2.0 LTG Engine Failure

[Uluz2a6]

Hello from Las Vegas. Hoping to gain some knowledge from this community.

I service and rebuild GM engines and have been getting a lot of the 2.0 LTG vehicles with melted pistons. Since October I have done 5 full rebuilds. 2 Regal and 3 Malibu. All had same failure, melted piston. 3 had failure on cylinder #3 and 2 on #1.

Upon tear down I found all of them timing chains in excellent condition (unlike all the 2.4 DI engines), no sludge or deposits in valve cover or oil pan, remaining 3 pistons all looked good and rings not seized, and only DTC present was misfire on failed cylinder.

All engines had oil present throughout charged air side of turbo (turbo output, intercooler, intercooler tubes). Is this failed/failing PCV system causing the engine failures or a coincidence?

If the owners are to be believed, they claim no symptoms until a horrible misfire. Obviously too late then.

I get several Equinox and Terrains that need maintenance and able to council owners about the oil consumption issue and how to deal with it. But I don't get the 2.0 Malibu or Regal until after the failure.

Anyone experienced this? Any way to see the failure coming? Is the key just servicing/replacing the PCV system?

 

[agaric]

Try this doc.

 

[MelsRegal]

Try this doc.

Strangely it's specifies Israel not the US, could it be high ambient air temperature? Poster is in Nevada.

 

[MelsRegal]

More here

D

Thread 'LTG piston and turbo failure...anyone else?'

Nov 24, 2017

Mornin' folks,


The other week I went to grab some lunch and left my car running, I was in and out of the store within 5 minutes. When I got back in the car as soon as I threw it in reverse I seen a huge cloud of smoke in my rearview. Luckily I work at a GM dealer and literally was 2 minutes away from work so I pulled it in.


1st and 4th piston were fried and the turbo is cracked....so 4 new pistons and a new turbo for this guy. I have seen LTG powered cars and Buick Encores come in for pistons quite a few times but figured I was in the clear maybe because of my tune and running the best...

• dmr02
• Replies: 38
• Forum: 2011-2017 Buick Regal / Regal GS Forum

 

[agaric]

Strangely it's specifies Israel not the US, could it be high ambient air temperature? Poster is in Nevada.

IIRC Israel was left off the original and this doc adds that.
The important part is the listing of non-Dexos oil as a cause of piston failure due to a wrong calcium content.
Could be that cheap oil and cheap gas and low rpm operation exacerbates the Low Speed Pre-Ignition problem.