Patrickh60

Howdy!

Been getting some white smoke out of the tailpipe when accelerating from an idle, such as a traffic signal. Chevy says it's lost compression in Cylinders 1 & 2 and recommends a new engine. $6,380! My alternatives are engine work or the new engine. Who has had some experience with replacing these motors? What does the group recommend?

Thanks,

Patrick

Oldblue

White smoke usually means a head gasket not a hard job and there are recommended things to change while you are tearing the engine apart, like new valves, timing and balance shaft chains, head bolts, water pump, intake and exhaust gaskets, Dexcool and thermostat.
or there’s a new Pope.
But seriously, I don’t see $6,300 bucks a new engine is much less than that from Summit or ZZP or RockAuto, and a wrecking yard engine less then $600.00.

if your handy the engine can be extracted from the top with an engine hoist, or dropped out the bottom if you have access to a lift.

I see you have a 2007, but don’t know which the 2.2 or the 2.4, they are vastly different and are not interchangeable.
will you be doing the work or a shop?

I also see you’re in California, maybe hellshotrod can help you out! Send him a PM

donbrew

Why are you even considering having work done by GM? There are probably 1,000 small shops within 10 miles of Anaheim. THERE IS NOTHING SPECIAL about the HHR that a GM mechanic can do better than Jose down the street.

I don't know why ANY mechanic would advise new engine with only those symptoms. Oh, it is much easier to make lots of money and you don't need any skill.

califphil

Does it still run ok? If so keep on driving it while you look for a used engine and someone to install it. No way would I do $6k for a motor.

RJ_RS_SS_350

White smoke, adjacent cylinders, yes, could be head gasket. You might be losing coolant, so if you're going to keep driving it for a bit, monitor the coolant level every day. If you run it low on coolant, you could ruin the engine for sure.

Oldblue

I’d park it , coolant in the oil will wash out the crankshaft bearings and kill the engine.

geg

this is true and I subscribe to Oldblue's recommendation.
Also, if I had 6,380 free dollars, I would not think about buying an engine, I would buy a whole car. You can ride it .. You can use it as a donor ...

RJ_RS_SS_350

That is sound advice.

Oldblue

Just don’t ask me how I know!!