Hey everyone! Just a general question out there for discussion. I find that the Ecotec engines are a great step forward for GM. Now my question is how long do you all think these engines will last in terms of Milage? Do you believe these engines are good for up to 300k Miles (450k Kilometers) like those Honda engines? Better? Worse? What are your opinions?
its a little hard to tell since the motor has only been out for what...6 years? id say the average person only has between 80 & 90 on the clock as it is....so there really is no way to tell ya
my 03 has 102,000miles as of now, running GREAT!
I saw one on the internet for sale not ot long ago that had about 220,000 and they said it ran really good... I'm not scared I'm gonna drive my cav until the motor blows the hell up then I'm just gonna buy another one and start over! I love my Ecotec!
Pilz-E wrote:I still dream of the day when I can do a rear-engine, rear drive V12 in my sunflower. 
Andre Martin wrote:Hey everyone! Just a general question out there for discussion. I find that the Ecotec engines are a great step forward for GM. Now my question is how long do you all think these engines will last in terms of Milage? Do you believe these engines are good for up to 300k Miles (450k Kilometers) like those Honda engines? Better? Worse? What are your opinions?
I may be the exception, but mine (04 Sunfire 5-speed) lasted 56,000 miles before it blew up. I do not abuse it, I do not race it, I do not 'pimp' it out. It gets me from A to B and back again. I was told by the shop that replaced the engine that the valve spring keeper broke on the #4 cylinder. After it broke, pieces went down into the cylinder and tore it up. I fought with Pontiac for 2 months to get them to pay for it. We finally settled on a 50/50 split. Cost me just over $2,000 for a brand new engine with a 2 year warrantee on the engine and labor. Hopefully this engine lasts longer the 50 some thousand miles...
I wish I had gotten an eco
Jason Gill wrote:Andre Martin wrote:Hey everyone! Just a general question out there for discussion. I find that the Ecotec engines are a great step forward for GM. Now my question is how long do you all think these engines will last in terms of Milage? Do you believe these engines are good for up to 300k Miles (450k Kilometers) like those Honda engines? Better? Worse? What are your opinions?
I may be the exception, but mine (04 Sunfire 5-speed) lasted 56,000 miles before it blew up. I do not abuse it, I do not race it, I do not 'pimp' it out. It gets me from A to B and back again. I was told by the shop that replaced the engine that the valve spring keeper broke on the #4 cylinder. After it broke, pieces went down into the cylinder and tore it up. I fought with Pontiac for 2 months to get them to pay for it. We finally settled on a 50/50 split. Cost me just over $2,000 for a brand new engine with a 2 year warrantee on the engine and labor. Hopefully this engine lasts longer the 50 some thousand miles...
I have no idea why you didn't file a small-claims court. Seriously, 2K? You can get a re-furb'ed less. Of course, if you were chasing after a new engine (which you would not be entitled to
), then the difference is up to you to pay...
In any case, life-span of the Sunfire, from what I've seen on 00's and up, is dictated by mileage and the number of start-ups:
If by 50K your car hasn't wimpered, you're doing good.
If by 80K you've had no 'major' repairs (drivetrain and PCM), your outlook is looking up.
By 160K, if you've only replaced suspension and exhaust bits and pieces, it's pretty safe to bet you can carry it to the 200K mark with continued regular maintenance.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Monday, February 18, 2008 3:22 PM
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2002 Sunfire -->
- Ractive steering wheel
- ASA 17" EM9 + Nexen N5000 215/45/17 (steelies for winter)
- D-Spec Lowering kit @ 1.4" (issues currently
)
- Rockford P250.1 + MTX MZS1004 + Panasonic CQ-C8313U head unit
- Barely legal tint.
My Eco lasted 61 000 km, don't know what really happened...
Driven by my girlfriend (never high-reved--lol) , oil changed every 5000km or under. Engine blew at 61 000km. Ohh and the starter blew at 71 000 km. My car is a p-o-s. lol
Okay! Sweet! Thanks for all of your input folks! I'm going to assume that if I'm lucky, I should be able to sqeeze out about 250,000km no problems from this car. To me, that's good considering my 94 Cavalier did 275 km while the rest of car was falling apart
. J-bodies rule!
Over 35 years on mine, still running strong!
dog years
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Mitsu TD06-20g |3" Downpipe w/ Cutout | 61mm Bored TB |
HP Tuners | Innovate WB02 | Spec Stage 3 | TurboTech Upper | Full Addco Sways | Sportlines & Yellows |
firemachine69 wrote:Jason Gill wrote:Andre Martin wrote:Hey everyone! Just a general question out there for discussion. I find that the Ecotec engines are a great step forward for GM. Now my question is how long do you all think these engines will last in terms of Milage? Do you believe these engines are good for up to 300k Miles (450k Kilometers) like those Honda engines? Better? Worse? What are your opinions?
I may be the exception, but mine (04 Sunfire 5-speed) lasted 56,000 miles before it blew up. I do not abuse it, I do not race it, I do not 'pimp' it out. It gets me from A to B and back again. I was told by the shop that replaced the engine that the valve spring keeper broke on the #4 cylinder. After it broke, pieces went down into the cylinder and tore it up. I fought with Pontiac for 2 months to get them to pay for it. We finally settled on a 50/50 split. Cost me just over $2,000 for a brand new engine with a 2 year warrantee on the engine and labor. Hopefully this engine lasts longer the 50 some thousand miles...
I have no idea why you didn't file a small-claims court. Seriously, 2K? You can get a re-furb'ed less. Of course, if you were chasing after a new engine (which you would not be entitled to ), then the difference is up to you to pay...
In any case, life-span of the Sunfire, from what I've seen on 00's and up, is dictated by mileage and the number of start-ups:
If by 50K your car hasn't wimpered, you're doing good.
If by 80K you've had no 'major' repairs (drivetrain and PCM), your outlook is looking up.
By 160K, if you've only replaced suspension and exhaust bits and pieces, it's pretty safe to bet you can carry it to the 200K mark with continued regular maintenance.
At the outset, I had intended on pursuing legal action. And I was sure to inform GM about my intentions. However, after 2 months, I just wanted my car back. It took so long because I took it to a reputable Chevy dealer in my hometown.. I thought, Chevy =GM, Pontiac=GM, therefore... but that was one of the issues with the time factor... the other issue was they would not start to diagnose the issue until I gave them permission. I wouldn't give them permission until I was assured in writting that I would bare no cost of the diagnosis... GM informed me that that was out of the question. So I took the chance and had them diagnos the issue...
Then came the negotiations. The shop manager wanted the car out of his shop as much as I wanted the car back in my garage. So he said he would lobby his DM for a 50/50 split. I agreed and the work began. They broke some tools, which they didn't have replacements... etc...
As far as the new vs. refurb, GM does not offer 'cost-assistance' on refurb engines. My cost for a new engine with 2 year warrantee was +-$2,000. I priced refurbs and labor in the area, and it would have worked out about the same, without a warranttee...
In the end I am kind of ok with it all. I only paid $10,000 for a loaded 04 Sunfire that was ticketed at $18k. So all in all I paid $12k for an $18k car...
I am torn as to whether or not to buy another GM after all of this... who knows, maybe this one will last 100k miles...
There was an 03 For Sale in Ajax Ontario with 395,000km and it apparently ran great still. Someone bought it so they must have agreed
