Hello, I've been creeping through the clasaifieds for the last 5 or 6 months and I seem to find a lot of Evos that may or may not have low miles, however a lot of them seem to have the engine replaced. I understand some have been rebuilt for more power, but there's also lots of stock replacements. I find it odd for a car to have 60k with an engine replaced already.

The reason I'm asking is I am very familiar with the 4G63. My last one, a 90 6 bolt out of my 1g DSM had 160k on it original stock bottom end. I was running an fp green at 28-30 psi and never skipped a beat. That's why it is odd for me to see these low mileage cars with engines replaced. Especially when they're stock or just a few bolt ons.

Any ideas?

 

Definitely not uncommon for an evo with 60k on the clock to see a motor replacement. A lot of people push evos pretty hard OR they're improperly tuned by inexperienced tuners and pop goes the weasel.

My stock motor blew at about 44,000 because of a meth pump priming failure.

 

To begin:
1: Evos are more (will you) "race ready" and have probably had a lot more beating then a 1st gen back in the day. Just because they handle it and can take it and will take it for a while.
2: Evo engines are higher compression, bigger turbo, and run more boost from the factory. Thus more engine wear, more beating on etc. see #1
3. Some, not alot, but some evo owners dont actually know the car, or do routine maintenance on the vehicle. You can blow a motor by having a simple boost leak and continue to pound on the car.
4. Alot of people going from car to car don't realize that at 60k things like the timing belt need replaced etc etc
5. There are evos that run that long, but remember they're still new in th game compared to a 1990 1st gen. Give it 13+ more years more high mileage evos will be out there on stock internals. If everyone doesn't molest them beforehand.
6. Dont quote me on this () but I'm pretty sure there were aLOT more eclipses/lasers/talons produced then evos.

Just off the top of my head for your reference.

 

I doubt that many Evos that pop engines are anywhere near stock.

 

I agree,I think a lot of it comes down to improper tuning...and unknown boost leaks.So you don't really feel it but it's detrimental to the car.

That's why I'm going to get myself a compressor to do my own boost leak tests regularly.

 

This. EVO engines are STOUT from the factory. All forged internals. It runs high boost, but it is built to take that boost. EVO engines don't break for no reason. It's due to improper modification, improper tuning, or lack of maintenance. Anyone who tells you any different is full of crap. I put 182,000 miles on my first EVO IX MR, and I didn't take it easy on that car...at all. I ran my first autocross in it while the temp tag was still in the window. My driving style is a bit harsher than most people from what I've seen, and the EVO never gave me a single issue in the entire time I owned it. The engine, transmission, transfer case, and rear diffs were never rebuilt, or replaced, and to this day still run like new for the new owner. The car now has over 200,000 miles on the clock. I changed my oil every 5000 miles just like the manual said, and changed the drivetrain fluids every 20-30k miles just like the maunal says. The timing belt, acc belts, and other items were also changed according to the service manual. The EVO IX MR I have now is recieving the same treatment. It was 90,000 miles on it right now, and I bought it with 60,000 miles.

There is absolutely NO reason any motor, but especially an EVO motor should blow or have ANY issues at only 60,000 miles. That's just getting broken in for any modern engine.

 

My car has 66k miles on it right now with a new 2.3 built motor. I changed the motor, one, because I got a good deal that I couldnt pass up. Although if I wouldnt have seen this motor pop up I still would have replaced the motor as I had plans to make more power than a stock block can handle safely. Evo core charges on the blocks are way to much to risk it imo.

 

They are great motors and should last a very long time. My daily driver Evo has 144k on the original engine so far.

Most people like going with different motors to have a stroker, handle more power, more liters, etc...

 

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. I figured it would be lack of maintainance/improper tunes. However I wanted some input.

It's crazy how many idiots forget to do the basics. All my previous 4G63's (6 + 7 bolt) I made sure they were maintained as needed, and beat the pulp out of them daily. Not a single hickup from any.

Awesome engines

 

I'd have to agree that it's most likely improper tune and/or poor maintenence. I'm no expert, but If you think about it, what kind of tuning options were there back in the 90's? Today you can go down to your local tune shop and squeeze more ponies out of the engine for a couple hundred, or buy an ecu flash or other tuning software... You were shelling out money and had to know some people for that in 90's

 

Or they're stolen.

 

I think the 4G63 is hilariously strong. I've been running 27 psi for years now on a stock block motor making well over 400 whp with nearly 10,000 track miles with a small (big torque spike) turbo. I've broken multiple transmissions, but the motor is crazy strong. That being said, I only have 42k miles on my Evo and I have a built motor going in this week... the car takes so well to modification, its no wonder people push the car beyond what the stock block can handle, and in my case I would rather build it when the block is in one piece than when it has a giant hole in the side.

 

Be aware that often times people build their motors do what ever... and then end up parting the car/motor. When this happens they find a donor engine to put in and sell the car. I know of this happening many times.

 

+1^^^ gotta remember those part outs, built motors just to build for power, then parted back out and changed back to stock for resale!

 

How about oil choice as a cause of failure?