V8 engines are good for a wide variety of jobs. From powering mighty muscle cars and supercars to unbridled speeds to towing huge loads in a commercial setting, or even tackling off-road trails with ease, they can be tuned and built for any task. While generally not specifically designed to be used to create reliable cars, many are beefed up to be dependable.

With so many different designs out in the wild, especially from American manufacturers like Ford and Chevrolet that have focused heavily on muscle cars, it can be difficult to pin down which are the most dependable. However, one V8 engine from across the Pacific stands out for its sheer durability.

The Toyota 2UZ-FE V8 Boasts Near-Bulletproof Reliability

Potential Issues Of 2UZ-FE

• Failing to change the timing belt at 90,000-mile intervals can lead to a destroyed engine

The Toyota UZ range of engines has carved out a fearsome reputation as being some of the most reliable V8s ever made, leaving HotCars confident of declaring it the most reliable naturally-aspirated unit ever made. The 2UZ-FE in particular was built with dependability in mind from the start, the engine being reserved for Toyota's heavy-duty vehicle range like the Land Cruiser, Tundra pickup truck, and 4Runner SUV.

The 1UZ-FE engine had been around for a decade by the time the 2UZ-FE was born, the former featuring an aluminum block that helped to keep weight to a minimum. It was utilized primarily in Toyota and Lexus luxury vehicles such as the LS400, Crown, and SC400. The 1UZ is sometimes referred to as the million-mile engine, partly due to a 1UZ-FE-equipped Lexus LS400 that covered the mileage with few problems.

How The 2UZ-FE Perfected Toyota's Recipe For Reliability

While keeping the general makeup of the engine the same for the evolution of the 2UZ-FE, Toyota elected to build the block from cheaper and more dependable cast iron rather than aluminum. While this increased the overall weight of the engine significantly, it ensured the engine could take more punishment over a longer period of time. It was also enlarged from 4.0 liters in the 1UZ to 4.7 liters, which allowed Toyota's engineers to significantly increase torque and make it lower-revving.

2UZ Provides Less Power Than 1UZ, But Significantly More Torque

While power was slightly lower in the 2UZ at 275 hp compared to 290 hp in the 1UZ, its 332 lb-ft torque figure was well clear of the 1UZs 300 lb-ft. The 2UZ continued to use a steel crankshaft and forged connecting rods, while the pistons also remained aluminum to help reduce friction within the engine. This ensured that heat could be kept to a minimum, which in turn put less strain on the components.

Toyota also used its Electronic Spark Advance technology, alongside a pair of knock sensors, to manage the ignition timing to prevent engine knocking. Later versions of the 2UZ-FE were equipped with Toyota's variable valve timing tech, which takes into account elements like throttle position and air volume entering the engine to alter the camshaft tuning.

This allows the engine to run more efficiently and work less, further enhancing long-term durability. Lighter pistons, which can function even when made of plastic, and handy oil jets contained within the cylinder block also helped to keep the engine cooler.

Owners Of 2UZ-FE Engines Swear By Them

Toyota 2UZ-FE Specs

(Source: Toyota)

Toyota's focus on making the 2UZ-FE as reliable as possible ended up paying dividends, as swarms of owners have shared their positive experiences online. A variety of drivers on Reddit shared the impressive levels of mileage they had managed, and with little in the way of problems at that. Several reported that they had covered well over 300,000 miles without a problem, with one revealing a close friend had taken one up to 800,000 miles before the car was killed off by a rusted chassis.

The bulletproof 2UZ-FE suffers from very few recurring problems, with the only major thing that needs attention being the timing belt. They need to be switched every 90,000 miles, with the price of failure being a new engine. Other than that, ensuring the engine undergoes continuous maintenance should be enough to make it last for hundreds of thousands of miles in vehicles like the robust Land Cruiser.

Well-maintained examples can even replicate the million-mile mark the 1UZ managed, with a couple of Tundra pickups featuring the V8 having already achieved it. One of the trucks even underwent a full teardown by specialist Toyota mechanics to see what kind of shape it was in. They ended up giving it a quality rating of 99/100, noting that there was barely any wear on the valve stems or crankshaft journals. Even the cross-hatching pattern printed onto the cylinder walls was still visible.

In addition to this, owners on the Toyota 4Runner Forum back up these impressive reliability reports. One, who had covered 280,000 miles with his 2UZ, fed back that the powerplant was still maintaining the same gas mileage it had all its life and wasn't burning any extra oil. Another said he had a hefty 320,000 miles on his example, with the only drivetrain-related issue being a failed transfer case.

Any drivers needing to source a reliable V8 will struggle to go wrong with a well-maintained 2UZ-FE engine. As long as the timing belt change schedule is kept up with, it should remain a trusted ally for many years.

The Ford Coyote V8 Is Another Strong V8 Choice

Potential Coyote V8 Issues

• Excessive oil consumption on earlier examples of engine

Another ultra-reliable V8 engine is Ford's mighty 5.0-liter Coyote V8. First unleashed in 2011, the Coyote is commonly found in Mustang muscle cars and F-150 pickup truck models. The American manufacturer packed in a ton of advanced technology to ensure the Coyote remains reliable over thousands of miles, such as hypereutectic aluminum pistons, strengthened head bolts, and forged steel connecting rods.

The fact that the engine is also naturally aspirated also helps to enhance durability, as the lack of any forced induction device means less stress goes through the engine under load. Like the Toyota 2UZ-FE, the Coyote V8 also has a cast-iron block to ensure long-term strength. While the Coyote tends to not suffer from any major flaws, some Mustang owners reported that they have suffered from excessive oil consumption.

These concerns seemed to be leveled more towards earlier examples, so it's more than likely an issue that snuck in during the manufacturing process.

One owner on the Ford Trucks Forum reported that he had covered a stiff 326,000 miles with his Coyote-equipped vehicle without a single problem. A couple of others that had covered around 100,000 miles also reported no problems with the powerplant, though all three had made sure to stick to their maintenance schedule.

While the Coyote is an effective and dependable V8 engine, the Toyota gets the nod in this case due to more reports of the engine hitting ultra-high mileage without much of a problem. Any powerplant that can hit a million miles is a safe bet, so the 2UZ-FE engine represents an excellent choice for any gearheads looking for a bulletproof V8 unit.