SC300P

Hi guys ang girls,

I need your opinions. I bought my SC this April with over 230,000 miles on it. Now it has about 245,000 miles. A mechanic that I took it to told me the valve springs and the "screws" are worn out and needed fixing. It would cost me $300 for labor plus parts ($100-$300).

Should I repair that problem or should I just replace it with a reconstructed enigne? WHAT DO YOU THINK?

TLDriver

iTrader: (4)

valve springs and screws?? are sure that's what he said?

BigBang

iTrader: (1)

Well assuming you don't know how to do the labor yourself if you bought a reconstructed engine, It will probably cost more to do the swap. Then again it does have a lot of miles. It's really your choice. In my opinion I would swap it. Swap it for a 1j or 2j. Then you will have more reliability.

I think he meant valve springs and probably the stem seals. The valves itself might need to be lapped anyways.

1WILLY1

iTrader: (9)

when u buy a car with high mileage u are eventually going to face this choice.

I think its a bad idea to keep throwing money into a high mileage engine

soarer93

id say spend the few hundred. get it fixed. then look at selling the car. dont butcher it up by doing a swap.

BigBang

iTrader: (1)

I'd feel like a loser if i just bought a car that I have to try to sell if it sells.

Tabaka

iTrader: (8)

Man, that's a good price. Just got to keep in mind that motor will reach 300k in a few years. It's up to you really. I had to make that decision recently and kept my GE. I only had 130k though and is running great now. Can you confirm the last time you had a timing belt/waterpump service?

BigBang

iTrader: (1)

130k is still really good mileage. Most people avoid buying cars over 100k... which is sad

Klaus

iTrader: (1)

My 260k mile SC4 runs perfect

BigBang

iTrader: (1)

186k miles before engine died here. Previous owner prob didn't take care of it that well.

SC300_704

iTrader: (5)

here we go again about the mileage lol.

Tabaka

iTrader: (8)

truth, that's cause everyone looks up to you Gives us NA-T people hope that it's never too late!

SC300P

The guy who sold me the sc didn't take care of it. He used cheap oils and had a dirty air filter. He also had some huge 20'' rims that rubbed against the inside walls of the fender. Let's just say he's a flashy guy who's into looks rather than performance.

As I could, I did an oil change (put in Mobil 1 high mileage 10w-30), put a clean Mobil 1 oil filter, changed the air filter and also added the Redline SI-1 fuel system cleaner. Now the engine sounds a lot better. Next step is instal new brakes, new spark plugs, change the valve cover gaskets and get stock rims.

Don't know if the previous owner changed timing belt or water pump. My sc was neglected.