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As these GM High Feature V6 engines age, many have been subject to timing change stretch issues. To prevent this from happening altogether, you need to diligently keep up on the maintenance on these engines. Here are some tips and tricks to keep your engine happy and healthy well past 200k miles.

The early High Feature V6's had a very restrictive PCV valve (more like an orifice) that caused the rear valve cover and valvetrain underneath to build up immensely with sludge. Around 2014-ish, the factory began enlarging the holes in the PCV valves of the 3.6's. So by drilling out the holes of the PCV to the larger sizes the factory has since done, you reduce the restriction, thus the chance of sludge buildup on the top side of the engine.

The owner's manual specifies synthetic oil be used in this engine (the newer 3.6's require DEXOS approved oil.) The reason for using a high quality synthetic and changing it often is twofold. 1. The timing chain tensioners on this engine are notoriously fickle. If you continue to neglect changing your oil, the oil passages in said tensioners clog up and eventually cause the timing chains to stretch and jump timing. Using inferior dino oil has the same effect. 2. The very fact that it's a Direct Injected engine causes the natural blow-by of crankcase vapors to collect on the intake valves and turn to hard carbon deposits. Since the fuel injector now sprays fuel directly into the cylinder rather than at the back side of the intake valve, there is no "washing" effect to clean off said deposits. Using a high-quality DEXOS synthetic reduces blow-by, thus carbon buildup. This leads to why I recommend installing a catch can.

Bottom line, these engines aren't like the older GM pushrod designs, where you could neglect them for 20, 30k without consequence. These require much more attention and more rigorous maintenance to keep them happy.


How do I know if my car has a High Feature engine? From Wikipedia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_High...

YouTuber "WatchJRGo" did a series on a 2011 Camaro with a sludged-up 3.6 LLT in which he had a service performed called "BG Products Dynamic Engine Cleaner." What they do is run chemicals through the fuel system, induction system, and engine oil to clean out the sludge inside the engine, the fuel injectors, and the carboned-up intake valves:
   • FIXING The UNFIXABLE Engine In My CHE...  
   • ENGINE TIME MACHINE: Cleaning Years O...  
   • My CHEAP Camaro ENGINE Looks BRAND NE...  
   • The 3 DAY Timing Chain Job On My CHEA...  

Catch Can:
https://www.amazon.com/Sporacingrts-C...

Catch Can install video:
   • 2012-2016 Impala/Limited (9th Gen) 3....  

Clean side separator install video:
   • GM 3.6 Liter V6 High-Feature Engine C...  

Link to the PCV mod:
   • 3.6L LLT PCV Valve Breather Mod - Oil...  

BG EPR Engine Flush video:
   • BG "Engine Performance Restoration" M...  


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#LFX #GM3.6V6 #Impala #3.6 #HFV6 #Camaro #CTS #3.6V6 #GM3.6