My car's engine destroyed itself this morning, due to an unknown-to-me design flaw. $9K engine replacement is recommended (long past warranty). Who knew that driving in really cold temperatures could cause certain GM engines to commit suicide?!

Ugh.

You know, I got out in the extreme cold (for us) last night and this morning to run some errands, thinking how much it would suck if my car suddenly had an issue. Sorry for your predicament bro.

Wow. That is a really big bill. Is the car worth $9k?

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Sorry to hear that. Sounds like a serious design flaw.

Coldest I've driven in is minus-10 F. The transmission felt like it was filled with playdough until the car warmed up.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2024 03:13PM by Acer.

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Acer
Coldest I've driven in is minus-10 F. The transmission felt like it was filled with playdough until the car warmed up.

Yeah, you can hear the fluids squirting.

Sorry to hear that. What kind of design flaw? Is this a well known issue and why didn’t they have a recall?

No, the vehicle isn't worth $9K--at least it wasn't pre-Covid.

The design flaw: [www.hbsslaw.com]

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gadje
Sorry to hear that. What kind of design flaw? Is this a well known issue and why didn’t they have a recall?

That kind of stuff happens more often than you would think. My mom's Lexus had a flaw (only the 2.5 liter engines) that required a engine replacement. They did not recall the engine, but when I found out about it and talked to them, they swapped my mom's engine free of charge, as it was unusable at only around 50k miles.

Similar one with Ford transmissions. Mass problems, successful lawsuit, never a recall.

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AllGold
My car's engine destroyed itself this morning, due to an unknown-to-me design flaw. $9K engine replacement is recommended (long past warranty). Who knew that driving in really cold temperatures could cause certain GM engines to commit suicide?!

Ugh.

Equinox or sister vehicle? Which engine? Is this related to the PCV valve freezing?

Edit: didn't check the link first. It is the PCV valve issue.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/17/2024 03:55PM by macphanatic.

I have a friend who is getting her 2017 Hyundai engine because of excessive oil use (a quart per 1000 miles). Apparently a well known issue but you have to ask for it or they charge you.

In the meantime my wife's 2014 Jeep Cherokee has been at the dealer since December 11 - all new exhaust and suspension needed at only 80k miles. Both are covered by the lifetime extended warranty I took out based on it being A) a jeep, and B) all electronic dash. That $1100 was well spent since this issue would be $3000+

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Car Wizard had a post on YouTube about this, IIRC.

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Down with the dancers having one last fling

Yes, macphanatic, a 2012 Equinox, with a 4-cyl 2.4L Ecotech engine.

Another design flaw of those engines is they made the rings too small so it burns oil like crazy and gets worse as it gets older. You can't let the oil level get too low because the timing chain tensioner is run by oil pressure and low oil pressure means the timing chain will slip--another way to destroy the engine. I have been fastidious in my checking and adding oil.

Interesting. I never heard about the PCV valve freezing.

here is a quick test, you just need a 1" of paper to see if you have a vacuum or not

[www.youtube.com]

Our old Subaru's valves decided to get cozy with the pistons last week. Sudden failure of timing belt tensioner pulley bearings. It was a 2003 with 240K on it, so we junked it.

We're not out anywhere near $9K, though. Sorry to hear of that loss. Any chance you could get a good used engine? I know some dismantlers actually are reputable.

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AllGold
Yes, macphanatic, a 2012 Equinox, with a 4-cyl 2.4L Ecotech engine.

Another design flaw of those engines is they made the rings too small so it burns oil like crazy and gets worse as it gets older. You can't let the oil level get too low because the timing chain tensioner is run by oil pressure and low oil pressure means the timing chain will slip--another way to destroy the engine. I have been fastidious in my checking and adding oil.

I'd find a lower mileage used engine and put that in there before I'd pay $9K for a new engine for that particular vehicle. Sorry but it looks like it's not even worth that much depending on the miles. I'm not saying this just because it's an American or GM vehicle. Heck we have 2002 Chevy Tahoe Z71 4WD with 129K miles on it that I wouldn't take $25K for it even though it only gets about 18mpg on the highway not towing, 12-13 mpg when towing.

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Grateful11

Is there a new and improved PVC valve that one can have replaced (or DIY if need be) that will handle the cold?

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RAMd®d
Is there a new and improved PVC valve that one can have replaced (or DIY if need be) that will handle the cold?

Yes, actually. According to the mechanic, the official fix is to drill the hole a little larger and... problem solved.

VW has the same problem on many models. I had to do a front crank seal on a 2.8L Passat that blew out because the PCV was clogged. Using a catch can is a good fix, or drilling a bigger hole.

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C(-)ris
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I replaced that valve once for an emissions issue. A $15 part, took 10 minutes to install, not counting youtube time, but counting washing up afterward. Crazy that it can destroy an engine!

That really bites! Good opportunity to go electric.

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Saint Cloud, Minnesota, where the weather is wonderful even when it isn't.

There are used engines in the 100-120k mile range for around $2500. Brand new rebuilds with 3Yr/36k mile warranty for $4k. It is not another $5k in labor to swap that engine. Should be able to get it done for $4k to $6k out the door at an independant shop. Still not sure it is worth it though....

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C(-)ris
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AllGold
Who knew that driving in really cold temperatures could cause certain GM engines to commit suicide?!

I've known that about GM since the 80s…and no cold weather required.

[forums.macresource.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/18/2024 12:18AM by Article Accelerator.

See if there's a Jasper Engine installer in your area. They have a good reputation for rebuilt engines. If you're going to spend the money to replace the engine, you might as well make sure that you'll get an engine in good condition.

That's a pretty good run with a pos Equinox. This is why mechanic do not buy GM products.

If you can I'd buy anything Toyota or Nissan to replace it. You can get a new, base Nissan for like $21k. A friend has one. It's a decent car with a good warranty.

Quote
macphanatic
See if there's a Jasper Engine installer in your area. They have a good reputation for rebuilt engines. If you're going to spend the money to replace the engine, you might as well make sure that you'll get an engine in good condition.

According to the mechanic who quoted me $9K (all-in, the engine itself is half that) for the engine replacement, Jasper engines are junk. He says the ones they got a long time ago were junk so they stopped sourcing them. And they occasionally see some from customers who got them elsewhere and they are still junk.

I don't have any idea what is a good or bad remanufactured engine. Honestly, looking at the Jasper site, I don't see how they could be junk unless they're just B.S.ing about their work.

My retired mechs swore by Jasper engines.

They'd give their customers the option of factory crate motors or Jasper.

Jasper was cheaper, had good warranties, and worked with them for odd out of warranty work.

So that's one data point (more actually, but I have no idea how many.

---

I am that Masked Man.

All you can do, is all you can do.

There’s trouble — it's time to play the sound of my people.

Your boos mean nothing to me, I've seen what you cheer for.

Insisting on your rights without acknowledging your responsibilities isn’t freedom, it’s adolescence.

I've been to the edge of the map, and there be monsters.

We are a government of laws, not men.

Everybody counts or nobody counts.

When a good man is hurt,
all who would be called good
must suffer with him.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

You and I have memories longer than the road that stretches out ahead.

There is no safety for honest men except
by believing all possible evil of evil men.

We don’t do focus groups. They just ensure that you don’t offend anyone, and produce bland inoffensive products. —Sir Jonathan Ive

An armed society is a polite society.
And hope is a lousy defense.

You make me pull, I'll put you down.

I *love* SIGs. It's Glocks I hate.

Bummer

Quote
AllGold
Yes, macphanatic, a 2012 Equinox, with a 4-cyl 2.4L Ecotech engine.

Another design flaw of those engines is they made the rings too small so it burns oil like crazy and gets worse as it gets older. You can't let the oil level get too low because the timing chain tensioner is run by oil pressure and low oil pressure means the timing chain will slip--another way to destroy the engine. I have been fastidious in my checking and adding oil.

A friend had a similar vintage Equinox. Brand new, it would burn through all of its oil in about 500 miles. The dealer just kept refilling it. Finally they replaced the engine. New engine had same issue. They had it replaced again. Same issue, though not quite as bad. I think they were able to get GM to buy it back.

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Quote
M A V I C
Bummer

Quote
AllGold
Yes, macphanatic, a 2012 Equinox, with a 4-cyl 2.4L Ecotech engine.

Another design flaw of those engines is they made the rings too small so it burns oil like crazy and gets worse as it gets older. You can't let the oil level get too low because the timing chain tensioner is run by oil pressure and low oil pressure means the timing chain will slip--another way to destroy the engine. I have been fastidious in my checking and adding oil.

A friend had a similar vintage Equinox. Brand new, it would burn through all of its oil in about 500 miles. The dealer just kept refilling it. Finally they replaced the engine. New engine had same issue. They had it replaced again. Same issue, though not quite as bad. I think they were able to get GM to buy it back.

Wow! I never heard of it being that bad. And through multiple engines, no less. GM fixed that problem in later years, but over the years I've had chats with other people who had an Equinox or Terrain (GMC's version) who had to have their engines replaced because of the oil consumption problem.

Now I'm seeing problems with newer GMs that have intercoolers freezing up on owners in Canada and far-north cold climates.

I sure wish I'd heard of the PCV/rear main seal problem BEFORE it happened to me. It's so frustrating because it was totally preventable--if I'd only known.