2009 Pontiac Vibe, Big Block

[Graham Piccinini]

...yea I called it a Big Block. Don't know if the block is physically that much bigger, but displacement is 2.4L (2AZ-FE) instead of the 1.8L (2ZR-FE) that usually powers that car. (As well as Toyota Corolla and Matrix.)

The valve cover gasket is puking oil onto the heat shield.

So I guess it's time to see if the 1st owner of this vehicle "meticulously maintained" it for 165k miles, as he claims...

Looks like he did! Gotta love honest previous owners.

Let's get a close up... Left to right.

Old (likely original) valve cover gasket came out in one piece, and even still somewhat flexible.

 

[bullwinkle]

The dreaded 2.4, oil burning low tension piston rings... I would rather have (the slightly weaker) 1.8.

 

[dishdude]

What are the markings on the cam?

 

[Graham Piccinini]

What are the markings on the cam?

gonna have to ask the Toyota engine assembly plant about that one. Also 1.8L head gaskets seem to pop around 130k-180k miles. Still good service life, but worth noting... The 2003-2008 1.8L (1ZZ-FE) has no problems maxing out its 299,999 odometer with original head gasket, and then keeps going for another 299,999 miles, at least.

The dreaded 2.4, oil burning low tension piston rings... I would rather have (the slightly weaker) 1.8.

The previous, and only, owner said it consumes no oil. I have done 1000 miles so far, and the oil level is down about .7qts. But currently I blame that on this heavily leaking valve cover gasket. Will update if there will still be any oil loss with the new gasket, but so far it does seem like this engine does not consume any oil... Or not a measurable amount... All the burned oil smell is upfront from the leaks onto the exhaust manifold.
Exhaust pipe is clean and original catalytic converter is still doing it's job. Neither of these things would be happening in an oil burner with 165k miles. So, kinda hoping for a miracle here, and so far it seems to be true. But again - I will update if there is actually oil consumption.

 

[fantastic]

Honestly, & I'm no expert it looks fairly clean. I do see some darker area's on the Exhaust side? camshaft area's. Can you tell me which side is darker intake or exhaust. Thanks

 

[Elkins45]

165k was about when the gasket started leaking on my 2AZ. The blue silicone Fel Pro is a nice replacement.

 

[Graham Piccinini]

Honestly, & I'm no expert it looks fairly clean. I do see some darker area's on the Exhaust side? camshaft area's. Can you tell me which side is darker intake or exhaust. Thanks

The one with the markings is the exhaust cam. The one without markings is the intake cam.
Intake side also has that big VVT dongle, while exhaust side just has the sprocket.
Intake cam happens to be deeper in the engine bay, so likely less cooled due to less airflow, so it's more prone to varnish that is starting up.

 

[Graham Piccinini]

165k was about when the gasket started leaking on my 2AZ. The blue silicone Fel Pro is a nice replacement.

Yup.

 

[Graham Piccinini]

PCV valve still rattles, but I replaced it anyways.

 

[slacktide_bitog]

looks good

Yeah 2.4 is a big block on a small car, and blue gasket will add even more hp

 

[Graham Piccinini]

That's gonna be the product of choice today. Let's see how it does.

Before:

And around 15 mins later:

Not perfect, but much improved. Should help seeing the deer a millisecond or two earlier than before.

 

[Graham Piccinini]

And it's back to Vibing again.

 

[The Critic]

Yup.
View attachment 208008
View attachment 208009

Ok, it will be leaking again in a year.

Just had a blue fel-pro gasket shrink and cause a massive oil leak after 3K.

 

[fantastic]

The one with the markings is the exhaust cam. The one without markings is the intake cam.
Intake side also has that big VVT dongle, while exhaust side just has the sprocket.
Intake cam happens to be deeper in the engine bay, so likely less cooled due to less airflow, so it's more prone to varnish that is starting up.

Interesting that the intake camshaft side has more varnish. Goes to show that running the oil up to temperature is good practice. I still think it looks good for 165k. You've obviously done your homework & I've known about these having the Toyota engines in them. You're not having to pay those prices to pick one of these up. I think even some Saturn Vue's had Honda 6 cylinder engines in them as another example of outsourcing.

 

[Graham Piccinini]

Ok, it will be leaking again in a year.

Just had a blue fel-pro gasket shrink and cause a massive oil leak after 3K.

Dang it... I guess next time I'll find something better. Thankfully it's easy to do.

 

[Graham Piccinini]

Interesting that the intake camshaft side has more varnish. Goes to show that running the oil up to temperature is good practice. I still think it looks good for 165k. You've obviously done your homework & I've known about these having the Toyota engines in them. You're not having to pay those prices to pick one of these up. I think even some Saturn Vue's had Honda 6 cylinder engines in them as another example of outsourcing.

Yup. Saturn Vue RedLine, it was a speedy spacious nugget for it's time, since it's quite a bit lighter than the Honda Pilot with same engine. Unfortunately Honda transmission issues of that era sent many of those Saturns to the junkyard.

 

[JHZR2]

Ok, it will be leaking again in a year.

Just had a blue fel-pro gasket shrink and cause a massive oil leak after 3K.

Is there something specific about the blue feel pro gaskets? I have them for the towers on my Cummins diesel.

 

[meep]

The vibe/matrix is a cool car. We test drove a manual version years ago and I thought it was the one to get. She didn’t.

 

[Graham Piccinini]

The vibe/matrix is a cool car. We test drove a manual version years ago and I thought it was the one to get. She didn’t.

That's my third Vibe. The first two were previous generation.
One was a meticulously maintained 2003 FWD. Never any issues for me, I sold it at 280K.
Second one was 2008 AWD, and turned out to be an ex-fleet vehicle that looked super clean, but wasn't maintained at all. Thick crusty sludge under valve covers on that one. Lots of issues due to lack of maintenance, so I sold it quick: purchased at 90k miles, sold at a little over 100k.
Also had a 2009 Scion xB, which is a cousin of my current Vibe. Despite having same 2.4L engine - it was a lot thirstier on fuel than my current Vibe. But thankfully also had no oil consumption. Up until two deer decided to jump in front of it at 5AM.

Oh and btw - 2003-2008 (1zz-fe) 5-speed manual Vibe/Matrix has a weak transmission, not very reliable. The 6-speed with the more powerful engine (2zz-fe) is a reliable unit though. And that 6-speed is a direct bolt upgrade to the 1zz engine.

 

[OVERKILL]

Did they ever make a "big block" V8 that's 4.8L?

It's cute, but I don't think an overly accurate label, lol.