540i 6spd

Like the title says, How many miles have you put on your car since you went FI?

auctiondepot

140,000 miles

540i 6spd

No break downs or rebuilds? I notice many people sell after a couple K miles.......

sami85L98

I did not sell but engine did not last after couple k miles on it....

DOUG @ ECS

We have several people who put over 100k on their cars after going FI, but our highest that I know of is a 98 that was supercharged at 105k and the last time I saw it it came back in for meth, cam and a roll bar at 225k.

Went threw a trans, but the engine was never touched besides installing the cam.

PeteZ06

I put about 10K miles with my A&A kit.. Its a great and cheap way to make power.. but unless your bottom end is forged, its not going to last long.

MVP'S ZO6

That all depends on how much power your trying to make. I would bet my bank account that either A&A or ECS base kit that is tuned correctly on an otherwise stock, mechanically sound car will last a ton of miles.

It's the guys who are pushing the envelope who pop engines eventually. It's the nature of the beast.

sami85L98

Thats me went to 3.4" pulley and drove crazy, miss the shift and bang, 2 piston's ringland popped, car drove home smooth and plenty of power but lots of blowby.

If recommended pulley and good tune, i am sure you will go lot longer miles for smiles.

PeteZ06

Totally agree.

That being said.. I want around 600rwhp.. thats not an option on a stock bottom end LS1/LS6 for extended periods.. Sure its being done all the time and the tunes are safe, cars arent running lean.. but its just a matter of time before something internally goes.

If you want something reliable on a stock bottom end I wouldnt go much past 500rwhp, otherwise its just a matter of time.

c5austin

I bet I have the most miles on my C5 with FI. 290,000 miles on the 3rd motor and 2nd tranny.

BLOWNBLUEZ06

And 2nd tune on the 3rd motor.

cdnguyred88

70,000 Kms

Turbo-Geist

Why does this same story continue to be propagated? I feel like Myth Busters needs to do an episode.

I've had twin turbos on a stock motor for 4 years now and 20,000 miles. It started @ 500 rwhp and has increased every year. This setup currently has 22 quarter mile passes @ 800+ rwhp and looking to turn it up just a little more.

breecher_7

So many factors are involved when discussing longevity of a F/I engine. If its tuned conservatively there is no reason why it would not last just as long as an N/A engine. But as mentioned above, most dont tune them conservatively, most are always looking for more power, and most of us, atleast in this section of the forum, beat the unholy hell out of our cars.

Conservative tune, Driven normally, raced occasionally, no reason it shouldnt last as long as a N/A engine.

Agressive tune, pushing the limits, beating the hell out of it all the time. Its gonna break sooner then later.

Just the way it is.

Best example I have is my friends YSI car. Granted this is a fully built car without a stock part in it. But he road races it, road races it at 900+ rwhp and also drives the thing almost daily 7 months out of the year. Engine lasted 3 years taking nothing but EXTREME abuse for nearly every mile.

Slap a blower on a stock car with a solid tune, no reason it wont go 100K....

SmoothFRC

Went Fi at ~25-7k (forget..., but in the upper 20's), started at 470, then upgraded to ~520, drove it like that for a few years. Installed cam, jumped to 570, just recently pullied down and am now at 625. Ten years later, car now has 100k on it (so ~75k blown), and all has been good (knock on wood). Daily drove the car for 5 years and still take it to work whenever the weather cooperates.

Tune Tune Tune... ECS tunes my car and I have been very happy with them keeping the car togethor over the years. Original Stock Long block minus the cam and springs.

oh1vette

Great thread - - I've got a V3 sitting on the shelf and been getting cold feet...

you guys are making me feel better about finally getting it installed....

MVP'S ZO6

Could be that 23 pass that puts just enough stress on those already stressed factory rod bolts to let one cut loose.

Every time your piston goes to TDC, it's trying to rip the big end of your connecting rod apart and same goes for the little end and the wrist pin when the piston goes To BDC.

Factor that in with all the other things like added heat and cylinder pressure from being boosted and you have successfully created a ticking time bomb.

We haven't even got into detail as to why rod bolt thread design is so important. Or piston rings Ect.


20 thousand miles isn't really anything in my opinion. I mean don't get me wrong it's great that your engine is still together but it's a matter of time.

I hope I don't sound like a dick. If I do that's not my intentions and I apologize in advance.

Turbo-Geist

No problem on your post, but the 23rd and on pass have already occured. The 22 passes are what it took at the track to go from 10.40's to 9.96 by adjusting fuel and finding the right launch combination. This doesn't count the dyno pulls, the street tuning, and the blasts that were just for fun. The logs show 7,000 to 7300 rpms between shifts because the throttle stays open when the shift is made at 6500 rpm.

The 20,000 miles weren't Sunday drive type miles. If the car gets cranked, it gets used whether it's tuning, racing, or just enjoying what it feels like to accelerate all the way through 4th gear.

So, I understand what you are saying but don't quite agree that my next pass will be the last one. I've been meaning to run a conservative analysis to see what type of tensile and compressive stresses are occuring on the rods, what the forces are on the rod bolts, etc., but I just haven't sat down and tried to figure it out. In the absence of detonation it's going to be a cyclic fatigue that finally does it in.

MVP'S ZO6

Where is the like button.

I really hope it last forever I hate to see a fellow power junkie down because of a stupid engine.

Turbo-Geist

Thanks, man. No worries. If something happens, I can either put another stock one in or build it stronger to make more power. I've gotten my money's worth from this somewhat simple combo.