Some engines seem to have a built-in expiration date, while others keep chugging along long after the rest of the vehicle starts showing its age. Toyota has produced several engines with reputations so strong that mechanics and longtime owners regularly point to them as candidates for 500,000 miles or more, yet several of these legendary powerplants have already left production.
That creates an interesting situation for used-car shoppers. The engines may offer extraordinary durability, but finding one in a vehicle with a healthy transmission, solid frame, and a maintenance history worth trusting can prove much harder than simply searching for a familiar badge on the hood.
