GM 2.0L Ecotec LTG Engine Specs, Problems, Reliability, & oil. The 2.0 Ecotec LTG is a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder turbocharged engine with direct fuel injection. It belongs of the Gen3 Ecotec engine family generated by General Motors. This widely used 2.0 L Chevy/Cadillac motor made its debut in 2013, replacing the previous 2.0 L Turbo version out of the Gen2 Ecotec family known by its LNF, LDK, and LHU production codes. Initially, the new engine appeared for the 2013 model year Cadillac ATS and Chevrolet Malibu. Today, GM uses it in a broad stable of vehicles, including the 2.0 L Turbo Chevrolet Camaro. The 2.0 T LTG is also available on the Chinese market. Let’s take an in-depth look at the 2.0 T Ecotec LTG engine design, its common problems, and its reliability.
The 2.0 Ecotec LTG is an entirely new engine, with nothing related to the outgoing 2.0 T LHU Ecotec. While blocks are dimensionally similar, the LTG engine uses a new open-deck-style, sand-cast aluminum cylinder block with cast-in-place iron liners and enhanced structural support. It has strengthened main bearing bulkheads and cylinder bore walls to withstand increased engine loads. Rotating assembly includes a forged-steel crankshaft, forged powdered metal connecting rods, and lightweight cast aluminum pistons with a dish-shaped piston crown.
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GM 2.0L Ecotec LTG Engine Specs, Problems, Reliability, & oil
The engine block is equipped with piston oil jets (by one per piston). Oil jets spray oil toward piston skirts and continuously lubricate and cool the pistons to reduce friction and noise. The oiling system is operated by a two-stage, variable-displacement oil pump. The variable-flow oiling system maximizes fuel efficiency by preventing using energy to pump oil that is not required. Engine oil is cooled by a heat exchanger associated with the engine’s coolant circuit. Smooth engine operation is ensured by a modular balance shaft system installed in the oil pan.
The LTG 2.0 T engine has an A356T6 aluminum 16-valve cylinder head developed for direct fuel injection and very high boost pressure. The cylinder head is equipped with stainless steel intake valves and sodium-filled exhaust valves. The engine also features a DOHC design with Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT). The intake and exhaust camshafts are driven by a timing chain. Both cams have vane-type phasers controlled by an engine control module (ECM). Valves are actuated via low-friction hydraulic roller-finger followers.
LTG heads use extended-life spark plugs, which last up to 100,000 miles (160,000 km). The fuel system includes two fuel pumps. The first one is a conventional electrically operated fuel pump in the fuel tank. It sends fuel to the second pump – an engine-mounted, high-pressure fuel pump driven by an intake camshaft. The HP pump provides fuel pressure from about 750 psi to 2,250 psi. Fuel is supplied to the injectors via a high-pressure stainless steel feed line and a pressure-regulated fuel rail.
The 2.0 L LTG Ecotec uses a Borg Warner twin-scroll turbocharger with an electronically controlled wastegate. The turbo puts out around 20 psi of maximum boost. The engine is equipped with a cast stainless steel 4 in 2exhaust manifold (1-4 and 2-3). Each scroll on the turbine is fed by a separate exhaust passage. For reducing the temperature of compressed air, the LTG engine uses an air-to-air intercooler. It is capable of cooling the intake air by 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). The intake manifold is crafted from plastic. There is no source of vacuum for the brake booster because the intake system is pressurized. In this particular case, the engine has a cam-driven vacuum pump mounted behind the cylinder head. It is driven by the exhaust camshaft.
Compared to the LHU engine, the 2.0 T LTG Ecotec reduces overall engine friction by 16%. Thanks to direct injection, cold-start emissions also dropped by about 25%. The twin-scroll turbo provides a robust and broad torque curve giving a great feeling of power as needed.
GM 2.0L Ecotec LTG Engine Specs
| Manufacturer | Spring Hill Manufacturing plant, Spring Hill, Tennessee, the USA Tonawanda, NY, the USA |
| Production years | 2013-present |
| Cylinder block material | Aluminum |
| Cylinder head material | Aluminum |
| Fuel type | Gasoline |
| Fuel system | Direct Injection |
| Configuration | Inline |
| Number of cylinders | 4 |
| Valves per cylinder | 4 |
| Valvetrain layout | DOHC |
| Bore, mm | 86.0 mm (3.39 in) |
| Stroke, mm | 86.0 mm (3.39 in) |
| Displacement, cc | 1,998 cc (150 cu in) |
| Type of internal combustion engine | Four-stroke, turbocharged |
| Compression Ratio | 9.5:1 |
| Power, hp | 230-279 hp (172-208 kW)/ 5,500 |
| Torque, lb ft | 285-295 lb ft (350-400 Nm)/ 2,000-5,500 |
| Engine weight | – |
| Firing order | 1-3-4-2 |
| Engine oil weight | SAE 0W-30, 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 4.7 l (5.0 qt) – RWD/FWD vehicles; 5.7 l (6.0 qt) – AWD vehicles |
| Oil change interval, mile | 10,000 (15,000 km) / 12 months |
| Applications | Chevrolet Camaro, Chevrolet Malibu, Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse, Cadillac ATS, Cadillac CT6, Cadillac CTS, Cadillac ATS 25T (China), Cadillac ATS 28T (China), Opel Insignia, Buick Regal, Buick Envision, Buick GL8, GMC Terrain, Holden Commodore |
Chevy/GM 2.0 L Ecotec LTG Problems and Reliability
Of all, the GM 2.0 Ecotec is a good engine. It has a performance of NA 3.0/ 4.0-liter V6s and V8s with a great fuel efficiency of a small four-cylinder engine. By the way, it is the first I-4 motor in a Camaro since the gen3 model. Camaro 2.0 T LTG engine is rated at 275 hp (205 kW) at 5,600 rpm and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque at 3,000 rpm. Being the most power-dense automotive engine in the industry, is the 2.0 LTG Ecotec reliable? Surprising, but this turbo-four offers a good balance of performance and reliability. Of course, it is not perfect, like everything else worldwide.
Here are a few of the most common 2.0 Ecotec LTG engine problems:
- Carbon build-up
- Piston failures
- Timing cover oil leaks
To one level or another, every engine with direct injection has the issue with carbon build-up on intake valves. And this well-known downside of direct injection is not something unique on the 2.0 LTG Ecotec. All engines may blow some oil into the intake. For those with conventional port injection, it is not a problem because fuel washes out everything back to combustion chambers. But with direct injection, when gasoline shoots directly into the combustion chamber, bypassing intake valves and ports, blow-by oil forms deposits on the intake valves and everything around. This dirty black build-up can restrict airflow to a level where performance and reliability can be affected. Usually, this happens after/every 80,000-100,000 miles. Walnut blasting is a good way to bring some dead horses back to life.
In the early years on sales, piston failures were being found on some 2.0 T Ecotec’s within the first few thousand miles. GM had the ability to solve quickly these early flaws with the motor, and later models, seems to be, don’t run into these issues anymore. Pistons on 2.0 LTG are not the strongest part of the engine. They are cast aluminum, not forged, and don’t have a large margin of safety. On a stock engine, they work fine. If you will try to squeeze more power by boosting it, it is better to upgrade 2.0 T Ecotec with aftermarket forged aluminum pistons.
Another common problem found on LTG engines is oil leakages around timing cover. Usually, it is slow seeping oil leaks that clear on the engine block creating little smoke and some burning oil smells. Check the cylinder block around the timing cover for black spots if you notice any of these symptoms. You may have an oil leak from the timing cover.
Bear in mind, the 2.0-liter Ecotec LTG is a high-performance turbo engine. It definitely is more demanding on maintenance. The engine requires strong quality, synthetic oils, premium gas, and expensive spark plugs. That, its complex design also places a lot of room for unexpected issues with electronics, turbo, and emissions equipment. Well, the properly maintained 2.0 Ecotec LTG engine itself should last more than 200k.
