Tuning - 2.0T reliability issues?

[stoopid]

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forum...-forum/613529-2-0t-bad-pistons-roll-call.html

^^^ This is kinda scary (although I try to stay informed I haven't heard much about this prior to looking this afternoon). I was considering the wot-tuning $429 advantage package, the numbers are certainly impressive, but I don't want to invite engine failure either.

 

[stoopid]

Confirmed these are the LTG engines we have in the 2014+ models.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Wow. That topic is 29 pages. Not good...

 

[stoopid]

They note a TSB #PI-1178, but I think the underlying problem is actually the second item below.

http://www.cadillacproblems.com/tsbs/ATS/2013/

Date Reported
FEBRUARY 01, 2014
NHTSA Reference
#10055103
TSB Reference
#PI-1178

Description: GM: THE ENGINE MAY RUN ROUGH WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON/LOW COMPRESSION ON CYLINDER MISFIRE. STORED DTC P0300. THIS MAY BE DUE TO A PISTON IN THE CYLINDER CRACKED BETWEEN THE PISTON COMPRESSION RINGS. *JS
__________________

There's also this equally severe potential issue:

http://gmauthority.com/blog/2013/12...th-gm-four-cylinder-engines-wont-be-recalled/
http://blog.caranddriver.com/malibo...causing-engine-failures-in-gm-four-cylinders/

The General Motors family of large four cylinder engines, being the 2.0L turbo and 2.5L models in just about everything from the Chevrolet Malibu to the Cadillac CTS, are reportedly hindered by faulty connecting rods, though General Motors can’t do much in the case of issuing a recall.

Car & Driver has reported that three cases involving GM vehicles featuring a variant of these engines they were testing themselves experienced connecting rod failure. Multiple consumer cases have also been cited. Though GM isn’t issuing a recall, the engines are replaced in accordance with GM’s five-year, 100,000 mile Powertrain warranty.

The main reason GM isn’t issuing a recall is that there really isn’t any way to track which bearings are installed in each engine. An affected motor with bad rods should emit a highly noticeable metal-on-metal knocking noise within the vehicle’s first few thousand miles of life, and seems to occur every “one or two per 1,000 cars.”

Looks like this is a bad supplier part.

A manufacturing error has left a handful of General Motors cars needing new engines with just a few thousand miles on the odometer. The problem came to Car and Driver’s attention when three cars—two 2014 Chevrolet Malibus and a 2014 Buick Regal GS—driven by three different editors developed the telltale clatter of a failed connecting-rod bearing during our performance testing.

The good news is so far I haven't had an issue, so maybe at 5,000 miles I can be satisfied the engine is fine and apply the tune then. They say the problem appears early in the engine's life.

 

[stoopid]

Quick update and conclusion...

There's two distinct issues, one is pistons cracking and the other is a faulty manufactured rod bearing.

The pistons cracking is happening at all sorts of miles from 2,000 - 30,000+. Fix is to replace all pistons with beefier pistons under warranty, or engine replacement if there's too much damage to the cylinder.

The bearing issue was / is limited in scope and in nearly all reported cases happens very soon into the engine's life. This is usually an engine swap due to the damage caused by time the issue is discovered.

Additionally, someone suggested I contact a well respected mod company that works with these engines and they said they've personally seen this issue on a few of their test cars, and noted (like with the ATS owners) it happens whether stock or tuned (which points to a fundamental flaw/problem, not a tuning issue).

Conclusion - no tune for me. 🙁

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Considering this is something you're worried about - is it possible to have the internals replaced with better parts for peace of mind or does the engine NEED to blow first?

Quick update and conclusion...

There's two distinct issues, one is pistons cracking and the other is a faulty manufactured rod bearing.

The pistons cracking is happening at all sorts of miles from 2,000 - 30,000+. Fix is to replace all pistons with beefier pistons under warranty, or engine replacement if there's too much damage to the cylinder.

The bearing issue was / is limited in scope and in nearly all reported cases happens very soon into the engine's life. This is usually an engine swap due to the damaged caused by time the issue is discovered.

Additionally, someone suggested I contact a well respected mod company and they said they're personally seen this issue on a few of their test cars, and noted like with the ATS owners it happens stock and tuned (which points to a fundamental flaw/issue, not a tuning issue).

Conclusion - no tune for me. 🙁

 

[stoopid]

C... is it possible to have the internals replaced with better parts for peace of mind...

That would be a recall, and none has been issued. It's doubtful. Until the cumulative cost of failure is larger than the cost of a recall, this will be how it's addressed... or the failure becomes a 'safety' issue. This is a relatively time consuming fix for an engine they sell in ~35,000+ vehicles each month. [this is a number I read somewhere, unconfirmed]

Out of pocket I could upgrade the parts but unless it had the blessing of GM it would void my warranty.

I can certainly live with the car as-is, it's a great ride. Just can't poke it too hard with a tune without likely hastening it's demise. Not worth the risk IMO. It's very likely tuning only speeds up the process that leads to the piston failure.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

That would be a recall, and none has been issued. It's doubtful. Until the cumulative cost of failure is larger than the cost of a recall, this will be how it's addressed... or the failure becomes a 'safety' issue. This is a relatively time consuming fix for an engine they sell in ~35,000+ vehicles each month. [this is a number I read somewhere, unconfirmed]

Out of pocket I could upgrade the parts but unless it had the blessing of GM it would void my warranty.

I can certainly live with the car as-is, it's a great ride. Just can't poke it too hard with a tune without likely hastening it's demise. Not worth the risk IMO. It's very likely tuning only speeds up the process that leads to the piston failure.

Well. I guess enjoy the car for what it is. Not that that's a bad thing. I do realize the added bonus with a tune - but I guess it's not just in the cards...

 

[stoopid]

Well. I guess enjoy the car for what it is. Not that that's a bad thing. I do realize the added bonus with a tune - but I guess it's not just in the cards...

With any luck I'll experience piston failure as the result of a 'natural cause', then I'll tune the crap outta it with the improved/replacement pistons. 😀

 

[stoopid]

**nevermind, can be deleted**

 

[stoopid]

Our first forum member bearing/piston failure?

http://buickforums.com/forums/threa...bo-AWD-Regal-2016-AWD-Same-as-GM-Cadillac-ATS