Porous Block still an issue?
11-06-2017, 04:14 PM
#27
as I recall, there was alot of kool-aid being passed around.
I know it's terrible to joke about it, but that's really what here issue came down to.
Her tuner has a great reputation in her area, but outside of her area, the tuner's reputation is far from spotless.
I know it's terrible to joke about it, but that's really what here issue came down to.
Her tuner has a great reputation in her area, but outside of her area, the tuner's reputation is far from spotless.
11-06-2017, 04:45 PM
#28
I'll throw my two cents worth in on the original question;
It is my opinion that 99.9% of the acclaimed porous block issues popping up more than (oh let's say) three years after it has been put into service are complete BS.
I know a gal in my state who was told she had a porous block which was the cause of here engine failure...
The only problem is that her car was fine prior to getting tuned, and this happened in 2016 ~ and her car was a 2009(iirc);
I believe that in her case (and I suspect many others are the same) the tuner/tune is wholly responsible for the problem;
In her case the tuner and other locals blamed her block - so she took them at their word.. .not noticing how the locals think that this tuner can do no wrong.
I felt bad for her but when I found out about this it was well past the point of no return, as she had totally parted the car out... and unfortunately was still making payments on it.
The porous block issue was about a specific batch of engine blocks which were not cast properly;
I believe there is a thread here which has the TSB clearly spelling out a manufacture window of cars which may have recieved those engines.
As I have understood it, the problem would surely show itself within the powertrain warranty period - unless the car was bought, and parked...
The Cobalt SS(TC) is a great little car;
I like some of the others who have replied here, am an original owner.
The Cobalt SS(SC) is also a great car, but I personally was only motivated to look into buying after the TC came out;
As mentioned above the SC can make great power - I believe that the GMS3 was rated at 300hp in 100 octane gas mode... otherwise the "street" version (it was never officially released for street use; it disabled A/C, and came with an "offroad use only" sticker) had roughly the same horsepower as a stock SS/TC.
It is my opinion that the tansmission "issues" are really only prevalent under one of two (or both) situations;
1) aftermarket tune with little to no attention paid regaurding a gradual boost ramp
2) an aggressively tuned car which may have a decent boost ramp, but the owner has been jumping on it in 5th gear.
As it has been suggested, I would definately look for a car that has been well cared for - often the ones which have few to no modifications are the best ones to start off with, unless you really know (or can trust) the past owner of a modified car.
It is my opinion that 99.9% of the acclaimed porous block issues popping up more than (oh let's say) three years after it has been put into service are complete BS.
I know a gal in my state who was told she had a porous block which was the cause of here engine failure...
The only problem is that her car was fine prior to getting tuned, and this happened in 2016 ~ and her car was a 2009(iirc);
I believe that in her case (and I suspect many others are the same) the tuner/tune is wholly responsible for the problem;
In her case the tuner and other locals blamed her block - so she took them at their word.. .not noticing how the locals think that this tuner can do no wrong.
I felt bad for her but when I found out about this it was well past the point of no return, as she had totally parted the car out... and unfortunately was still making payments on it.
The porous block issue was about a specific batch of engine blocks which were not cast properly;
I believe there is a thread here which has the TSB clearly spelling out a manufacture window of cars which may have recieved those engines.
As I have understood it, the problem would surely show itself within the powertrain warranty period - unless the car was bought, and parked...
The Cobalt SS(TC) is a great little car;
I like some of the others who have replied here, am an original owner.
The Cobalt SS(SC) is also a great car, but I personally was only motivated to look into buying after the TC came out;
As mentioned above the SC can make great power - I believe that the GMS3 was rated at 300hp in 100 octane gas mode... otherwise the "street" version (it was never officially released for street use; it disabled A/C, and came with an "offroad use only" sticker) had roughly the same horsepower as a stock SS/TC.
It is my opinion that the tansmission "issues" are really only prevalent under one of two (or both) situations;
1) aftermarket tune with little to no attention paid regaurding a gradual boost ramp
2) an aggressively tuned car which may have a decent boost ramp, but the owner has been jumping on it in 5th gear.
As it has been suggested, I would definately look for a car that has been well cared for - often the ones which have few to no modifications are the best ones to start off with, unless you really know (or can trust) the past owner of a modified car.
That aside, I'd like to see that tsb. I have looked plenty and never found one.
11-06-2017, 06:11 PM
#31
Yes, you cited one example, and you said 99.9% of porous block claims [...] are bs because of that one example. Do you not see how retarded that is? Then I call you out and claim "old CSS.net shenanigans." Get out of here with that trash.
Last edited by exninja; 11-06-2017 at 06:17 PM.
11-06-2017, 10:01 PM
#34
Mine falls in that bad timeframe. Think it was manufacture date of 08-08 thru 10-08. Those were the most troubled dates. I don’t think that going from 15psi to 25 as most do, helps things as you are putting more pressure into a marginal foam cast block. Is it all the reason, who knows.
11-07-2017, 08:55 AM
#35
Mine falls in that bad timeframe. Think it was manufacture date of 08-08 thru 10-08. Those were the most troubled dates. I don’t think that going from 15psi to 25 as most do, helps things as you are putting more pressure into a marginal foam cast block. Is it all the reason, who knows.
The foam cast blocks just seem to consistently have a lower limit, and a wider range of failure (less consistent failure levels) than others.
11-07-2017, 09:09 AM
#36
It's not the cylinder walls that crack though. That's why I think it has more to do with heat than pressure. Also, the crack in mine only opened up when the block was warm. Point is, stock is just as likely to crack as boosted.
To the ops concern; with how fatigue works the longer you go there is slightly less chance that it would fall. However, without getting to deep into the science of it, it could happen at anytime.
To the ops concern; with how fatigue works the longer you go there is slightly less chance that it would fall. However, without getting to deep into the science of it, it could happen at anytime.
11-08-2017, 09:39 PM
#37
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thanks for all the words. At this point Im just waiting for a turbo balt to show up here where im at so I can test drive it. I still need to drive a SC but im afraid ill dump money into it just to get it as quick as a simple stg1 gm tuned tubro :/ i was seeing videos of stg3 full bolt on SCs door to door with stg 1 turbo :/
plus the Turbo is basically my current car with all of the features I wish it had: LSD, larger K04 instead of the tiny K03, Direct injection, and newer and hopefully not as much maintenance needed :'(
OH what kind of fuel mileage do the stg 2 and stg3 SC models get? i figured with a tiny pulley they must be making decent boost at 80mph and just guzzling gas. another reason I am looking into a turbo over a SC
plus the Turbo is basically my current car with all of the features I wish it had: LSD, larger K04 instead of the tiny K03, Direct injection, and newer and hopefully not as much maintenance needed :'(
OH what kind of fuel mileage do the stg 2 and stg3 SC models get? i figured with a tiny pulley they must be making decent boost at 80mph and just guzzling gas. another reason I am looking into a turbo over a SC
11-09-2017, 06:58 AM
#39
I have an SS/SC with 250whp and I pretty much drive the **** out of it and the lowest I've ever seen is 25mpg (probably average 27 or so). On a tank of gas I probably drive around 70% highway and 30% city. If I do mainly highway driving I'll get 30 easily. Sometimes I wish I would of held out for a TC but I've had a couple turbo cars and wanted something different.
11-09-2017, 08:53 AM
#40
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thanks for all the words. At this point Im just waiting for a turbo balt to show up here where im at so I can test drive it. I still need to drive a SC but im afraid ill dump money into it just to get it as quick as a simple stg1 gm tuned tubro :/ i was seeing videos of stg3 full bolt on SCs door to door with stg 1 turbo :/
plus the Turbo is basically my current car with all of the features I wish it had: LSD, larger K04 instead of the tiny K03, Direct injection, and newer and hopefully not as much maintenance needed :'(
OH what kind of fuel mileage do the stg 2 and stg3 SC models get? i figured with a tiny pulley they must be making decent boost at 80mph and just guzzling gas. another reason I am looking into a turbo over a SC
plus the Turbo is basically my current car with all of the features I wish it had: LSD, larger K04 instead of the tiny K03, Direct injection, and newer and hopefully not as much maintenance needed :'(
OH what kind of fuel mileage do the stg 2 and stg3 SC models get? i figured with a tiny pulley they must be making decent boost at 80mph and just guzzling gas. another reason I am looking into a turbo over a SC
11-22-2017, 09:53 PM
#41
I had the first know case of porus block. Brand new car all stock, happened after 2k kms. Has nothing to do with power or heat, its simply a defective cast block that fails after certain amount of use. How long take is dependant on how defective the block is.
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