Little Engine That Says ‘I Know I Can’
Question: I have a 1974 Toyota Corolla with 220,000 miles on it. The transmission was rebuilt at 130,000 miles, and I have replaced such parts as brakes, belts, alternator and water pump. I have had two valve jobs but never any deep engine work. It burns a quart of oil every 3,000 miles. Do four-cylinder engines usually last longer than eight-cylinder engines?--P.H.M.
Answer: You should break open a bottle of champagne for the extraordinary service you have received from your car. It is very unusual for any automobile engine, four or eight cylinder, to accumulate more than 200,000 miles without a thorough overhaul.
Eight-cylinder engines theoretically should last longer than four-cylinder engines, simply because the smaller engine must perform the same work with less muscle.
The wear and tear on an engine is typically measured by engineers in terms of piston travel per mile of driving. A V-8 typically runs one-third slower than a four-cylinder.
Despite the inherent advantage of eight- over four-cylinder engines, the longevity of any motor depends on the quality of the original design, the factory workmanship and the maintenance. In many cases, a smaller engine outlives the bigger engine.
The Toyota 2TC engine in your Corolla has racked up one of the best records in the auto industry for reliability and longevity. It is not uncommon for 2TC engines to accumulate more than 200,000 miles without overhaul. The Ford Motor Co. 200-cubic-inch and 289-cubic-inch engines were also legendary for their longevity.
At this point, it is difficult to know how many more miles you can expect from your Toyota. But based on your oil consumption and your cylinder compression, your engine appears healthy enough to last tens of thousands more miles.
Q: I have a 1980 Buick Skylark. This past month I have noticed the power steering is giving me trouble. I now realize I received a letter from Buick in August, 1983, addressing the problem. I never took the car in, and now I wonder how much it will cost to fix.--J.M.
A: General Motors did have a policy to replace steering gears on your model car during 1983, but just because you never responded to the original offer doesn’t mean you have to foot the entire bill now.
The repair costs about $300. You should take your car in to your dealer and ask him to fix your steering gear under the GM warranty. If he balks, ask to speak to the General Motors district representative.
GM has given dealers a lot of latitude in making adjustments for this acknowledged defect. If one dealer refuses to help, try another.
Q: I have a 1985 Honda Civic. While on the freeway, the speed dropped from 55 m.p.h. to 40 m.p.h. I noticed the gas gauge dropped to empty and the thermometer went to cold. I discovered the brakes were gone. I phoned AAA and the car was towed. When I retrieved it, it drove perfectly. Four dealers could find nothing wrong. Any suggestions?--J.G.
A: You have some sort of intermittent electrical short that is causing all the power to shut off. You might ask your mechanic to check the connections at the main power fuses. A poor connection there would cut off power to all the systems in your car.
The brake problem might be related to the loss of vacuum in the power booster when the engine shuts off. But you should exercise great caution if you think there are other problems with the brakes. The brakes are not electrically controlled and may have a separate mechanical problem.
