Know they were used in the late 90s, but don't know much about them...
are they a good reliable solid engine? Any known common problems?
are they a good reliable solid engine? Any known common problems?
Tell me your opinion of the Quad-4 Twin Cam Engine
- Thread starter zerosoma
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While I'm sure people will post here that their engine was trouble-free, it had a bad reputation if service was skipped. I'm pretty sure it had oiling problems on stock motors if they weren't maintained properly. Of course, all engines have problems if they aren't maintained properly. I posted on this engine about a week ago on a co-worker of mine who bought one in an '88 Grand Am. He had the coils replaced over a dozen times and finally sold it right when the warranty expired. (I'm sure there was something blowing those coils, it's just that the GM techs could never find it)
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I have a 1999 version of that engine and it is about the only part of the car that has been trouble-free. Not the most-refined engine out there, but It's reliable, not fussy and pretty economical. Easy to work on (plugs, filters, etc.) and the cams are chain-driven.
Originally Posted By: zerosoma
are they a good reliable solid engine? Any known common problems?
Known for cracked cylinder heads. Water pumps can be nightmares to replace as well. Don't ask me how I know.
Stay away.
are they a good reliable solid engine? Any known common problems?
Known for cracked cylinder heads. Water pumps can be nightmares to replace as well. Don't ask me how I know.
Stay away.
Water pump is driven by the timing chain, so replacing it requires removing the chain and making sure the cams are in sync. From what I hear, it's a super huge PITA to replace the water pump and it would cost several hundred dollars to replace at a shop.
JTK
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Originally Posted By: exranger06
Water pump is driven by the timing chain, so replacing it requires removing the chain and making sure the cams are in sync. From what I hear, it's a super huge PITA to replace the water pump and it would cost several hundred dollars to replace at a shop.
Same can be said for GM Ecotecs. Water pump is driven off the timing chain and can puke coolant directly into the crankcase/oil.
I guess you gotta go into a Quad-4 knowing it was basically GM's first attempt at a low cost, high HP DOHC 4cyl. Like said above, most of them are gone because of the car itself wearing out first.
Joel
Water pump is driven by the timing chain, so replacing it requires removing the chain and making sure the cams are in sync. From what I hear, it's a super huge PITA to replace the water pump and it would cost several hundred dollars to replace at a shop.
Same can be said for GM Ecotecs. Water pump is driven off the timing chain and can puke coolant directly into the crankcase/oil.
I guess you gotta go into a Quad-4 knowing it was basically GM's first attempt at a low cost, high HP DOHC 4cyl. Like said above, most of them are gone because of the car itself wearing out first.
Joel
Quad 4s are like the "Twin Dual Cam" V6s....kneejerk reactions to be an innovator,a first among American makers.They were discontinued early in their lives and parts are hard to find.Did you know that GM even got nervous and tried to stretch the life and tooling of the Quad out to base model vehicles...?? It was called Quad OHC.A single cam pedestrian version, meant to replace Iron Duke engines in FWD applications.It too lived a short life as the Cavalier 2.2 engine basically took over,even going into RWD S trucks and LLV mail trucks.
JTK
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Originally Posted By: NHGUY
...It was called Quad OHC.A single cam pedestrian version, meant to replace Iron Duke engines in FWD applications.It too lived a short life.
I think I remember that SOHC one, didn't GM put them in the Pontiac version of the Cavalier for awhile?
Joel
...It was called Quad OHC.A single cam pedestrian version, meant to replace Iron Duke engines in FWD applications.It too lived a short life.
I think I remember that SOHC one, didn't GM put them in the Pontiac version of the Cavalier for awhile?
Joel
I'll 3rd the timing chain driven water pump disaster. Thats what sent my Dads 98 Grand Am to the junkyard. The labor to replace the $25 pump out weighed the value of the car.
reason I'm asking...had an '03 Grand Am GT that I loved, got rid of it because it sucked in the winter...and it was losing value FAST. I mean like, daily.
I paid $13k for it in fall 2007 and when I saw local dealerships only a couple years later selling ones of the exact year and make of mine for $5,000 with alike mileage and condition I flipped and decided to get an SUV for winter.
I thankfully got $4500 out of it because it was in good shape.
Anyways I was thinking about getting Mrs. Zerosoma a Grand Am, perhaps a 98 or 99 under $2k for spring and summer driving (four banger model only) because our Hyundai guzzles our gas. That, and I'd like to have a car to tinker around with that won't kill me if I kill it.
How many miles do these thigns gnerally last? Most of them that I'm looking at has around 120k+
I paid $13k for it in fall 2007 and when I saw local dealerships only a couple years later selling ones of the exact year and make of mine for $5,000 with alike mileage and condition I flipped and decided to get an SUV for winter.
I thankfully got $4500 out of it because it was in good shape.
Anyways I was thinking about getting Mrs. Zerosoma a Grand Am, perhaps a 98 or 99 under $2k for spring and summer driving (four banger model only) because our Hyundai guzzles our gas. That, and I'd like to have a car to tinker around with that won't kill me if I kill it.
How many miles do these thigns gnerally last? Most of them that I'm looking at has around 120k+
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The Ecotec 4 cylinder family is based on the Quad4 which was known to have a bad reputation. It was alot of firsts for GM in that kind of design and was not the best engine out there. The Ecotec on the other hand fixed the issues they had with the Quad4 because the Ecotec seems to be bulletproof. Although I will admit I have seen many Quad4 engines out there still putting along with very high mileage. I think how they were cared for also makes a big difference. I actually saw an 88 Grand Am with a Quad 4 at Walmart yesterday. The car looked like it just rolled out of the showroom, inside and out. I looked on the windshield and the oil change sticker said the next oil change was due at 43,000 miles. Wish that one was for sale, I would be all over that. Sorry to get off topic though, if you are looking for a grand am they got the Ecotec in probably 2000 or so like many others did. So did the Alero and the other clones. Probably a better choice over all and should not be too far off in price at this point.
Originally Posted By: L_Sludger
Save some more money and buy her a used hybrid car, they're not much more expensive.
What? at $2k?
Tell me what you are suggesting.
Save some more money and buy her a used hybrid car, they're not much more expensive.
What? at $2k?
Tell me what you are suggesting.
As I recall, heads or head gasket issues were a problem.
Strong when right, but the engine family fizzled out.
Strong when right, but the engine family fizzled out.
They are not bad really.
They are not as refined as a Honda F22 or Toyota 5S, but the output is similar or better. They can be a little coarse and noisy.
Reliability is okay. The center two cylinders have crankshaft oiling problems if neglected. Water pumps seem to be short lived.
The lot I worked for had a Cutlass Ciera with a 2.5 "Iron Duke" and a Grand Am with a Quad OHC. The cars were only about 3 or 4 years apart and built on the same chassis, but could not be more different. The Quad OHC was WAY more responsive and quick. And it's some 30 or 40 horsepower less than the Twin Cam models.
They are not as refined as a Honda F22 or Toyota 5S, but the output is similar or better. They can be a little coarse and noisy.
Reliability is okay. The center two cylinders have crankshaft oiling problems if neglected. Water pumps seem to be short lived.
The lot I worked for had a Cutlass Ciera with a 2.5 "Iron Duke" and a Grand Am with a Quad OHC. The cars were only about 3 or 4 years apart and built on the same chassis, but could not be more different. The Quad OHC was WAY more responsive and quick. And it's some 30 or 40 horsepower less than the Twin Cam models.
I did a head gasket and water pump on my aunts Olds 442 8 1/2 yrs ago. That was a trip, glad I have a reputable machine shop/mechanic friend that helped me on this. My aunts now runs great, especially after the tune up.
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