more important to me than the "how many miles will it go" thinking process. Once an engine starts sucking oil past the guides, that's when I start thinking it's time for a tear down. If I had to add oil every 500-1,000 miles, it's no good to me. I can't take that on a vacation trip without hassles or worries of fouling plugs.
Now if it's just a weekend toy, run it till it breaks, or until the oil usage drives you nuts or fouls plugs :shrug:

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This why I don't keep them past 120k, unless of course it's a project or seriously going to be one.

I personally have no use for a car or truck with more than 100k on it.

I just give them that extra 20k over while I make up my mind.

I was over 122k on the 01 Camaro, desided to project it, then changed my mind, then gone..

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Originally Posted by Smittro

This why I don't keep them past 120k, unless of course it's a project or seriously going to be one.

I personally have no use for a car or truck with more than 100k on it.

I just give them that extra 20k over while I make up my mind.

I was over 122k on the 01 Camaro, desided to project it, then changed my mind, then gone..

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And then there are the rest of us that can only afford those cars or trucks :'(

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Originally Posted by Smittro

This why I don't keep them past 120k, unless of course it's a project or seriously going to be one.

I personally have no use for a car or truck with more than 100k on it.

I just give them that extra 20k over while I make up my mind.

I was over 122k on the 01 Camaro, desided to project it, then changed my mind, then gone..

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Evidently it sounds like you and I do have something in common after all :D

I'm like you, I don't buy anything over 100k miles unless I've decided going in that an engine rebuild is going to happen.

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Originally Posted by smokestack

and then there are the rest of us that can only afford those cars or trucks :'(

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^ this!

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Originally Posted by smokestack

And then there are the rest of us that can only afford those cars or trucks :'(

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Well I don't consider myself rich, I do pretty good but not rich.

I still strictly buy used vehicles though they are low mileage and I drive them up to the afore mentioned limit.

I have a 1992 z34 with 130k on the body, I desided to mod it so I kept it.

When I took her off the road she was exempt from emissions but could pass if need be with a tune change, but @ 130k it had no mechanical issues.

I did replaced the trany with a unit rebuilt for severe duty a couple years before and that was getting tired as well.

As FBJ basicly states I desided it was time to overhaul her as the peace of mind just was'nt there anymore and I ran it hard.

Nothing wrong with it, it was just time in my minds eye.

When she takes to the streets again though everything under her will be brand new and restored, the body will still be high mileage.

I have decided to see just how far it will go with the regular 3,000 mile oil changes. It currently is not quite a quart low then I reach the 3K oil change. It still runs great, and it's a B4C.

I used to start shopping when any of our cars hit the 100k mark. Changed my tune though a while back and began running our DD's longer -- so far no issues or problems on any of them. Highest in the fleet right now has 131,000 miles on it and it'll probably stay with us to at least 160,000.

I am the original owner of my 01 Z28. She just turned 190,000 miles. Never had a problem with her and have never had to replace a part on the engine (knock on wood!). Just brakes and tires for me.......treat her well and she'll put a smile on your face everytime you get on her!

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Originally Posted by ntymd8r

I am the original owner of my 01 Z28. She just turned 190,000 miles. Never had a problem with her and have never had to replace a part on the engine (knock on wood!). Just brakes and tires for me.......treat her well and she'll put a smile on your face everytime you get on her!

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haha...I want to use that in my signature!

Hehe....When I wrote that, I was thinking the same thing!

.....there we go!

haha right on! Well, since you're gonna use that one......

I think I'll use...."Mustangs are like tampons, every pussy has one."

hehehe! That's a good one!

I have 220.5k, I drive over 600 miles a week. For a while I used the extended interval Mobil 1. Changed every 5k miles. Now I use amsoil and change every 10-12k. No internal engine problems. Have replaced just about every accessory at least once. Fuel pump, water pump, alt, radiator, PS pump, etc. Replaced the whole clutch system at 100k when my slave went out, to an LS7. Replaced slave and master again at 219k. I have had the car from 2007 with 86k to now. Great car, she has her flaws but the engine isn't one of em.

Sent from my Samsung "Look it's The Darkness!!!" Infuse 4G

Now 220K effin ROCKS!
Here's to getting another 220 out of her, Terry! :drivin: :cheers:

:rockon: :cheers:


....if I don't sell her. I don't want to, but I may have to force my own hand...

Now why on earth would you do that?

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Originally Posted by Y2KArcticSS

I may have to force my own hand...

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i force my own hand all the time...it loves it.

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Originally Posted by chris1974

Now why on earth would you do that?

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Lots of reasons, none of which have pushed me into getting an actual ad out, yet. I want to build this one up, but it will be a little while before I can. I need a truck before I get my land surveying license this year, but I can't afford one unless I sell my car right now. As dependable as she's been, it gets increasingly unpredictable as to what will break and when, and how much it will cost me. I've even thought about just putting a big down payment on another one, since I pretty much know the ins and outs with fbodies. Just weighing things out now that it's almost paid off.

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Originally Posted by jiveass

i force my own hand all the time...it loves it.

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There's left field....and then there's jiveass :lol:


Sent from my Samsung "Look it's The Darkness!!!" Infuse 4G

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Originally Posted by Y2KArcticSS

Just weighing things out now that it's almost paid off.

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Well...I can't says I blames ya there. As well as you know F bodies, I'm sure it'll work out...whatever you decide.

No matter what happens, there will be an fbody in my yard again eventually. Every time I shop the web for trucks and other cars, I somehow end up looking at T/A's, Camaros, and GTO's :lol:

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LS1.....:worship:

I called SLP on Friday 09-MAR-2012 and aslked the same question as I had originally posted. I was "we do not yet know the upper limit on engine life of a properly maintained LS1". I will post the results of my next oil sample 208,000 miles. If it is the same as the engines we sample at work, I am looking for Zinc and copper levels to increase.

This is a great topic , All i know is my ls 1 sounds like a popcorn maker and it only has 20000 miles. It runs like a raped ape, I can only hope it does great for the next few years.

I feel like my car (the 98) isn't so bad off with only 184,xxx...

My wife's ceta had 226,xxx and still was running great before the accident,hell in ran 13.20 @ 104 with 225,xxx on it.of course maintenance is key.

http://img.tapatalk.com/c6e4c1f2-638c-b14d.jpg
Hit 130000 today

im right at 172xxx still kickin'

My ehite Z28 has 142,xxx. Runs mid 13's at 105 consistently. Only problem is output shaft bearing in the trans is going out. A little noisy in 5-6 gear.

http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...4-11164132.jpg

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110k here... drive it about once a month

Honestly,I'm not the first owner of my Australian built 2002 Model Holden VY SS Commodore which is fitted with the 5.7 litre Chevrolet LS1 V8 engine but it missed a few oil changes before I bought it back in 2008 meaning I eventually had to replace the hydraulic lifters in the engine which jammed up in the engine block due to becoming mushroomed,all the gaskets & oil were also replaced & I threw a new Rollmaster timing chain & sprocket kit into the engine as I needed to replace the timing cover gasket which was leaking oil & the timing chain was a bit worn.

I haven't replaced the piston rings, pistons, crankshaft & camshaft bearings,the cylinder heads are also untouched so the engine is still original otherwise,well,it clocked over to 366,000 kilometres (227,422 miles) today & it has never needed a full rebuild

I would like to know where all of the LS1 V8 engines have gone to in Australia because the only ones which are readily available online now are the 6 litre L76 V8 engines which were fitted into the Series 2 Holden VZ SS Commodores,all of the V8 VE SS Commodores (except the HSV VE SS Commodores which were fitted with the L98 V8 engine) & the Series 1 VF Commodore.

It's a lot harder to find an LS1 V8 engine in Australia now, they can't have all done that many kilometres that they have mostly been scrapped !