Hi all,

I have friend with HHR 2.4L engine build 2009. It's only 90 000 km. Few days ago he noticed that oil level is too high. He took the car to dealershop and they said there is anti freaze in the oil. There 3 reasons for that:

1. blown head gasket
2. problem with oil cooler
3. broken water pump

They drained oil and antifreaze and fill it again with new one. But after an hour of engine work oil level is again high. Please help.

 

Welcome to the site

1) a head gasket would be a good possibility.

2) I don't think hhr had oil coolers in 2009

3) broken water pump. Possible but unlikely. The pump would have to be in very bad shape to be leaking into the timing case. I would guess it would be making noise by now.

With all that said coolant in the crank case can cause bearing damage fairly quickly so major engine work would be involved if not now in the near future.

It may be in your best interest to explore a used or a remanufactured engine.

 

First of all, welcome to the site!! However, it might be difficult to find a used or remanufacured engine, without having it shipped, if Sofia refers to Sofia, Bulgaria.

 

X2 very likely the head gasket or cracked head, a compression test and a leak down test will determine which cylinders are affected but the end result will still be a tear down as the rod and main bearings will need to be replaced, as the antifreeze will have washed them of the oil that should have been lubricating them.

 

Yes

I'm from Bulgaria. This car is not popular here and parts are expensive. If the problem is in water pump dialer said it will cost 900 lv(450 eur). The don't repair engine heads if it is broken. New one is 3000 eur.

 

to the forum! - Добре дошли в форум!

I'm afraid I'll have to agree with the posts above, your friend's engine is probably suffering from serious damage. Whether it's due to a blown head gasket, or cracked head, the mixture of oil and coolant has done enough to warrant an engine tear-down and rebuilding or replacement.

We do have members in Europe who may be able to help with resources for parts in Bulgaria, or possibly importing an engine from the United States.

 

Thank you for your warm welcome!

Engine will be disassemled next week. So i'll inform you. If we need parts I know where to ask for. Please help because I'm confused about the oil cooler. In dealer shop guys said there is cooler but it is inside engine head. Are they right? Car is bought 2009, but engine manifacture year is 2007.

 

In the United States the engine cooler was not used after 2006. The imported version of he hhr may have still used a cooler. I do not know.

 

Opel is not popular in Bulgaria?

 

The oil cooler was mounted outside the engine driver side near the oil filler, if I remember correctly. That seems to be the reason for the rubber plug on the t-stat housing.

A quote I got for a head gasket job in the US was near $1500.