• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

am i ruining my engine

  • Thread starter Thread starter 89five0
  • Start date Start date Sep 28, 2004
8

89five0

New Member
Nov 28, 2003
50
0
0
Sep 28, 2004
#1
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #1
well i have a 1989 5o gt with 129,000 on the clock. Maintained really well frequent oil changes,etc. i was wondering if an occasional little burnout and rpm's up to 5grand is going to tear my engine apart. i drive this car eveyday to school and home and still need it to be reliable, it is just too tempting to leave rubber and get going fast but i dont want to do it if it will blow my engine up.any adice?
sorry for the dumb questions....
Trey
 

Mustang Yawie

Founding Member
Jul 21, 2002
281
14
28
Rialto CA
Sep 28, 2004
#2
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #2
Every so often should not be to bad but dont drive it too hard everyday,
 

FrdMustangCpe

New Member
May 27, 2004
493
0
0
Sin City, NV
Sep 28, 2004
#3
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #3
if tires are no big deal and you have gears, you can get a 2nd gear b/o. a fox can powerbrake at like 3k. id be a little cautious. however one ive seen my tach at 6k leaving a light i had to apologize to my poor 5.0, still held up
 

giddyup306

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
3,041
2
59
Sep 28, 2004
#4
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #4
As long as you change the oil reguarly and do simple PM's on them the occasional burnout won't destroy your engine. I had a SHO with 250K on it and I used to rod the piss outta it untill the day I sold it. Still ran fine when I did and did not smoke or anything like that.
 

livenfine

New Member
Jun 9, 2003
601
0
0
Sep 28, 2004
#5
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #5
I bought my stang with 130k, now it has 160k and I race it very hard, on the street, at the drags and the autocross track. The problems I have had were that the clutch went out and something got in the oil pump and seized it up. If I had to pay someone to fix it, the cost would have been over $1000, even doing the work myself, I shelled out $400 to fix those two things.

Same opinion as the others except: If you can't afford to break it, don't push it. Put some cash away to help pay for it when it breaks...and it will

Sorry if I sound like your dad, I do have 4 boys in college and I tell 'em the same thing
 

408stroker5.0

The world would be a better place if all males jus
Mar 10, 2004
639
0
16
Bonnyville, Alberta, CANADA
Sep 28, 2004
#6
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #6
HAMMERDOWN!!!!!

Just don't over do it.....Try and stay below 5800RPM, and try not to keep the engine reving for an excesive amount of time at a high RPM. It's good to let your motor rev once in a while...clean's it up a bit and help's get rid of carbon. Hell...some engine's that have been bagged hard all there life will last alot longer and perform better then an engine that's been driven by Grama and kept below 2500RPM all it's life.

Shon
 

super302

I'd do anything for free Bapples
May 29, 2004
2,878
1
0
Davenport, IA
Sep 28, 2004
#7
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #7
just don't keep bouncing it off the rev limiter and you'll be fine
 

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?
15 Year Member
Nov 29, 1999
31,179
33
129
Sep 28, 2004
#8
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #8
super302 said:
just don't keep bouncing it off the rev limiter and you'll be fine
Click to expand...
i might say dont bounce off the stock rev limiter at all! runnin a box that cuts spark at 6K might be a better idea.
 

90mustangGT

I felt sorry for girls because
Founding Member
Jan 15, 2002
2,773
17
89
Dallas, GA
Sep 28, 2004
#9
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #9
You mean while there are a lot of people out there spraying 200 shots with H/C/I on 200K shortblocks and not thinking twice about it, your worried about a little occasional wheel peel on a stock engine?

The important thing is keeping the oil changed and the car in proper tune. I belive that engines need exersize like everything else. The longest lasting and strongest running engines are worked out regularly. It seems that the motors that give out the most are the granny driven unmaintained engines.

I always make sure the engine is at operating temprature before revving it above 4K, but then I am very, very mean to it. Valve float isn't very healthy, keep it below 5800. Otherwise the 5.0L can take some major abuse.
 

giddyup306

Founding Member
Oct 22, 2002
3,041
2
59
Sep 28, 2004
#10
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #10
408stroker5.0 said:
HAMMERDOWN!!!!!

Just don't over do it.....Try and stay below 5800RPM, and try not to keep the engine reving for an excesive amount of time at a high RPM. It's good to let your motor rev once in a while...clean's it up a bit and help's get rid of carbon. Hell...some engine's that have been bagged hard all there life will last alot longer and perform better then an engine that's been driven by Grama and kept below 2500RPM all it's life.

Shon
Click to expand...


Exactly. Low mileage grandma cars usually crap out something horrible when they are sold to a "regular" driver. Grandma might put 50 miles on it and a year an those are the two blocks to and from the grocery store. Only problem with this is that it does not allow for the seals to expand and contract. Then when another driver uses it (especially if the car is older) seales and gaskets tend to go out.
 
L

L8 MUSL

Active Member
Jan 20, 2003
1,664
0
36
Carlsbad, Ca.
Sep 28, 2004
#11
  • Sep 28, 2004
  • #11
89five0 said:
well i have a 1989 5o gt with 129,000 on the clock. Maintained really well frequent oil changes,etc. i was wondering if an occasional little burnout and rpm's up to 5grand is going to tear my engine apart.
sorry for the dumb questions....
Trey
Click to expand...

Occasional?

Hell, it's a V8, you're an American.
It's your duty to light those things up on a regular basis!
 

CobraWannabe

Member
Jul 16, 2003
321
0
17
Lancaster, PA
Sep 29, 2004
#12
  • Sep 29, 2004
  • #12
I, also, was going to say to exercise it once in a while to clean it out. Your car will treat you, the way you treat it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Engine I am having trouble with the engine in my 1991 Mustang.
  • sands9330014
  • Sep 28, 2024
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
  • 2 3
Replies
47
Views
2K
Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech Apr 12, 2025
Mindseye007
95 GT getting Trickflow upper engine kit and more after 20 years parked, help required.
  • newfiestang
  • Oct 18, 2022
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
  • 2
Replies
26
Views
4K
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Nov 22, 2022
96pushrod
W
1997 Mustang Engine Swap.. Am i hurting the new engine?
  • Warleader165
  • Jul 21, 2020
  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
Replies
9
Views
4K
1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk- Aug 13, 2020
08GT500
P1443 I am at a loss....
  • TIGGER
  • Nov 4, 2020
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech
Replies
0
Views
1K
SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech Nov 4, 2020
TIGGER
F
Progress Thread I'm restoring my dad's fox body and I have some questions regarding my engine restoration
  • Fitzjack
  • Apr 5, 2021
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • 2
Replies
39
Views
7K
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Apr 10, 2021
Willybill32
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?