Looking for advice. I have 140,000 mile on an ECOTEC ENGINE. It just stopped completely. Mechanic said the engine is gone. I'm 71 and retired and don't drive the car hard or often. Could the engine be gone?

Looking for advice.

 

Yes, the timing chain might have failed. A connecting rod might have broken. Really hard to tell without visual evidence. Engine replacement isn’t to hard, the 2011 LT might have an LE9 2.4 litre or the LE8 2.2 litre.
there is slight possibility if tge timing chain failed the bent valves can be replaced along with a new timing chain kit , however the valves hitting the pistons can cause problems like a hole in 1 or more pistons, broken connecting rods and possibly broken engine block

 

No. It's still there.

I would start by asking for details about what [he thinks] is wrong with the engine.

How much $ does he want to fix it? Or what did he suggest you do?

 

Sounds like a military pilot; "the #2 engine broke, they are putting a new one in". Doesn't matter to them what "broke" means.
No curiosity at all? Didn't bother to ask for any details? 140,000 miles is very low mileage, unless you really abused it.

 

Don , he stated he didn’t drive the HHR hard or often

 

And ...? Obviously a 13 year old car with 140,000 miles was not driven much.
Does that mean the oil ever got changed or that overheating was ignored or that the CEL was ignored or regular maintenance was performed?

 

Exactly. OP, don't be embarrassed; for the best help, tell the whole story. Answers with insufficient info (like on FB and the like) are best ignored.