Nitrous bottle on a HHR?
Senior Member
Joined: 06-04-2007
Posts: 173
From: Alabama
well thanks for the input guys. also i want to do a few more performance mods to my engine. does anyone know where i can find a header, pulleys, cams, and possibly cam gears? the last two would be nice but a mailny would like to have a reliable header and some decent pulleys??
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 05-26-2007
Posts: 1,554
From: ...
Front drive transmissions are referred to as transaxles. I said nothing about the axle itself. "Transaxle" on front drive = "transmission" on rear drive. I was not referring to the actual axles themselves. I don't care if there are tons of people flirting with blowing their stock automatic transaxles, the 4T45E carries a max engine torque rating of 205 lb-ft. Period. That's the rating. Exceed it and flirt with failure and the possibility that the dealer will deny a warranty claim. The rating is placed on the unit for a reason.
I'm not trying to stop anyone from running NOS (I started this thread, after all...). I am simply placing caveats. Things to be aware of.
I'm saying if you're going to build up a vehicle build up the entire powertrain, transaxle included.
I'm not trying to stop anyone from running NOS (I started this thread, after all...). I am simply placing caveats. Things to be aware of.
I'm saying if you're going to build up a vehicle build up the entire powertrain, transaxle included.
there are TONS of people running 65 shot nitrous setups on STOCK drivetrain and have never had a problem. The ATX may be one thing but the axles? Please! Unless you're running incredibly sticky slicks at a perfectly prepped track... there is NO way you can blow an axle on the newer ECOtecs. Try some research over on CobaltSS.net... you'd be amazed. I had my trans shift plate crack completely in HALF and all I have is bolt on stuff. A REAL COLD air intake and manifold-exhaust.. Only thing I did was swap my 20's off and put the stocks back on. I'm almost out of my warranty so I just dont worry about it anymore. People that run Nitrous or SC/TC their engines from the factory have absolutely NO disregard for their warranty's.
If he wants to run nitrous let him.
We had a late 90's Dodge Neon ACR that ran a 125 shot all day every weekend. On the strip and on the street. He had an Iceman Intake and that was it. He busted axles all the time with the slicks at the track. NEVER had a prob on the street. We would remove the Nitrous setup and NEVER had a prob with the dealer replacing axles on the Neon. So, you're explanation of a dealer chemically testing the oil for nitrous is completely out of left field. Sorry there bud. But if that happened to me I would be buying a lottery ticket. Cause the chances of that happening are one in a million.
If he wants to run nitrous let him.
We had a late 90's Dodge Neon ACR that ran a 125 shot all day every weekend. On the strip and on the street. He had an Iceman Intake and that was it. He busted axles all the time with the slicks at the track. NEVER had a prob on the street. We would remove the Nitrous setup and NEVER had a prob with the dealer replacing axles on the Neon. So, you're explanation of a dealer chemically testing the oil for nitrous is completely out of left field. Sorry there bud. But if that happened to me I would be buying a lottery ticket. Cause the chances of that happening are one in a million.
Member
Joined: 01-04-2007
Posts: 47
From: Tucson, Az.
But if you blow up the engine or have a mechanical failure in the internals, they may well investigate. Or if the transmission fails and they see evidence of it being torque related.
The 4T45E automatic transaxle code # MN5 (what is in the 2.2 and 2.4 HHR's) is only rated for 205 lb-ft max engine torque. It would be easy to exceed that torque on nitrous and damage a stock transaxle. If the dealer takes it apart and sees a failure attributable to over-torque, you can bet they're going to do an oil analysis on the engine looking for evidence of NOS usage and they would be well within their rights to do so. Therefore, one should consider having the transaxle strengthened beyond stock prior to installing a mod like NOS.
The 4T45E automatic transaxle code # MN5 (what is in the 2.2 and 2.4 HHR's) is only rated for 205 lb-ft max engine torque. It would be easy to exceed that torque on nitrous and damage a stock transaxle. If the dealer takes it apart and sees a failure attributable to over-torque, you can bet they're going to do an oil analysis on the engine looking for evidence of NOS usage and they would be well within their rights to do so. Therefore, one should consider having the transaxle strengthened beyond stock prior to installing a mod like NOS.
In all honesty i work at the dealer and they don't really waste their time with oil analysis. They will do more of a physical look over of the whole car.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 05-26-2007
Posts: 1,554
From: ...
I was just wondering where your getting the torque rating limit of 205 lb ft. I've personally never heard this limit. There are plenty of people running higher hp on stock transaxles with no problem.
In all honesty i work at the dealer and they don't really waste their time with oil analysis. They will do more of a physical look over of the whole car.
In all honesty i work at the dealer and they don't really waste their time with oil analysis. They will do more of a physical look over of the whole car.
Member
Joined: 01-04-2007
Posts: 47
From: Tucson, Az.
I'm sorry but I don't believe that is telling the right info your looking for. If i'm not mistaken, with out looking into this, GM uses this same tranny on other cars namely the Malibu, which has a higher torque rating than that.
Senior Member
Joined: 07-25-2006
Posts: 1,198
From: Enid, Oklahoma
well thanks for the input guys. also i want to do a few more performance mods to my engine. does anyone know where i can find a header, pulleys, cams, and possibly cam gears? the last two would be nice but a mailny would like to have a reliable header and some decent pulleys??
http://cobalt-addiction.com/performance.htm
I thought one of the members on here was supposed to be making lighter pulleys, but I haven't checked to see if he's completed and marketing yet...
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 05-26-2007
Posts: 1,554
From: ...
Why would the GM spec sheet be in error?
Senior Member
Joined: 01-13-2006
Posts: 1,059
From: Tucson, AZ
Because on the sheet you have listed it says its for all 2.2-3.5 liter engines. Now, correct me if I'm wrong but the 3.5 V6 from GM makes 196 hp to 201 hp, torque ranges from 213 lb-ft to 221 lb-ft. Now, that seems a bit more than the claimed 205ft lb from your little arrow. That mentions MAX engine torque but does not say where or how that is applied. It does however list the max GEARBOX torque rating of 325ft lbs. Now that seems a more feasable number than a measley 205. Especially for a V6. Might be a good idea and call Gm about this though seeing as they might have the wrong trans hooked up to an engine that is putting out more torque than their trans can handle! 
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 05-26-2007
Posts: 1,554
From: ...
The spec sheet is the spec sheet. I didn't author it, GM did. And they posted it on their GM Powertrain site. You somehow seem to be trying to blame me for the data on the spec sheet with the "claimed 205ft lb from your little arrow" comment. Not my claim. GM's claim. I simply pointed it out.
When in doubt, though I'll always err on the side of caution, and when in doubt I'll usually trust the knowledge of GM Powertrain Engineers more than trial and error methodology by amatuer tuners and hobbyists.
When in doubt, though I'll always err on the side of caution, and when in doubt I'll usually trust the knowledge of GM Powertrain Engineers more than trial and error methodology by amatuer tuners and hobbyists.