What were GM engineers thinking with this type of repair job.

[Rand]

So I happened across this short video while waiting on dinner to cook.
Gave me a flashback to some of the repair jobs I was involved with on Deere 316/318 tractors.
basically the job would be simple except >> and >> and this too>> and this make it a pain.

The repair process is incredibly bad a simple job with 50 extra time consuming steps.

Video is "wow who thought that was a good idea x10."

Video is about 1 min.. short and to the point.

 

[Rand]

Noticed the engine doesnt look too clean only 40k miles but pretty varnished.. at 14 years old.
Would better maintenance(or oil) keep the timing chain from stretching? Maybe.
Dont know any engine history..
but the main point was the ridiculous repair process.

 

[Kira]

That's the GM "Marque of Excellence".

What's needed is a DO NOT BUY list of engines...or cars...or anything else, really.

 

[Ronsant]

Sounds like a great idea!

 

[Hohn]

Noticed the engine doesnt look too clean only 40k miles but pretty varnished.. at 14 years old.
Would better maintenance(or oil) keep the timing chain from stretching? Maybe.
Dont know any engine history..
but the main point was the ridiculous repair process.

The repair process is a bit ridiculous (*IF* the video is correctly representing it) but it could have been prevented by not neglecting the oil or using a better oil.

That much chain wear in so few miles means the oil was neglected and it probably had a TON of idle time where the engine was running but not generating miles. Add a ton of idle to a newer engine plus thin oil and neglected oil, you get fuel dilution on thin cheap oil and lots of chain wear.

I’m just speculating.

 

[D60]

That 2.9/3.7 platform has been out for a LONG time....essentially since 2004 (albeit slightly less displacement for the first few years). Were timing chain issues that prevalent?

I service an '06 H3 with 240k (miles of course) with the slightly earlier 3.5 I5

I owned an '05 Canyon with the 3.5 and put 68k on it before selling it and wish I never had. It was a great little truck and fun with the 5sp manual

 

[Mcbeem5]

I have seen multiple videos on Ford and Chevrolet and Dodge V6 motors doing Timing chain replacement and many V6 motors get very complex and labor intensive on Timing chain replacement!

 

[clinebarger]

That 2.9/3.7 platform has been out for a LONG time....essentially since 2004 (albeit slightly less displacement for the first few years). Were timing chain issues that prevalent?

I service an '06 H3 with 240k (miles of course) with the slightly earlier 3.5 I5

I owned an '05 Canyon with the 3.5 and put 68k on it before selling it and wish I never had. It was a great little truck and fun with the 5sp manual

Not 3.6L V6/2.4L DI Ecotech bad....But I've done more than a few Atlas timing chains.

 

[The motor guy]

The repair process is a bit ridiculous (*IF* the video is correctly representing it) but it could have been prevented by not neglecting the oil or using a better oil.

That much chain wear in so few miles means the oil was neglected and it probably had a TON of idle time where the engine was running but not generating miles. Add a ton of idle to a newer engine plus thin oil and neglected oil, you get fuel dilution on thin cheap oil and lots of chain wear.

I’m just speculating.

Probably from gm's lackadaisical oil life monitoring system too. I really hate american made base model economy cars. Better off getting a honda civic or toyota corolla and running it for 250k with minimal issues.

 

[Hohn]

Probably from gm's lackadaisical oil life monitoring system too. I really hate american made base model economy cars. Better off getting a honda civic or toyota corolla and running it for 250k with minimal issues.

It does seem that especially GM’s cheapest cars have been one forgettable piece of junk after another.

 

[andrew_j]

2011 Chevy is throw away at this point. Lasted long enough.

 

[Dave Sherman]

Not surprised. Had a 2010 Traverse that was pretty much guaranteed to wear out the timing chains, could not be replaced with engine in vehicle. Removing the engine involved dropping the whole front end, disconnecting brake lines and A/C lines in the process. The Pilot's timing belt may have been a undertaking, but the engine didn't have to come out.

 

[clinebarger]

Not surprised. Had a 2010 Traverse that was pretty much guaranteed to wear out the timing chains, could not be replaced with engine in vehicle. Removing the engine involved dropping the whole front end, disconnecting brake lines and A/C lines in the process. The Pilot's timing belt may have been a undertaking, but the engine didn't have to come out.

No need to disconnect any brake lines/hoses, Refrigerant can be recovered & reused. Though it's no excuse for GM producing the DI 2.4L & 3.6L so many years knowing the timing chains would wear prematurely.

GM did eventually redesign the timing set on the 3.6L....Seems more robust.