Hi folks, like this site alot, just bought a 09 HHR with 2.2 in it. Anyone tell me what kind of life i can expect from this engine? I drive it mostly on highway,thanks in advance.

 

Long........

 

Thanks for your input very helpful

 

as long as you treat it good and keep it maintained, you should get 100k+ out of it. my company has one that we use and it just went over 250,000 and is running like a champ.

 

That would be truly awesome to get 250,000 out of a engine.

 

the ecotec is an extremely well built engine and will last an extremely long time. treat it well and it will do the same to you.

 

According to the GM Peformance Division website, the 2.2 was the original Ecotec and was developed back in 1995 as a global 4 cylinder platform. It is already tried and true as well as the largest selling engine in the Ecotec lineup in the world.

Below is a rundown of the Ecotec line out of one of the GMPD documents:

2.2L - L61

The highest volume engine in the Ecotec family—
powers vehicles across the globe.

2.4L VVT – LE5

The largest displacement and first equipped with
active camshafts to enable “Variable Valve Timing.”

2.0L SC – LSJ

The only supercharged Ecotec engine, and easily
upgraded in power with GM Performance Stage 1, 2
and 3 upgrade kits.

2.0L Turbo – LNF

The most advanced Ecotec with a twin scroll
turbocharger, intercooler, direct fuel injection.

VVT 2.2L European Z2.2xx

The European Ecotec engine family order numbers
all start with a ‘Z2.2’ and have two more digits
after the ‘2.2’ to indicate the exact powertrain.
(Example: Z2.2SE.)

2.0L Alfa Romeo

The Ecotec also powers some non-GM vehicles, like
the 2.0L Alfa Romeo.

2.0L Turbo -SAAB LK9, LQ8

The 210 hp LK9 came out in 2003 to rave reviews,
the LQ8 2.0L engine makes 175 hp.

2.0L Opel Turbo – LQ8

The LQ8 powers various vehicles in Europe for Opel.

 

Use only Mobil 1 or Castrol Syntec 5-30 oil every 5000 miles (forget the oil life % on the computer display) and use only USA-made oil filters such as Purolater, observe the RPM limit redline, and you will get 250,000 miles easy, probably a lot more.

 

How does the Trifecta or PCMforless Tunes affect this life expectancy?

 

Keep up with the maintenace schedule and you will easily get 200-250k out this motor.

Changing synthetics that often is like changing dino oil every 2500-3000 miles. Its a waste of time and money. Synthetics really don't need to be changed more than every 10-12k. As much as I feel that oil testing services are a bit of a scare tactic, there is more than enough documented evidence to show that dino oil can safely be changed when the OLM says its time, and that synthetic can safely be changed every 15k.

From a mechanical standpoint, all a tune does is change the operating paremeters for the fuel system, emissions systems, torque management, and some other stuff. Sort of like the old days of adjusting timing, dwell, fuel delivery, and putting in a shift kit. It won't do anything to diminish engine life.