Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 Engine Problems – Is The New 6.2 Reliable?
September 2, 2023Are you interested in buying a Chevy or a GMC with the newest 6.2 EcoTec3 engine and want to learn more about the Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 engine problems? If that’s correct, you are in the right place because, in this article, there will be a lot to cover.
Doing thorough research before you decide to purchase a car with a certain engine is always a smart idea. Out there are a ton of different models that come in a variety of different configurations. And each of these engines performs differently. And having a good knowledge of the possible issues is always a smart idea. And that’s why we are here to help you out.
First, we are going to learn more about the specs of this engine, then, we will cover the applications, as well as the common Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 engine problems. So, let’s get started!
Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 Engine Specifications
For those who don’t know, the 6.2 EcoTec3 is a generation 5 Chevy small block engine. Also known as the LS.
This engine is basically the same in size as the previous 6.2 but implements some new technologies that the previous engine doesn’t have, like direct injection.
Nevertheless, this engine debuted in 2014 and is still in production to the present day.
When it comes to the design of this engine, this is a small block V8 engine that uses the good old pushrod technology.
And this is what makes these engines so special, especially for people who want to drive something really old-school that can outperform even the newest engines around.
So, with this engine, there is a single camshaft and an OHV layout when it comes to the valvetrain. There are two valves per cylinder, one for the intake and one for the exhaust.
What is worth noting about this EcoTec3 engine is that it comes with AFM, which is the Active Fuel Management system. This system simply shuts off two cylinders in order for the engine to save fuel.
And the second system is direct injection, direct injection is a new method of injecting fuel more efficiently.
What is also worth noting is that there are a couple of different engine codes for the 6.2 EcoTec3. These are the following: LT1, LT2, LT4, LT5 (passenger car engines), and L86, L86 (truck engines).
Here are the full specs of this 6.2L engine.
- Configuration: V-engine
- Displacement: 6.2L
- Cylinders: 8
- Bore: 103.25 mm
- Stroke: 98 mm
- Block Material: Cast Iron/Aluminum
- Head Material: Aluminum
- Head Design: OHV, 2 valves per cylinder
- Horsepower: 420 – 755 hp
- Torque: 455 – 715 lb-ft
Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 Engine Applications
Now let’s discuss the applications of the Chevy 6.3 EcoTec3 engine.
L86/L87
- 2014 – Present Chevy Silverado/GMC Sierra
- 2015 – Present Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon
- 2015 – Present Chevy Suburban/GMC Yukon XL
- 2015 – Present Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV
LT1
- 2014 – 2019 Chevy Corvette C7
- 2016 – Present Chevy Camaro SS
LT2
- 2020 – Present Chevy Corvette C8
LT4
- 2015 – 2019 Chevy Corvette Z06
- 2016 – 2019 Cadillac CTS-V
- 2017 – Present Chevy Camaro ZL1
- 2022 – Present Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
- 2023 – Present Cadillac Escalade-V
LT5
- 2019 Chevy Corvette ZR1
Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 Engine Problems
Now let’s list the common problems with the 6.2 EcoTec3 engine.
- Lifter Failure
- Carbon Deposits
- HPFP Failure
- Broken Injectors
- Intake Manifold Leaks
- Exhaust Manifold Leaks
We listed the most common problems with the Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3. Now let’s move on and further elaborate on these problems.
Why do we think that this is necessary? Well, you need to do so because this will give you the knowledge needed to become an expert on this issue. Knowing the symptoms, causes, and other essentials, you will be able to understand the problem much easier. So, let’s elaborate on these problems.
1. Lifter Failure
The first problem that we are going to list is the issue with the lifters collapsing. This problem is often due to the fact that this engine has AFM.
For those who don’t know, AFM is Active Fuel Management. Chevy is installing this system in order to make their engines more efficient. So, whenever there is not a ton of load on the engine, the engine will turn into a V4.
What is bad though is that this system can really degrade your engine internals. Specifically the lifters and the rods.
The lifters can collapse pretty often, and the pushrods can get bent. This is why a lot of owners do not like this system and simply delete it.
Symptoms that are associated with collapsed lifters include ticking noises from the engine, as well as check engine light, engine misfires, low engine power, stalling issues, jerkiness, and so on.
The solution to this problem is to replace the damaged lifters and pushrods. And also inspect the camshaft for wear because bad lifters can also cause damage to the camshaft.
Now let’s move on to the next Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 engine problems.
2. Carbon Deposits
Carbon deposits are another common problem on these Chevy 6.2 engines. So, what are carbon deposits, and how do they occur?
Well, carbon deposits are black deposits of carbon that are accumulating on the intake ports of the engine.
The intake ports are located on the cylinder head, in these ports you have the intake valves.
These modern 6.2 EcoTec3 engines are using direct injection. This is a new method of injecting fuel through special high-pressure injectors.
This is good for efficiency but not so good for the intake ports. Since there is no gas passing there to wash them from the oil vapors.
So, these vapors are starting to accumulate on the valves, and these vapors over time will start to create a layer of carbon. This carbon is very difficult to remove and it can easily prevent the valves from opening and closing properly.
This could lead to valve failure, engine misfires, and a complete cylinder head failure on your engine.
This is why you have to do a method known as walnut blasting every 60,000 to 100,000 miles and clean the intake valves from deposits. This method is the only method that really works and cleans the valves 100%.
It can be expensive. But it is a small price to pay in order to keep the reliability of the engine in check.
3. HPFP Failure
HPFP failure can also happen on this engine. But not that commonly compared to the other issues on our list. But what is an HPFP?
HPFP is the high-pressure fuel pump, this is the secondary fuel pump that this engine has. The primary is in the gas tank and this HPFP is located in the engine bay.
What this fuel pump does is create enough fuel pressure so the direct injectors work properly.
Over long use and abuse, this pump can fail and cause problems. It can leak fuel into the crankcase increasing the oil level in the process, create noises, and trigger a check engine light.
The solution to the problem is to replace it with a new one. How it is done, you can check the video that we attached.
Now let’s continue with the next Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 engine problems.
4. Broken Injectors
Broken injectors are also pretty common on the 6.2 EcoTec3 engine and these injectors can cause a lot of running issues.
As we noted previously, the new 6.2 uses a direct injection system and this system uses special injectors that inject fuel at an extreme PSI of pressure.
And they tend to fail. Usually, they fail in two ways, they clog up, or they simply end up leaking fuel into the cylinder.
These situations can lead to a lean or rich state. And both of these air-to-fuel mixtures are bad for your engine’s performance.
There will be check engine light, engine misfires, rough engine work, high fuel consumption, and poor performance.
The solution is to replace the affected injectors with new ones or replace all of them if you can afford it.
5. Intake Manifold Leaks
The intake manifold is another very common failure point on these LS engines. This is a very common problem across all of the LS engines including the 6.2 EcoTec3 engine, as well as in the previous iterations of this engine.
What happens is that the gaskets for the intake manifold tend to fail and cause leaks to develop. These air leaks will make your air-to-fuel ratio very poor.
In this case, you might face a ton of symptoms like check engine light, poor fuel economy, rough engine work, stalling, difficulty starting, and so on.
Overall, this gasket has to go. You need to replace it with a new one and this will solve the problem.
The gasket itself is dirt cheap but the labor is demanding since there is a lot of stuff that has to be removed in order to get to the gasket itself.
Let’s move on to the last Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 engine problems.
6. Exhaust Manifold Leaks
The last problem on our list is the problem with the broken exhaust manifold bolts. So, what are exhaust manifold bolts, and why do they break?
Well, the exhaust manifolds are part of the exhaust system. These are the components that are bolted onto the engine.
The exhaust manifolds redirect the exhaust gasses to the catalytic converters and exhaust pipes.
What can happen on these engines, especially the truck version of the 6.2 is that the bolts that are holding these manifolds can break off.
When this situation happens, you will have an exhaust leak. This will create problems, the symptoms you will notice can be the check engine light, rough engine work, hissing or ticking sounds from the engine bay, poor fuel economy, smell of exhaust gasses into the cabin, and smoke from the engine bay.
The solution to this problem is to retread the bolt holes and replace the broken studs.
Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 Engine Reliability
The reliability of the 6.2 EcoTec3 is strong. Not as strong as the previous engine but still quite good considering the fact that this engine uses a ton of advanced technologies.
And these are basically the main causes of problems. Carbon buildup, problems with injectors and HPFP, also problems with the AFM system and collapsed lifters. All these issues are caused by these features that were added to the small block LS engine during the last 10 to 15 years.
The older engine had an excellent reliability record but the newer ones because of these additions simply have more problems.
That’s why you need to be aware of them and hopefully manage to avoid them in the process.
Conclusion
In this article, we covered quite a lot when it comes to the Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 engine. First, we learned some of the specs of this engine, as well as the applications of this engine. In other words, the models that have this engine.
In the second part of this article, we covered the common Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 engine problems and learned what troubles this engine the most. Overall, this engine has some issues like carbon buildup, problems with the injectors and HPFP, and also problems with the AFM system
But overall, it is a really good engine that has a good reliability score.
FAQ
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
What Are The Common Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 Engine Problems?
This engine has some issues, more compared to the previous generation of the 6.2 engine. The issues are mainly concerned with the direct injection system and the AFM. Specifically, there is a lot of carbon buildup because of the direct injection system. This carbon is collected mostly in the intake ports. There are also problems with the injectors, problems with the HPFP, as well as collapsed lifters and bent pushrods because of the AFM system. But overall, nothing too serious that could total out the engine.
Is The Chevy 6.2 EcoTec3 Engine Reliable?
This engine is very reliable, it is a truck engine primarily and it is designed to act as such. The engine also can create a lot of power and deliver this power pretty reliably. That’s why these engines are so wanted among car enthusiasts who want to tune their engines to deliver high amounts of power with some tweaks.
