Car was making some strange valve tick type noises the last few weeks, very faintly. On the way to a college football game over the weekend, they started getting progressively louder till it sounded like a lawn mower. Then a loud thud/bang occurred, and you could hear metal chunks hitting the underside of the vehicle. Pulled over, oil was all over the underside of the passenger side only. The whole inner portion of the right front wheel was covered.
Towed it to a local dealer, had been there since Sat. afternoon. Hadn't heard from them all day, so I called them around 5 to see what was going on since I needed to figure out a ride until it was done. Guy says, "Oh yeah, you're gonna need a new engine." Haha, thanks for telling me!
Either way, so far they told me that the number 3 rod punched clear through the block, and the engine is toast. He said he hadn't heard of this happening to any other cars with this engine to his knowledge. I'm now driving a rental Cobalt, WOOHOO!

 

That really stinks. These engines are known for being very good engines, but obviously stuff happens. Needless to say this should be covered by GM.

 

How many miles on your ecotech? You should not be blasting a rod though anything unless you have an SS. My call is a Lemon!!!!

 

The dealer said it should be covered no problem, so we'll see-

It has (had) 44,000 miles-

 

Bummer,

Much too early of a demise.. The 5yr /100K ought to get you a brand new motor..

It's just the inconvienence of waiting for it.. Hope all goes well..

Are you a hot rodder ? & what brand of oil you use ?

 

Valvetrain noise over a period of weeks.It got louder and you kept driving it? Sometimes people just amaze me.

 

Yep, the signs of a problem were there.

 

Haha, over a period of ten days. Have time off next week and was going to take it in. It only became louder within a mile of it actually blowing. I love how within four posts this has already been blamed on me

I NEVER drive the car hard, barely taking it over 4000rpm unless I'm entering the highway, and have used Mobil 1 since I bought it.

 

ive heard of this hapening to this motor before but only in heavily bosted high horsepower applications, what it sounds like is valves struck the piston and shattered it and the rod went through the motor the sides of the block are actualy very thin below the sleeves. good luck with your fix its not your fault.

 

OK.Valvetrain noise for 10 days? 10 minutes is too long. Sorry,but people really do amaze me.