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Engine swap question please 2008

11K views 21 replies 4 participants last post by  First Acadia 
#1 · (Edited)
Dear all,
I need to replace my engine. Compression on #3 cylinder is low (100psi) and is misfiring with CEL and stability control faults. (Mechanic believes that the CEL when flashing is also turning off stability control) All other cylinders checked in at 165-170.
Car has 140K miles.

My mechanic has suggested that I buy a whole car from a salvage auction with low mileage and he'll swap out the engine and tranny. He thinks that this may be the cheapest way to go as used engines alone with 150k miles are ~$2100 with only a 90 day warranty. (This way I could get more parts off of it later if I needed and he would store the wrecked car for me on his lot)

Could you guys tell me which years would be direct drop in replacement? I understand that engines and trannys in some years were problematic, however, some years were good....?

I would really appreciate you through inputs as well as any advice.

(Car runs good, misfires at idle)

Will the newer engine and tranny simply drop in or do I need to get anything flashed?
 
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#2 ·
Im wondering if you have carbon buildup on the valves edges.
that is- around the sealing edge-- causing the drop in cylinder pressure.

YOu have an 08-- so not direct injection.

But before I replaced the engine---
I would run a quality cleaner.
Techron Concentrate PLUS to clean up cylinders, fuel injectors, and around valves.
I would also run an intake valve cleaner.

This would run you about $25.......... and well worth the shot before you replace an engine.
What about plug/coils? those ever replaced?
 
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#3 ·
Hi, Thank you for the quick reply.
I was also thinking about trying this.

Couple of questions:
1. A bottle of Techron would go in the gas tank, right?
2. The intake valve cleaner, Is this the Seafoam which is injected via vacuum tube?
3. Do you think that the mechanic is right about that flashing CEL triggering the stability control fault by turning it off (stability control fault goes away when I start driving the car)? (Both started abruptly at the same time on the same day)

Kind regards
 
#5 ·
Couple of questions:
1. A bottle of Techron would go in the gas tank, right?---------------- Yes- it goes into a full tank of gas (make sure its the TECHRON CONCENTRATE PLUS )
2. The intake valve cleaner, Is this the Seafoam which is injected via vacuum tube?----------- either Seafoam which is as you describe--- or CRC INTAKE cleaner- which you spray into throttle body while engine is running at 2000 rpm, (I did this 2 weeks ago)
3. Do you think that the mechanic is right about that flashing CEL triggering the stability control fault by turning it off (stability control fault goes away when I start driving the car)? (Both started abruptly at the same time on the same day)----------------- yes its possible the CEL is triggering the stability control.
 
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#6 · (Edited)
...
Could you guys tell me which years would be direct drop in replacement? ...
In answer to this question: You're limited to '07 and '08. You can't swap a younger combination (and there is nothing older for either the Acadia or Outlook).
 
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#12 ·
Update: Did this on 6/28/17. Today is 8/8/17

Running splendidly. No misfires, no codes.

If anyone has the same problem of misfires and mechanic tell you that you need a rebuild, do yourself a favor and try this out. It may just be some carbon.
 
#15 ·
You are welcome.
I believe that if you come here to ask for advise and the awesome members on this site take their time out of their busy schedules to reply and help you out, you should follow up with updates as a courtesy to them and this is also a way to say, "thank you and you're appreciative for the help you've received". It also helps other members who may be having the same problems.
 
#17 ·
Indeed excellent news.
Techron and CRC intake cleaner did the job.
Now--- did you send off for your rebate?


I did recently run CRC intake cleaner on my 2013 Equinox (with the 3.6) and it did smoke and misfire.
1 hr later took it for a drive and it smoked for about 2 miles.
The pending codes cleared themselves. But yeah-- nip the carbon before it causes problems.
 
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