100,000 on my beater car.

maggot · August 7, 2002

My work car turned 100,000 today. 98 3.1 Malibu. for that I gave it first set of plugs and wires, changed its oil, fuel filter, and i will probably have the tranny serviced and the belt replaced and have the shop flush the radiator.This car gets punished real bad. It gets an oil change between 8 and 10,000 miles. I put a set a brakes on it and change the fuel filter one other time. It is a highway driver, I can run 3000 miles a month. It is not a bad little car for the #### I give it, and I am going to run it as long as it will go, and look decent to drive.

TheScaryGuy · August 7, 2002

Heh, be careful 3.1's aren't the best motor GM's built. My buddies just $hit on him with 80,000 miles. Granted not all highway but basicly taken care of.

maggot · August 7, 2002

yep that is what i hear. On top of that it was a Avis rental car for its first year and 30K miles.You know it was driven modestly as a rental.

GnatGoSplat · August 7, 2002

I disagree. The 3100's are virtually bulletproof. The 3100 is a Gen III design of the 2.8L V6's in my '89 Cutlass Supreme (and my wife's '88). My Cutlass Supreme has 197k miles and my wife's has 188k miles.

These 60-degree V6's go forever.

TheScaryGuy · August 8, 2002

Gen III design of the 2.8L V6's

2.8's are and always have been big pos's. Ask anyone that has one in an S-10. They are a dog and tend to have lots of problems. Consider yourself lucky you've gotten as far as you have with yours. Now the 3300 I haven't heard quite as many problems with, least those that were put in skylarks.

gmonkey · August 8, 2002

My '87 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera is at about 135,000. Timing chain stripped about a year ago (nylon coated gears) and it is still going strong.

It's still on the original cv-boots!! The hard plastic ones, not the rubber type. Also original radiator, starter, water pump, and alternator. Like all beaters, it gets flogged daily and doesn't skip a beat.

GnatGoSplat · August 8, 2002

Gen III design of the 2.8L V6's

2.8's are and always have been big pos's. Ask anyone that has one in an S-10. They are a dog and tend to have lots of problems. Consider yourself lucky you've gotten as far as you have with yours. Now the 3300 I haven't heard quite as many problems with, least those that were put in skylarks.

Different 2.8L.

The 2.8L in the FWD cars was a Gen II.

The 2.8L in the S-10's if I recall correctly was a Gen I design with iron heads and block. Same one as used in the first Fieros and Citation, correct? The Gen II in the FWD cars had aluminum heads with splayed valves. Lots of other differences too: DIS, MPFI, etc. First used in the '87 Celebrity and put in most GM FWD'ers 88-89. It later evolved to the 3.1L in mid '89 via new crankshaft and pistons (same bore, same block, same heads & intake). Then evolved to the 3100 in 94 with revised heads, completely new intake, roller cam, higher compression pistons, and stiffer block.

I have never heard of any common reliability problems with the Gen II 2.8/3.1 or the Gen III 3100/3400. They're virtually bulletproof.

GreenRado · August 8, 2002

Based on my experience and several friends and associates w/ the 2.8/3.1/3100, I'd certainly agree w/ Gnat. My 91 Lumina has 238K on it right now, and I flog the living H3LL out of it - don't always change the oil regularly (usually 5K - 6K miles), and although it leaks some, it doesn't burn any!!!

How many rice burners w/ base engines w/ 150K on it can claim that?

And also aside from the solenoids going out on the 3-speed w/ the lock up convertor, the tranny is just as tough. Was this combination refined - no, was it necessarily smooth and quiet - no, was it tough and dependable - YES.

I also had an '88 Quad 4 w/ same tranny and really, really gave it a hard time - same thing to the tune of 177K miles - and I only retired it cause it was rusted to the point that it was undriveable!!

Anyway my 2 cents.

SnakeEyeSS · August 8, 2002

I disagree. The 3100's are virtually bulletproof. The 3100 is a Gen III design of the 2.8L V6's in my '89 Cutlass Supreme (and my wife's '88). My Cutlass Supreme has 197k miles and my wife's has 188k miles.
These 60-degree V6's go forever.

Gnat's right. The 90 Grand Prix my dad just sold had over 210,000 on his, we had it for over 70,000 miles, the only thing we replaced was the Water Pump. We did basic maintaince. Never had a tune up the whole time, our mechanic WOULDN'T do one, he said everything was working too god, and in good condition, and a tune up would be a waste of money. the 3.1 is one of the best engine's GM has ever built, as long as you take care of them. I'd say from our experience its up there with the 350 TBI.

SnakeEyeSS · August 8, 2002

we've had four 2.8L S series vehicle's. the engine didn't give us a ton of trouble, but they are too underpowered, I think that's why they had problems, the engine worked too hard.

TheScaryGuy · August 9, 2002

Different 2.8L.
The 2.8L in the FWD cars was a Gen II.

The 2.8L in the S-10's if I recall correctly was a Gen I design with iron heads and block. Same one as used in the first Fieros and Citation,

I stand corrected. Thank you for clarifing.