ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum

ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Technical Discussion - Beginner / Repair => Topic started by: 300zx on October 02, 2009, 05:06:56 PM

Title: Typicaly how many miles do the 1.3 motors last
Post by: 300zx on October 02, 2009, 05:06:56 PM
hello i am thinking of buying a sami i found and was wondering about how many mile the 1.3 motor last thanks
Title: Re: Typicaly how many miles do the 1.3 motors last
Post by: fordem on October 02, 2009, 08:27:19 PM
Forgive me - but - typically, how long is a piece of string?
Title: Re: Typicaly how many miles do the 1.3 motors last
Post by: 300zx on October 02, 2009, 08:37:06 PM
ok well let me rephrase the question. about how many miles are you guys getting out of your 1.3 motors before a rebuild is necessary. 

i ask because the sami i am looking at tomorrow has almost 150k on the original motor
Title: Re: Typicaly how many miles do the 1.3 motors last
Post by: jaunty on October 02, 2009, 09:10:31 PM
your best bet would be to grab a 20 dollar compression tester from harbor and freight (the screw in type) and plug it in.  takes a few minutes and you should expect to see 165-190 PSI per cylinder.  otherwise check for smoking and condition of engine oil.

if it truly does have 150K thats pretty low for an old vehicle. 
Title: Re: Typicaly how many miles do the 1.3 motors last
Post by: fordem on October 03, 2009, 06:17:29 AM
My 1.3 (which I've had from new) has just over 120k miles (on the original motor) which has been meticulously maintained, oil & filter every 3000 miles, and everything else "by the book".

It's using oil & the compression on all four holes varies between 90~120 dry & 180~200 wet (so I know I have worn rings/bores), it runs surprisingly well given the low compression (FSM says it should be between 150~200).

Should this be considered typical?

I've heard of folk getting 200k and in some cases over 300k on these motors - but a lot is going to depend on the way the vehicle was used and the way it was maintained - if it was used to do a daily 20 mile commute with mostly highway usage, 150k is nothing - if like my car, it was used for mainly stop-start short trips (20~40 miles a day, no single trip over 2~3 miles) and all in a small city, then you'll be lucky to get 150k.

And of course - if it was not properly maintained ...

Like jaunty says - a compression test will tell you what you need to know.