Hey guys, I've got a 740 2.3L B230F, It's just recently ticked over to 180000miles, how many more miles can i get out of it, I doesn't use any oil whatsoever, oil is always on the full mark on dipstick right up to next service.

Also is it ok to let it redline in every gear, (automatic) what damage will it cause if it were to be driven like this all the time (hard and fast). Just something I need to know!!! Thanks guys

I just turned over 300,000 miles. I didn't buy mine new, but have records from day one, and Know the original owners very well. Mine burns no oil, no smoke runs like a top. Don't hesitate to drive it anywhere. I enjoy spirited driving, but rarely run it all the way to red line, no reason to, the fastes acceleration I have found is letting it shift between 3500 and 4500. Most of the time I am pretty gentle though.

My key has been Mann filters all the way through and many bricksters disagree with me here, but my opinoin is 15-40 oil all the way. This is the full range oil in my owners manual and has been used since new. Rolled off the factory floor with 15-40 in it and nothing else has ever touched it. I change about every 5,000 to 6,000 miles. Me thinks the main demise of these engines is heat. I religiously replace my thermostate and colent every fall. This year I put it off cause I was busy (driving the car 1,000 miles a week) and it failed. I caught it before it got really hot, but it was close.

Good luck

Peter

I don't plan to drive it too the redline everytime, but sometimes it happens with those idiots out on the roads! I change the oil every 3000miles or so. Good Idea?

Our 88 has 228,000 miles, uses no oil. We do not red line it too often.

Dunno why you redline it in every gear, but hey sometimes speed is better than sex....well OK I don't own a Ferrari either....

Anyhow, my B21FTi is at 225,000 miles and uses no oil. I have been on Amsoil synthetic for the past 50,000 miles or so. I would say if your car leaks no oil and the seals are good, a switch to Amsoil will help you eek out some more trouble free miles, plus give you less wear on cold starts (really where most wear occurs) plus give you that extra high RPM protection.

Stevo,

Expect at least 250,000 miles from a well maintained B230. Maybe more if you're lucky like Token Ring Man.

Although, to be completely honest, I have never seen a B2xx engine with more than 250K that really ran well. I'm not saying that they aren't out there, but they are rare. Even Ringlee says that his smokes a little at 280K.

But the fact that your's uses no oil is a very good sign. I wouldn't expect it to fail or require expensive repairs anytime soon.

Re: Redlining the motor. Why put unnecessary stress on it? If you have a stock B230, there is really no point in reving it higher than about 4500rpm anyway. (With the stock cam, power drops sharply above 4500.) A few quick bursts to the redline every once in awhile is probably no big deal, but I personally wouldn't feel comfortable doing that on a regular basis.

Merry Christmas!

-Jim

Well Stevo, mine has 283,000 miles on it. It uses a bit of oil, and smokes a little on startup but runs very well. My neighbor has a '79 242 with a B21 and he has nearly 400,000 miles on it.

Change the oil and keep the engine serviced. I would also suggest not visiting the redline quite so much. Any component taken to the limit will fail sooner. The light that burns twice as bright, lasts half as long.
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Warren Bain - '86 744Ti M46 >282Kmi, '96 965 >97Kmi Wifemobile near Manassas Va