Your experience with ecotec engines

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I got recently a cruze with the 1.8L, just wanted to know if any of you had an ecotec engine for a long time, that oil with dexos 1 certification makes it runs best, and are these engines very durable?

Thanks!
 
Not sure about the 1.8 but the 2.2 Ecotecs are virtually indestructable. They might not be the quietest or the most powerful but they are very reliable. My Malibu has the 2.2 and has 125k without one engine/transmission related issue yet.
 
Extremely durable IMO. That engine comes with a timing belt which is a pain every 100k like all timing belts. Follow the OLM and use the recommended oil and it will last a long, long time. The Cruze is a sweet car.
 
i have a 2013 Malibu 2LT with 2.5L Ecotec motor. its a pretty decent motor. with the DI and QSUD im using hopefully i can get 300k out of that motor
 
I've got a 2.4L Ecotec with 151K miles. Runs like new and very easy to work on. It has a timing chain, unlike the 1.8.
 
I think the term 'Ecotec' refers to several engines that are not really related (except that they are sold by GM).

The 2.2 Ecotec has been a reliable and durable engine.
It has a timing chain.
The 1.8 in your Cruze is the same engine that was sold in the Opel Astra and has a timing belt.
I'm not sure how much else they have in common except that Opel was part of the development.

I think the Korean made engine in the Aveo was also called 'Ecotec'...
 
Mine was NOT a reliable or durable engine. Read my posts. My advice change oil every 5000 miles and use top tier gas. The small GM engines have a weak timing chain tensioners and weak VVT solenoids and varnish and stick easy.
 
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Well, guess I should chime in here...


I have 3 Ecotec 2.2 motors. My aunt has a 11' Cruze with the 1.8.

From my experience, they are a pretty tough motor.

THey've all run dino to the best syntheticx. And they all still run fine, with no issues. Only oil related issue I had is that one of them started burning off M1, which ended quick with a switch to another syn. Ran M1 in another one with no issues at all, so that must have been a one car thing.


Aunt's 1.8 has 52k on it now, and runs great with no issues. And it has been fed a steady diet of kendall semi syn 5w30 from her local Firestone. Car has been flawless so far....
 
Originally Posted By: millerbl00
Mine was NOT a reliable or durable engine. Read my posts. My advice change oil every 5000 miles and use top tier gas. The small GM engines have a weak timing chain tensioners and weak VVT solenoids and varnish and stick easy.


Not everyone was perfect...though I do not know the model you had though.

I do know that the early Ecotec 2.2s (in the J bodies) had a few issues in 2002 (and a very few early 03s), but many of the issues were worked out by the end of the 2003 Model year.
 
Originally Posted By: cp3
Although it's called an Ecotec I think the 1.8 and even the 1.4 Turbo are a different design from the more common 2.2 & 2.4 Ecotecs in North America.


Two different generations of Opel engine
 
My daily driver 2.2L 2003 Cavaliar has 170000 miles with no issues. Only recently has it started to use .5qt between 5k oil changes.
 
My father has an 08 Saturn Sky Redline 2.0L turbo Ecotec that has had the boost upped to 22 psi, has full exhaust and a few other goodies to push it almost 300hp at the wheels. 85k miles on the engine that is 90% hwy and has used M1 since day one. Engine runs smooth and quiet. He has the oil changed when the OLM hits 10% or so life left.
 
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About 130,000 here. I had to replace the coil pack and the catalytic converter (I think the weak coil pack caused its demise).

No other issues. I still get 36 mpg if I don't use the A/C.

The 2.2 in Mom's VUE has been 100% trouble-free.
 
Originally Posted By: artificialist
My 2003 ION Ecotec was almost dead at 95,000 miles.


Almost dead?


Then again, early Ions were truly junk....
 
Originally Posted By: daves87rs
Originally Posted By: millerbl00
Mine was NOT a reliable or durable engine. Read my posts. My advice change oil every 5000 miles and use top tier gas. The small GM engines have a weak timing chain tensioners and weak VVT solenoids and varnish and stick easy.


Not everyone was perfect...though I do not know the model you had though.

I do know that the early Ecotec 2.2s (in the J bodies) had a few issues in 2002 (and a very few early 03s), but many of the issues were worked out by the end of the 2003 Model year.


I seldom hear any Ecotec Cavaliers with timing chain problems and cannot recall hearing a Cobalt or HHR with timing chain problems that weren't hideously neglected, but almost every Saturn L-series 2.2 has had that timing chain death rattle and is on borrowed time.

The 1.8 in the Saturn Astra had occasional cam phaser problems. Pretty neat little European hatchback though.
 
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