Given all the internal damage and the state of the turbo, I question the OCI that was employed. My 3.5 Ecoboost is on the original turbos and I haven't babied it at all. Doesn't mean there isn't some wear, but it's not kaput yet.
Interesting GM 2.7 Turbomax failure and tear down
- Thread starter JTK
- Start date
I Do Cars is my favorite YouTube channel. Eric's teardowns has become part of my Saturday night entertainment (yes, sad, sorry).
Realize, this engine had 146,000 miles on it. So, could be worse.
I've been interested in this engine because they use it in the CT-4 Cadillac. 300 hp in one of those smallish cars sounds like a lot of fun.
From what I've read about these engines, in part from here, they can burn some oil. I wonder if this vehicle was ran low on oil, which trashed the bottom end?
These are complicated engines. The variable lift cams, cylinder deactivation (I think), cast iron reinforcements in the pistons. Lots of stuff going on. Maybe too complicated for its own good?
Realize, this engine had 146,000 miles on it. So, could be worse.
I've been interested in this engine because they use it in the CT-4 Cadillac. 300 hp in one of those smallish cars sounds like a lot of fun.
From what I've read about these engines, in part from here, they can burn some oil. I wonder if this vehicle was ran low on oil, which trashed the bottom end?
These are complicated engines. The variable lift cams, cylinder deactivation (I think), cast iron reinforcements in the pistons. Lots of stuff going on. Maybe too complicated for its own good?
Your last sentence….with the exception of one last company, we (United States) aren’t making lifters.
https://www.enginebuildermag.com/2024/02/deep-dive-on-lifters-with-hylift-johnson/
Anecdotally these engines are stout. I browsed some threads where some fleet managers chimed in and said they've had no issues. I think this one had a oil issue.
Small diameter roller (by my calculation) traversing approx 10 linear feet second at 2500 RPM,
Add in variable loading in the thousands of lbs per sq in. on the roller needles or (worse) balls
Lots of heat generation. Then if you float the valvetrain add high tonnage impact.
Possibly better oiling for heat transfer would help. But you do not want to introduce skating.
- Arco
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
I recall the engineers talking about taking some lessons from small diesel engines in terms of a robust design …
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
The updated (2018+) HEMI lifters are made in Germany apparently.
I found his channel some time ago and was intrigued by his good natured delivery.
I watched nearly all his videos over a weekend and thru that week..
I do watch every week also..
I watched his video because I bought a 2025 Colorado with that motor. It is a great driver more torque than my V6 and V8 Dakotas (1990s).
It seems like a well designed and constructed power plant. Steel oil pan now. Time will tell.
It seems like a well designed and constructed power plant. Steel oil pan now. Time will tell.
With many, many in fleet use-they have already passed the "time thing".
You do realize he does some of that for comedic effect, yes?
I would imagine that having that engine in a Colorado is a Hoot!! V8 equivalent power with 4 cylinder weight. My Tacoma is similar, making it rather sporty to drive since it’s not as nose-heavy. I too don’t see one internet video as cause for alarm - I hear nothing but good things about this engine. And also, a high performance design like this is going to want good oil, on time. I would have no problem owning one.
I find it sort of weird that the engine showed so much damage in virtually all moving parts, but there was no bad varnish or sludge. So the oil was serviced, too bad we can't know what was the root cause of failure and how long it took to trickle down to all other parts.
JTK
$100 Site Donor 2025
You would think that, yet there was no sludge, let alone visible varnish in the internals at ~144K miles. Could it have been washed away from excessive fuel dilution of the oil due to a failed HPFP? If this were the case, there had to be symptoms that were being ignored, leading up to the failure.
Based on some other GM boards I'm on, if the HPFP starts leaking fuel into the engine, the fuel vapors get drawn into the intake from the PCV system, which throws the fuel trims way off. You'll have the MIL lit, etc..etc.
Eric never claims to be an expert tech, his business is finding what is usable and selling it for a profit; he throws some comedic moments in for the audience as mentioned.
I watch the channel a decent amount, not because I wait for a “who done it” moment of failure; more because I enjoy seeing the engineering in different engines and hearing which engines commonly come up for sale because they fail so often or what issues he tends to see regardless of the conjecture on the cause. When he did the Mazda 2.5, seeing how the piston design took cues from diesel pistons was neat, mainly because my wife has one. I like the channel as an engine nerd.
I watch the channel a decent amount, not because I wait for a “who done it” moment of failure; more because I enjoy seeing the engineering in different engines and hearing which engines commonly come up for sale because they fail so often or what issues he tends to see regardless of the conjecture on the cause. When he did the Mazda 2.5, seeing how the piston design took cues from diesel pistons was neat, mainly because my wife has one. I like the channel as an engine nerd.
Similar threads
- Locked
- Locked