Topic: serious problems need expert advise

[Jaymageau]

Hi all.   First time post.

My daughter bought a 2006 Solstice with a 2.4 l 5 speed -  and an already installed Hahn turbo kit.

The seller sold it to us not running.

He told us he was street racing and messed with the tune and melted a piston.  It also burned a valve and screwed up number 4 sleeve.

seller had a pal who was a GM mechanic who would do the rebuild.

Sellers friend takes engine away and seller chases his friend for two years to get it back.

Friend brings it back rebuilt and part way installs it.

Seller doesn't have the skills needed to finish the install-  and in the 2.5 year wait-  bought a Vette.

Seller puts the car up for sale and a price that reflects its non running status - and we buy it.


I have many years hot rodding and messing with v8s -  no experience on 4 bangers , no experience on turbos, no experience on digital fuel injection. So I am going to give it a go.

The head was already on and torqued on so it was a matter of learning what all the gadgets do and putting it all together.

got it started.  Lots of codes relating to cam phasing , and lots of smoke out of the pipe.

Pulled the head,  the pistons hit some valves. send head out for rebuild .  order new head gasket and bolts.

reset timing chains -  and noticed completely by accident that the sleeve in number 4 was not flush with the deck.

did some homework, leanred about exotic sleeves , borrowed the sleeve trimming tool , make it all flush ( the "friend GM tech" obviously didn't do this.)

Head came back with new valves and springs and a couple of little replacement lifters and rockers.

put it all back together. no cam phasing codes!  but smoke .  clouds and clouds of white smoke .

did a compression test-- its OK. pulled the plugs , they look a little wet /oily.

visually inspected turbo oil drain line and pressure line. pulled turbo for inspection.  disassemble turbo -  is all nice inside.

- plugged oil line and fired car with turbo off the exhaust manifold.   smoke. lots.   pulled the crankcase canister vent line -  smoke--  pulled the vacuum feed to the brake booster and plugged it--- smoke lots. black oil residue alltrough the exhaust system .  engine oil is not milky .  I also pulled the throttle body off.  ran my finger around the inside edge of the opening... black on my finger.

don't know what to do next.  throw whole engine out?  Get a new head??  burn the little car?

anyone been down this path??

[Kelu]

My advice, not an expert by any means: Hang in there, looks like you did many good things to that engine, probably one or two more quirks to have it healthy running and the satisfaction will be priceless.

White smoke ... so basically smoke is from oil in exhaust?

You also noticed oil in throttle body?
Oil in TB would come from Turbo imho, I don't see other source. Oil lines to and from turbo all good? Turbo compressor outlet clean?

Aren't you close to Westers Tuner?
http://westersgarage.eidnet.ca/contacts.html
218 Centre Street / PO Box 159
Tilley, Alberta

[Jaymageau]

hi thx for responding.  the compressor side of the turbo is oil free as is the outside of the throttle body.  the  exasut side of the turbo has oil all over.   

i ran it with no turbo hooked in and with the throttlebody simply breathing air from the shop... still smokey . 

[Kelu]

All spark plugs with oil?

Improper sleeving job? Suspicious about #4.

[Sol Asylum]

You might have quite a bit of oil in the exhaust still.  Are you down on oil?  You could have a bad oil seal on the exhaust side of the turbo.

I would do a compression test it won't hurt and could point you in a direction to look further.

[TomatoSoup]

I would do a compression test it won't hurt and could point you in a direction to look further.

Ahem...

did a compression test-- its OK. pulled the plugs , they look a little wet /oily.

[Sol Asylum]

Sorry, I should have said bleed down compression check (in the aviation world that is a compression check, the normal automotive check is considered worthless)

[Steelmesh]

Being clouds and clouds of white smoke, it is probably coolant.  The back story is pretty cringy and you may consider just slapping a jy engine in there to get the car running and driving (and increase it's value).  The best resource to track something down is car-part.com, it is a national junkyard database so search by distance and your zip code. 

Cobaltss.net or these kappa forums can help you advertise extra parts for sale if you want.  People have also upgraded LE5 blocks by getting the newer 2.4 ecotecs like an LEA or LAF.  I am about to build an LE5/LEA hybrid but not far enough to be sure what the details are to get it going in a Solstice, but for sure you need to swap over the LE5 head and timing/valvetrain.

[Gentleman Jack]

Stop using diesel fuel and see if the smoke goes away?

Kidding.

Did you recheck all the previous owners work?  If the engine was out, was the water pump worked on?  Damn tricky job and easy to screw up.

What does a full fluid change look like?
Change oil, change coolant, trans fluid etc. maybe an oil line was put back wrong?
Is there an intercooler on that Hahn set up?  Is there oil or water in it?
When the head was off, what did the valves and pistons look like?  Caked on with carbon buildup? Or clean? 
Are there cats? Or just a dp?

How does it sound when it runs?  How long have you run it?

[ChopTop]

Not mine, found on Craigslist.  Also, it being a 2010 Solstice is suspect since approximately only 14 out of 20 Solstices were GXPs that year.  Regardless, since you mentioned an engine I remembered seeing this yesterday. 

2010 Pontiac Solstice GXP LNF 2.0 engine - 60,000 miles, $1500 (Granite city, IL)
https://stlouis.craigslist.org/pts/d/2010-pontiac-solstice-gxp-lnf/6388354947.html (pics)
Sellers comments: I have a LNF 2.0 turbo long block engine with only 60,000 miles. You will have to use everything from you old engine except sensors and coils. Please don't try to lowball me I'm in no hurry to sell. I also have a intercooler and piping for $350.