2013 GMC Terrain VVT Solenoids

[otis24]

My future daughter-in-law’s 2013 GMC Terrain was using a lot of oil. On a recent trip, the check engine light came on. They swung by AutoZone and had it scanned. The code was for the VVT solenoids. My son cleaned the PCV orifice (no actual PCV valve) and changed the solenoids. There were some metal flakes. Any reason for concern?

 

[addyguy]

Good luck, engine is in the process of self-destructing.

 

[hemitom]

timing components are starting to eat themselves. common on this series

 

[CleanSump]

Did you try the magnet test? VVT Solenoid screens often collect carbon bits that are hard and may appear to be metal. I've had that on our BMWs and it has always just been carbon.

 

[CleanSump]

timing components are starting to eat themselves.

Nope. That end of the VVT is before any timing components.

 

[hemitom]

Nope. That end of the VVT is before any timing components.

still known for bad piston rings and timing chains

 

[hemitom]

Did you try the magnet test? VVT Solenoid screens often collect carbon bits that are hard and may appear to be metal. I've had that on our BMWs and it has always just been carbon.

take a closer look obvious metal shavings in pic.
another issue I have seen is the camshaft alignment pin shears creating metal shavings that do get in the solenoids

 

[CleanSump]

Check for carbon before you leap. Those are too big to be pieces from rings or timing chains getting past the oil filter. I'd draw a picture of the oil circuit, but I'm sure someone would just find some other argument.

 

[hemitom]

My future daughter-in-law’s 2013 GMC Terrain was using a lot of oil. On a recent trip, the check engine light came on. They swung by AutoZone and had it scanned. The code was for the VVT solenoids. My son cleaned the PCV orifice (no actual PCV valve) and changed the solenoids. There were some metal flakes. Any reason for concern?

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Does the engine rattle on cold start ? kind of sounds like marbles in a can .
if it does you have reason to be concerned.

 

[hemitom]

Check for carbon before you leap. Those are too big to be pieces from rings or timing chains getting past the oil filter. I'd draw a picture of the oil circuit, but I'm sure someone would just find some other argument.

just curious have you ever dealt with these issues on the direct injected versions of these engines ?
And no I'm not looking for some other argument .

 

[otis24]

I think it runs fine and sounds fine, as far as I know. I will have to check to see how it sounds on cold start up.

 

[otis24]

I’ve never dealt with these engines personally. I left the car business shortly after DI engines were coming into vogue. I know that they can be prone to carbon and sludge. My son plans on doing an oil change even though there is very low mileage on the oil. Going to add 2 bottles of AutoRx Plus as a precaution. Anything to break up any possible sludge. He plans on changing the filter halfway through the OCI

 

[hemitom]

Good luck !
hopefully its only carbon but that looks like metal flakes to me and I'm 99% sure that its the camshaft alignment pin being ground away .
If you get it figured out and running well I suggest 3k oil changes on it.

 

[clinebarger]

Almost normal on a DI 2.4L Ecotec, If it's quiet & doesn't set timing error DTC's.....Keep Truckin'

 

[bullwinkle]

Likely tensioners, chains, and sprockets will need to be replaced-this engine is the evil descendant of the 2.2 in my Vue, they're KNOWN for timing chain issues. If you're lucky, that debris hasn't damaged anything else... YET...

 

[bullwinkle]

Does the engine rattle on cold start ? kind of sounds like marbles in a can .
if it does you have reason to be concerned.

My 2.2 does it a little, but flood clear will pump up the tensioner enough to stop it. New style tensioner on deck (engine was replaced with an older Cobalt 2.2 with the original flat-top tensioner). OP would have a new style, but the DI & cam driven PS pump opens a whole new can of worms!