Most automakers today are known for some fabled engine in their past. The General Motors small block V8 has moved so much of the world, while Toyota has built several different fours, sixes, and V8s that sometimes outlast the bodies they’re bolted into. Ford, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, all of them, and so many more have decorated histories building reliable mills. However, times have changed, and some automakers struggle today. What automakers are still making overbuilt engines? What’s the most overbuilt engine of the modern era?
This question was inspired by a similar question that was recently pitched to the Opposite-Lock car enthusiast community. If you’re looking for a group of folks who are like your fellow Autopians, I highly recommend Oppo! The site is independent and is run and funded by enthusiasts.
Anyway, General Motors and Toyota have generated headlines in recent years for unexpected goof-ups with their engines. We’ve written pretty extensively about the GM L87 V8, a small-block V8 that has thus far failed in the tens of thousands. If you’ve missed it, the short version is that more than 28,000 of these engines failed before GM issued a recall, and, allegedly, some of the fixed engines are failing, too. GM has also been fiddling around with the engine’s oil specifications in this still ongoing saga.
Toyota had its own truck engine troubles when its twin-turbo V6 V35A-FTS engines began failing due to reported manufacturing debris left inside engines, triggering a massive recall. This continues to be a headache for Toyota, and people are still reporting engine failures nearly two years after the recall was announced. Toyota recently expanded the recall, bringing the number of potentially affected trucks to well above 200,000.
To be fair to Toyota and General Motors, picking on engine failures and recalls can be low-hanging fruit. These engines could go on to live fine service lives after they’ve been fixed. But what about other engines?
When this question was posted in Opposite-Lock, I mentioned the Ford Coyote 5.0 V8 as a solid engine. The 5.0 has proven itself to be a pretty sturdy powerplant and is even receptive to modification. People actively seek out Coyotes to build tons of power out of. It is noted that the truck version of the Coyote has one of those infamous wet belts. The good thing is that it does appear that wet belt failures are uncommon with this engine. Update: To be clear, this is not a timing belt, but a belt to drive the oil pump.
Other contenders, I think, could be something like a Honda K-series. Some of these engines have popped after people dumped tons of power mods into K20C1s, but lots of other folks report getting lots of miles out of stock engines or mildly tuned ones.
Heavy-duty pickup truck diesels also seem fairly sturdy, though some of their emissions equipment might not be.
This subject has been stuck in my head for days now. Is there an engine that’s currently made in 2026 that can pile on the miles with usually just regular maintenance? Are there engines out there that are receptive to mods without heavy changes? What’s the most overbuilt engine of the modern era?
Top graphic images: Honda; EngineWorld
I’m going to go with the 4.3L V6 in the Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana.
Key Specs & Features:
Engine: 4.3L V6 (LV1) EcoTec3
Horsepower: 276 hp @ 5200 rpm
Torque: 298 lb.-ft. @ 3900 rpm
The LV1 engine is essentially the same as the LV3, but without Active Fuel Management technology.
I would say they’re more overbuilt nowadays since they got rid of the AFM.
I have the 4.3 Vortec in my Astro and man I hate that engine. The common saying is “the power of a 4 cylinder with the fuel economy of a v8”.
For the record, I get 13mpg. City, Hwy, Mixed, 13mpg. It has iridium plugs, fresh cap/rotor, fresh fuel filter, all synthetic fluids, etc. 13mpg is a joke.
The old GM 4.3 was generally a solid, reliable workhorse that, if even decently maintained, could easilly plug along (slowly) for over 300k. It was basically a cut down 350 so the block was pretty overdone for it’s smaller power output. Like the 3800 mentioned below, the old GM adage proves true, “It might not run well, but it will run badly forever.”
Ugh, I didn’t read the last line about ‘current’. Just ignore me, I only got 3 hours of sleep last night and it shows.
I’ve come across a great many old Massey Fergusons for eras long ago still happily running along.
I can’t help to think they are well overbuilt.
3800. There, we can all go home now.
Wow! I didn’t realize it was still around – what is it in?
Funny that. I inherited my dad’s 95 Riv, SC 3800. Cannot for hte life of me figure out the idle, which bounces all over the place. Has to be a vacuum leak, but man it’s hard to figure out. Gave it a tune up, no change.
Dark horse, but I’ll nominate the 1-liter 3-cylinder in the first generation Honda Insight as one of the most durable modern engines. These had all kinds of tricks to lower friction and stress. One of my favorites was offsetting the cylinder bores so the pistons pushed straight down on the crank throws during the power stroke, rather than pushing at a little angle in the bore.
The Integrated Motor Assist was a motor/generator in a flywheel pancake. The engine/IMA combo was one of the first stop-start applications and saved wear when sitting still. The grunt of the electric motor helped at launch and low speeds, taking more stress off the engine.
I had two of these Insights getting close to 300k, and the motors were still running great. Insights with 400-500k aren’t uncommon, and one is sneaking up on the million mile mark – though I saw it may need a head replacement to hit the milestone.
NAILED IT. I’m at 290k on mine, and it still gets 55-70mpg. I pulled the valve cover at 250k, checked the valve clearance and everything was still in spec.
That said… pretty easy to be ‘over built’ when it only makes 70hp or so.
I don’t think the 5.0 in the F-150 uses a timing belt.
It doesn’t use a timing belt, but it does use a wet belt to drive the oil pump.
So much for that engine. What a mistake.
I’ve heard that the Mazda K-series V6s are way overbuilt. I always thought it would be a cool Mx-5 swap but I don’t think there’s a ton of aftermarket support for it.
The IHI supercharger used on the Millenia S is supposed to be a seriously high boost and decent high volume proposition when used on an Otto cycle engine instead of the delayed intake valve design (Atkinson cycle?).
Miller cycle. It’s an Atkinson with forced induction to counter the Atkinson power loss.