What do you like and dislike about the Eco?

[zipnsip]

I was wanting to find out what everyone likes and dislikes about the ecotec engine.

So far I like pretty much everything about my engine and car except for the damn shift light coming on at really low RPMs. It gets annoying. If I shifted with the light I would be going 35 MPH in 5th gear. :lol: Other than that I love it. But I only have 621 miles on mine so I am just out of the break in period. Now let me drive it like I normally drive and then we will see.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Thats not the engine that makes the light come on its the way GM programed the cars computer. The only thing I dont really like is the somewhat poor gas mileage and the harsh idle when the car is just sitting there

[ironray75]

Well the shift light can be taken care of. I don't have a rough idle in mine. It just sits there like it is off. The only thing I don't like about this engine is the fact that to do anything you will have to raise the engine out of the bay to do anything.

[XtremeGrandAm]

well yours would be a first so far every vehicle I have driven with it has been somewhat loud at idle. Thats also what many of the reviewers have claimed that have reviewed vehicles with the engine

[ironray75]

I actually testdrive like 10 2.2s before I got this one, and not one of them idled. Maybe it is the difference in Climates or something.

[XtremeGrandAm]

dont know, I havent been in a cavalier with the engine or test driven it. My dad has his L200 with the Ecotec it doesnt idle like a normal 4 cyl. I post a lot on saturnfans and a lot of the saturn owners are complaining about the same thing. So i know im not the only one.

[ironray75]

Yea, my friend owns a saturn and it idles hard also.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Well I listened today to my car. and its no so much that the engine idles rough its actually quite smooth. Its kinda hard to explain my complaint the sound the ecotec makes while iddling isnt as pleasant as it could be. I think it has a lot to do with the steel timing chain

[Kyle02SE2]

The shift light just tells you when to shift to get the best gas miles per gallon i have always taken mine to red line and never had a problem out of it i think it a grate engine.....and mine dosnt idles hard but it si loud cant relly describe it

[Philip04]

I've noticed the hard idling problem is MUCH less noticable with higher quality gasoline....

maybe it's just my imagination, but I don't feel any vibration when using 87 octane chevron.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Thats possible I persoally dont ever go to any off brand gas station. I also notice that the summer and winter mixes of gas also make a difference.

[RickHigginsHtbr]

Well with my ecotec, I don't think it's the engine itself that is loud when it's idling... When you start the car w/ the hood proped up, take a listen. It's a lot louder up in the bay than it is by the exhaust. I have a feeling that, with my car atleast, it's the electric fans that are making all the noise.

Now the different types of gas and climates... I have been running this car on 87 since I got it, all different sorts of brands... But I have realized that the seasonal climates do have a difference with this engine. Living 20 minutes north of Philly, I get it all climate-wise. From what I have experienced, this car loves 45 - 70 degree weather w/ low humidity. When it's raining, or if its colder than 45 or warmer than 70, it definately does not perform as well as that 45 - 70 degree zone.
-Rick

[XtremeGrandAm]

I dont really think its the fans most of the times the fans arent running on mine because the engine doesnt get that hot when its been so cold but i dont think its necessarly loud its just the tone that the engine makes while idling isnt smooth as other 4 cyl are. I think smooth is a good way of phrasing it

[tenspeed]

I find the shifter too far to the left. I hit my knee in first and second. It also doesn't feel to be smooth shifting. It doesn't seem to be able to shift quickly.

The engine seems to have a enough power. It's not tire shredding but it gets to speed quick enough and if you keep the revs up, it performs well.

I get 30-32 MPG with the five speed.

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by tenspeed
I find the shifter too far to the left. I hit my knee in first and second. It also doesn't feel to be smooth shifting. It doesn't seem to be able to shift quickly.

The engine seems to have a enough power. It's not tire shredding but it gets to speed quick enough and if you keep the revs up, it performs well.

I get 30-32 MPG with the five speed.
I still to this day havent driven a 2002+ manual GA there has not been a single one in the Indianapolis area if any of the dealerships get one in they are suppose to call me.

[white04ecoGA]

Mine doesn't Idle rough, it is just a little louder than most four cylinders, personally I don't mind at all. I also average about 30-34mpg with it, though when I do alot of city driving it aint near that good, cause I have the pedal glued to the floor from every stop light. Oh and the 5 speed thing, I haven't got to drive one either. When I bought my car the dealer had no 5 speeds, the next month they had 5 on the lot. Thats frustrating

[XtremeGrandAm]

Originally posted by white04ecoGA
I haven't got to drive one either. When I bought my car the dealer had no 5 speeds, the next month they had 5 on the lot. Thats frustrating
That would be frustrating I'd be half tempted to see if they would make me a deal if that would have happen to me. Thats just the one thing I dont like about my car that will lead me to sell it I just dont really like driving an automatic.Yes it comes in handy at times but I really enjoy manuals

[ironray75]

Originally posted by XtremeGrandAm
That would be frustrating I'd be half tempted to see if they would make me a deal if that would have happen to me. Thats just the one thing I dont like about my car that will lead me to sell it I just dont really like driving an automatic.Yes it comes in handy at times but I really enjoy manuals
I agree. I really like mine and I don't know what I would do without it..lol