[NickD]

Major cause of aluminum head failure is over heating, porosity is rare, but what is the real problem? Loose head bolt? Never know until you look, and the head has to be removed first to do this.

New head runs about $500.00, head gasket $13.00, head bolts, $35.00, shop manual says 12 hours for labor, well under $3,800.00. While crushing unibodies are great for passenger protection, not good for repairs, plenty of low mileage engines on the market in the $500.00 range. Easier to replace it than attempt to repair it inside of the hood. Just some alternative if all else fails.

One of my kids let an overhead cam aluminum head engine overheat, was repairable, heliarc the crack, did a valve job while I was at it, little extra, had to remove the timing belt first, but a simple four cylinder, with a new water pump, head gasket, bolts, was less than $80.00 and a pleasant way to spend a Saturday. Told her to keep a closer eye on that temperature gauge.

Another alternative, but if porosity, signs of a poor casting, would feel GM should do a goodwill thing. Block should have a good flush, coolant and oil do not mix very well.

 

[NickD]

Another factor that should be considered with warranty is time and the high cost of fuel, sure is not tax deductible for going to school or work and the parking spaces are very tight making a compact vehicle desirable with only one person in the vehicle.

Back then, vehicles were far more versatile, gas was cheap, could pack the family in there, carry eight bikes on it, and even pull a huge 20 foot boat. Couldn't even figure out how to put a kayak on top of this thing, no tow hooks and only weak plastic, so used other vehicles for this.

So instead of averaging for 35K miles a year, with our Cruze dropped down to 9K miles per year, 27K miles is when the 36 month warranty went out, dealer even laughed, 45K is when the 60 month warranty died.

You would think with only 72K miles on yours, way short of that 100K with like the problems you are having, would be at least a little merciful.