2015-2016 Regal GS AWD Question?

Discussion in 'The Bench' started by Eric, Feb 19, 2018.

  1. Eric

    Eric Founders Club Member

    Back in 2011 Purchased a new top of the line Subaru Forester for the wife and have had zero problems with it... Thinking possibly purchasing a 2015 2016 Buick Regal GS all wheel drive. Any experiences or thoughts on this car a 2015-2016 Regal GS AWD?
    I drove a 2017 and it was much more powerful than the Subaru and quieter and smoother also but reliability is important too. Like the styling and design better than the 2018 v6 GS and don't want to get killed on a new cars pricing!
    Eric/ Oregon
     
    Last edited: Feb 23, 2018
  2. DauntlessSB92

    DauntlessSB92 Addicted to Buick

    I owned a 2014 GS AWD. I liked the car but it had a few problems. The biggest of which was a potential for piston ringland failure, my engine let go at 55,000 miles. It has supposedly been fixed for the 2016 and newer model years. The other issue is thr Haldex AWD system, as the car gets past 50,000 miles it is common for the AWD oil pump to fail. If you get an extended warranty then you should have no worries. Just don't make the mistake of tuning the car like I did :D

    I am not a huge fan of the styling for the 2018 GS, but it does have a lot of features the previous generation was missing and the hatchback makes it surprisingly practical. I also feel the 3.6 will be much more reliable in the long run.

    If you can find one, I am sure dealer lot 2017s are being sold at a deep discount
     
  3. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    The pistons in all the model lines with that ltg motor are all sharing the same fate. Seems to be a when issue not an if.

    Gm claims it's a preigintion is ue that cause's damage to the pistons. There are several tsb in which they also do some computer work which is supposed to fix it........time will tell

    Aftermarket pistons run about 800 for forged 2618 parts.

    https://zzperformance.com/ats/je-forged-ltg-pistons.html
     
  4. DEADMANSCURVE

    DEADMANSCURVE my first word : truck

    I have been looking over used car options to replace Camry . One choice was a nice looking 2013 regal Turbo-4 fwd . And seems to be a healthy amount of those for sale . Same piston concern or dif than a GS ? Would I sleep better with the v6 motor ?
    I'm more familiar with , and more comfortable with , the 3.8 stuff . And have been looking over low mileage 2001-2005 lesabre's . But the size of the regal would be a better fit for the wife probably .
    She said "totally my decision" ---------- sure !
     
  5. DugsSin

    DugsSin Well-Known Member

    The Subaru Touring models are much quieter & more refined than previous models. 2018 Outback Touring 3.6 and loving it. Just FYI.
     
  6. rgs455

    rgs455 Well-Known Member

    I understand GM has a customer sat. program, #14591, where the dealer installs different plugs and re-maps the fuel curve to eliminate detonation.
     
  7. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    From my understanding the piston issue is in the turbo ltg motors
     
  8. DauntlessSB92

    DauntlessSB92 Addicted to Buick

    2013 and older Regals have the LHU engine, no reported issues with piston ringland failure and have been shown to be fairly reliable even when tuned and upgraded. The turbo Regal will have less HP than the GS for the 2011-2013 model years but a tune would net more than 50hp safely.

    The customer satisfaction program was issued for 2013 and 2014 cars, but in 2015 even after that program was already incorporated on the production line there were still reports of failures.

    I had thought it was fixed after 2016 though because LTG camaro guys are making good power with no failures.

    After having to pay out of my own pocket for a replacement engine on a CPO car with a warranty I have done quite a bit of research on the matter :(
     
  9. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    Maybe by 2016 gm got it fixed. I can't believe this didn't happen on any of gms testing before releasing to the public
     
  10. 36racin

    36racin Platinum Level Contributor

    DauntlessSB92 likes this.
  11. DauntlessSB92

    DauntlessSB92 Addicted to Buick

    http://www.cadillacforums.com/forum...pistons-roll-call.html#/topics/613529?page=53

    That thread has a lot of good info. After skimming through it I remember that the prevailing theory is the ring gap being too small. This causes the rings to butt together and force apart the ringland, cracking it.

    This would also explain how GM has quietly addressed the issue without replacing pistons and why they haven't issued a larger scale tsb. From what I went through on my car, the current TSB just states to inspect for damage and then replace the pistons if the car fails a compression test.

    thmb_20170114_075034_1484_1484398249915.jpg
     
  12. rgs455

    rgs455 Well-Known Member

    "This would also explain how GM has quietly addressed the issue without replacing pistons and why they haven't issued a larger scale tsb. From what I went through on my car, the current TSB just states to inspect for damage and then replace the pistons if the car fails a compression test."

    Probably TSB 16-NA-241. http://www.revbase.com/BBBMotor/TSb/DownloadPdf?id=195866

    I was also told Dexos1 Gen 2 oil is highly recommended as it contains additional properties that eliminate low speed detonation
     
  13. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    Wow by that it seems like a lot of engines might gave issues.....
     
  14. 36racin

    36racin Platinum Level Contributor

    All those types of engines have the piston issue...
     
  15. 36racin

    36racin Platinum Level Contributor

    Here's the picture of my piston. And they said it did NO damage to the cylinder. Yeah right :eek::eek::eek:
     

    Attached Files:

  16. Bens99gtp

    Bens99gtp Well-Known Member

    Yeah not buying that one either
     
  17. sriley531

    sriley531 Excommunicado

    Greeeeaaaat, my wife's Malibu is a 2.0t car. :(:mad::eek: Somehow I had not heard of this till now.
     
  18. Mike B in SC

    Mike B in SC Well-Known Member

    Yikes! Maybe Buick should STOP building performance cars...
     
  19. Mark Demko

    Mark Demko Well-Known Member

    Put a Buick 350 in it
     
    DauntlessSB92 likes this.
  20. DauntlessSB92

    DauntlessSB92 Addicted to Buick

Share This Page