liquidmuffins

This is my first post here, and it's an issue I've had for a few months now. It started as an idle issue, bouncing up and down, and milky oil in the intake/Tb. I thought it to be an intake problem. After installing the ZZP CAI and tune to go with it. I know this wasn't possible as it continued. Then I came to find out the issue was still going on. I took it to a shop that thought it was an intake manifold gasket leak, paid $600 for nothing on that. Still having the issue. Took it to another place, they ran compression tests and found that the 4th cylinder was at around 90psi. Obviously this being low, the engine would need opened to find the issue. They quoted at $10k for an engine replacement. Ha... no. So now I am stuck with my car barely running and options are running out.
Has anyone used Engine Restore before? Seems like a too good to be true option to me. I'd try it myself, but am not sure if it would mess anything up more.
2007 Cobalt SS/SC 114k miles
only mods
ZZP CAI
ZZP tuned PCM

Bluelightning

iTrader: (8)

Sounds like the o rings on your lavinoma cores need to be replaced. Would explain your milky oil. Coolant is probably leaking in thus killed your motor.

Engine restore won't fix your problem. 10k is insane for a motor rebuild and not nessisary. The best bang for your buck would be to drop this in:


Ecotec Parts Gen 3 LSJ Short Block

rokon340

correct me if I'm wrong but if the laminova o rings leak the only place the coolant will go is into the intake manifold . how would it get to the bottom end? That shoud not cause milky oil.To the OP I don't remember why but there were a lot of theads on losing cyl four in the past.

Bluelightning

iTrader: (8)

Coolant can easily leak past rings, gets brought back through the top with the PCV system. It's a common side effect to leaking laminova cores.

user 72239

iTrader: (4)

^ interesting to know. I thought since it was a separate system it wouldn't do that.

OP I just replaced the motor on an LSJ for less than $2000. Contact Mongorat427 on here or Jeffery Reiland on the Cobalt nation buy/sell page if you want to get a used motor.

mrbelvedere

iTrader: (3)

probably more of a head gasket problem but the engine will need replaced or rebuilt

jdbaugh1

iTrader: (1)

If you have a small head gasket leak you should check out some stuff called K-seal. I have a TVS supercharged L61 and being a throw away engine it isn't worth taking the head of and replacing the head gasket for a 3rd time. I saw another user on here had a head gasket problem and that K-seal had cured it. I sent him a message to see how it was holding up and he said great that he couldn't recommend it enough. I'm not one to usually believe in using these miracle cures but I thought, **** it, I will give it a shot as the alternative was replacing my block. Much to my surprise it worked perfectly. I used to have momentary misfires at startup I think from fluid seeping into my combustion chamber as it sat overnight. Starts right up without trouble every time now. Keep in mind that my gasket leak was very small. My coolant level wouldn't drop much at all in a months time. I don't think there is much risk by using it and if it works you can get by and have time to save up for a new engine or rebuild.

Kickbutts228

If they did a compression test and cylinder #4 has 90psi I would figure out if its the pistons rings or valves

jdbaugh1

iTrader: (1)

...Or head gasket

mrbelvedere

iTrader: (3)

if it was a head gasket causing low cylinder pressure it would be pushing coolant out of the system into recovery tank

ItalianJoe1

iTrader: (10)

Low compression on #4 is a cracked piston 95% of the time. Get a good used engine for 2k and carry on.

jdbaugh1

iTrader: (1)

I've had a head gasket cause low cylinder pressure (and people were telling me I probably had a cracked cylinder), although my compression test yielded 150 psi instead of 90 psi so may be different case here, but I was burning through coolant and I never had coolant push into my recovery tank,not in a way that was noticeable anyway.