2020 Chevy Malibu 1.5L TOTAL MELTDOWN at Just 98,000 miles! I Thought GM FIXED This Problem. I Do C

[corbe]

2020 Chevy Malibu 1.5L TOTAL MELTDOWN at Just 98,000 miles! I Thought GM FIXED This Problem.

I Do Cars

56,046 views  Nov 2, 2024  IMPORTAPART
Today we tear into the engine from 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. This is the base, 1.5L Turbo "LFV" engine and its only gone 98,000 miles before it was replaced. I was able to source the last 8 of the VIN from the block and call the dealer to get the rest of the VIN, and run a Carfax to get its mileage, and maintenance history which dare I say, was sporadic at best. The early versions of these engines suffered from LSPI and melting pistons. This was allegedly corrected for the 2018 MY. So what happened to this in just 98K that required replacement? Lets tear it down to find out!
These engines produce 163hp and 184lb ft of torque, and ran 2016-2022, exclusive to the Malibu in North America, but offered in many different vehicles world wide.
 Why am I doing this? My name is Eric and I own Importapart. A full service auto dismantler. Part of our model includes dismantling blown up, failed and otherwise bad engines to salvage the good parts. We do not rebuild engines, merely supply parts to those who do!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBY57kelI0U

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Get a Toyota, especially the ones still built in Japan(4Runner)

[jafo2010]

GM was long ago destroyed as a reliable manufacturer of vehicles.  I used to be a GM man, but no longer.  They make junk!

I think Obama's action with GM by making the union members the owners and disenfranchising the stockholders and bond holders had a lot to do with the final nails in the coffin of GM.

Go with a Toyota, Honda, and Nissan(or their premium brands, i.e. Lexus), and it is hard to have a bad experience.  I have a Nissan Rogue which has been the best vehicle I have ever had.  85,000, and just oil changes, and finally a recent replacement of tires and battery, after six year of driving.  Just does not get any better than that.  Bought a Lexus GX460, and from everything I hear and read, they are built to last forever.  My neighbor has the GX470 with 350,000 miles, and he expects to get over 500,000 miles.

Most miles I ever got on an American made vehicle, with maintenance maintained as directed by GM, was 128,000, and the head gasket blew on a Cadillac Northstar engine.  After 2 of them blew, that was enough for me after having four Cadillacs.

[Bigun]

GM was long ago destroyed as a reliable manufacturer of vehicles.  I used to be a GM man, but no longer.  They make junk!

I think Obama's action with GM by making the union members the owners and disenfranchising the stockholders and bond holders had a lot to do with the final nails in the coffin of GM.

Go with a Toyota, Honda, and Nissan(or their premium brands, i.e. Lexus), and it is hard to have a bad experience.  I have a Nissan Rogue which has been the best vehicle I have ever had.  85,000, and just oil changes, and finally a recent replacement of tires and battery, after six year of driving.  Just does not get any better than that.  Bought a Lexus GX460, and from everything I hear and read, they are built to last forever.  My neighbor has the GX470 with 350,000 miles, and he expects to get over 500,000 miles.

Most miles I ever got on an American made vehicle, with maintenance maintained as directed by GM, was 128,000, and the head gasket blew on a Cadillac Northstar engine.  After 2 of them blew, that was enough for me after having four Cadillacs.

That did it for me! I'll walk before I buy another new GM product.

[libertybele]

Well, the best vehicle I've ever had was a  1980 Pontiac Sunbird.  I drove it until it had over 120,000 miles on it and the only thing I ever did to it was change the brakes and have the oil changed.  I sold it with over 120,000 miles on it and they drove it for another 25,000 miles until they sold it again.   During the winter, I put a good set of snow tires on it and that darn thing would plow throw snow and I never got stuck; she just kept trudging along.  It's been by far my favorite car, I loved it!  It was midnight blue metal flake with gold pin striping down the side. 

[cato potatoe]

Most miles I ever got on an American made vehicle, with maintenance maintained as directed by GM, was 128,000, and the head gasket blew on a Cadillac Northstar engine.  After 2 of them blew, that was enough for me after having four Cadillacs.

GM operates like a state-owned company.
The Deathstar was one of the dumbest engine designs in history (owing to one defect they waited 10 years to address).  Sounds great, lots of power, but you better count on spending $4-6k for engine-out head gasket job.
On the other hand, the Buick V6 was nearly indestructible with proper maintenance.  It was of course replaced by a problematic 3.6L.
I am certain their turbocharged engines will be full of gremlins.

[Bigun]

The best car I ever owned was a 1986 SAAB 900S built in Sweden by Saab Scania when the only other thing the did was fighter aircraft for NATO. I put 339K on it and it still ran perfect when I sold it to my BIL because my wife said he needed a car.   

SAAB is now a GM product so that's over.

[jafo2010]

I thought they stopped making Saabs?

[jafo2010]

Saab filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and stopped making cars in 2014.  They still have an aerospace division operating.

[Bigun]

Saab filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and stopped making cars in 2014.  They still have an aerospace division operating.

Thanks for the info! It doesn't surprise me that they went belly up after they sold out to GM.

[Hoodat]

GM was long ago destroyed as a reliable manufacturer of vehicles.  I used to be a GM man, but no longer.  They make junk!

GM has been making junk since 1973.  This isn't new.

[Smokin Joe]

That did it for me! I'll walk before I buy another new GM product.

I have a few GM vehicles, but they are all pre-Obama, and old enough that many of the potential donor vehicles were carted off during "cash for clunkers". The youngest one turned 25 this year.

[Bigun]

I have a few GM vehicles, but they are all pre-Obama, and old enough that many of the potential donor vehicles were carted off during "cash for clunkers". The youngest one turned 25 this year.

I have owned a few (most were genuine lemons) GM products over the years but none now and I will never buy another.

[PeteS in CA]

Obama unsold me on GM and Chrysler products. This was after having owned 5 Chrysler munchkinmobiles (aka minivans).

[IsailedawayfromFR]

GM has been making junk since 1973.  This isn't new.

that was the year I got out of school and bought my new Monte Carlo. 

[Bigun]

that was the year I got out of school and bought my new Monte Carlo.

I bought a 94 Impala that turned out to be the absolute worst piece of junk I've ever owned in my 76 years! Kept it for 18 months and took a financial beating when I got rid of it.

[jmyrlefuller]

A 1.5 liter engine? Good heavens. That's tiny. Are all sedan/coupe engines that small these days?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Last I heard the only good GM subsidiary was Buick in terms of reliability.

[Kamaji]

Last I heard the only good GM subsidiary was Buick in terms of reliability.

Does that include the Chinese-assembled models?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Does that include the Chinese-assembled models?

Oh I don't know, i don't buy them, hehe. I have a subaru and a honda. Japanese all the way, they've never failed me.

[Kamaji]

Oh I don't know, i don't buy them, hehe. I have a subaru and a honda. Japanese all the way, they've never failed me.

We just picked up a 2025 Outback.  So far we like it. 

[Smokin Joe]

A 1.5 liter engine? Good heavens. That's tiny. Are all sedan/coupe engines that small these days?

I can think of a few motorcycle engines with more displacement.