Re: DOHC 4.6 32v life expectancy

Apr 01, 2004 9 Replies

Well I have seen heard some stories of dohc's not lasting and blowing up at a young age. I do track days with my totally stock engine and these DOHC engines raced have a reputation of being fragile. If I do blow it up I want to get right back out there with a minimum of down time. I plan on keeping my car for some time its perfect for me and easy to work on. So yeah i guess I'll drive into the ground.


Not sure about the DOHCs... (I have a '97 Cobra with around 42k miles) >
> I think it depends on how the car is maintained and used, but I don't see
> why 150k is out of the question. I was in NYC limos that had in the high
> 300k miles on their 4.6's (not sure if the Town Cars are DOHC or SOHC).
> The 4.6 is proving its existance in every Crown Vic police interceptor and
> taxi.. and every Lincoln limo. There are a lot of these engines in fleet
> service with high mileage. Depending on your driving habits, I'd say that
> you should expect to see 150k easily.
>
> Just out of curiosity, why are you pricing new engines already? Are you
> planning to drive the car until it drops?
>
> JS
>
> > I have 96 cobra with 50,000miles.
> > What is the most mileage on one of these engines anyone has seen.
> > I was figuring about 150k should be attainable with frequent oil changes.
> > What do you guys think?
> > A new DOHC 4.6 cobra engine is about $5000.00.
> >
> >
>
>

Easy to work on, huh? You haven't seen a Fox body 5.0 in a while, have you?

I love my car though. I've driven it hard for quite a while. The DOHC engines have more moving parts... they have higher compression on cast components... superchargers eat through them like candy. But, I think even still, yours should last a while.

Here's a consideration though. If yours grenades, go with an '03 Cobra engine (you can always remove the blower if you want, get the long block) for the forged internals, or go with Sean Hyland Motorsports and get a beefed up DOHC. Either should cure your stock problems... with something more serious to boot.

JS

** I have 96 cobra with 50,000miles. ** What is the most mileage on one of these engines anyone has seen. ** I was figuring about 150k should be attainable with frequent oil changes. ** What do you guys think?

Properly designed and lubricated, a modern fuel-injected engine should last

300,000+ miles of average driving before requiring replacement. Most don't make it anywhere near this due to lack of maintenance.

Skippy Lube outfits also accounts for many early engine deaths as well. The longest-lasting drivetrains I know about (one is at 472,000 and counting) owe their continued existance to an owner who does their own maintenance.

-JD

-------------------------------- Enlightenment for The Masses: http:/207.13.104.8/users/jdadams--------------------------------

If you did the following it will last way past 150K, possible 200K or more

-frequent oil changes

-used good filters (read; no fram)

-On the first 10 miles of driving after a cold start no excessive revving

-keep cooling system in good shape.

-made longer trips (engine fully heats up)

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Remove NO-SPAM from email address when replying

Not sure about the DOHCs... (I have a '97 Cobra with around 42k miles)

TownCars, CrownVics are ALL SOHC. NO exceptions.

The Marauder is the ONLY Panther platformed car to have a DOHC.

-ERIC

Depending on your driving habits, I'd say that

There must be some definition of the word "easy" I am not aware of.

Wulf (who does not like working on them for warranty money)

At least you can see it. Look under the hood of a new Ford truck and see the opposite of easy:) Like you needed me to tell you that. Soon the engines will be completely encased in sheet metal, with 1/2 holes for the dipstick and oil fill. The entire vehicle will have to be turned upside down to drain the oil. The oil filter will be remotely mounted in the fuel tank, it will be an assembly with the fuel filter, fuel pump and fuel level sender. Cost about $500 to replace.

Al

Sounds like a Cessna I used to fly.

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