The Elio Engine

[Hotscoots]

Aluminum heads have many advantages and one 600 lb Gorilla of a weakness . If your engine overheats , expect to change the head gasket . I don;t know enough about the Elio engine to concern myself with this type of repair .....But if they borrowed a chapter from Cadillac and used expandable TTY studs instead of bolts , we are in for some fun . Quick story ...
Son buys a MINT 2001 STS for $3000 from a dealer . Overheating problems ensue . Spends $600 on various cooling system components .
Turns out to be blow head gasket . Mechanic A says " I will not even attempt a repair . " Mechanic B says " $4700 to fix " Dad researches some fixes online and uses a 2 part polymer additive in a complex procedure . Seems like a decent temporary fix for under $200 . Son sells car for $2000 with full disclosure of head gasket issue . Friendly warning ....NEVER buy any vehicle with a NorthStar engine . EVER

 

[Coss]

Aluminum heads have many advantages and one 600 lb Gorilla of a weakness . If your engine overheats , expect to change the head gasket . I don;t know enough about the Elio engine to concern myself with this type of repair .....But if they borrowed a chapter from Cadillac and used expandable TTY studs instead of bolts , we are in for some fun . Quick story ...
Son buys a MINT 2001 STS for $3000 from a dealer . Overheating problems ensue . Spends $600 on various cooling system components .
Turns out to be blow head gasket . Mechanic A says " I will not even attempt a repair . " Mechanic B says " $4700 to fix " Dad researches some fixes online and uses a 2 part polymer additive in a complex procedure . Seems like a decent temporary fix for under $200 . Son sells car for $2000 with full disclosure of head gasket issue . Friendly warning ....NEVER buy any vehicle with a NorthStar engine . EVER

Just on a side note; the Elio engine and the NorthStar is like comparing Apples to Gorillas. The NorthStar is a highly complexed engine that's also extremely difficult to work on in the car, so the entire driveline is usually removed to make doing big jobs a lot easier. The Elio is like a go-kart engine compared to it. I really don't think doing repairs on it is going to be difficult at all. Besides, it comes with a full warranty for the first 3 years; you have any kind of problem, let them take care of it. After three years it's a coin toss; fix it, or buy a new Elio.

 

[Hotscoots]

Just on a side note; the Elio engine and the NorthStar is like comparing Apples to Gorillas. .

All true ...However the mitigating issue is the head studs . I have no idea whats under the Elio valve cover . If they use similar studs , the job will be relatively expensive . Naturally not like the 8 cylinder NorthStar but stupid dollars nonetheless . As you stated , it should not be an issue until the Elio is out of warranty . And honestly , for $6800 ...Who cares ?

 

[Coss]

All true ...However the mitigating issue is the head studs . I have no idea whats under the Elio valve cover . If they use similar studs , the job will be relatively expensive . Naturally not like the 8 cylinder NorthStar but stupid dollars nonetheless . As you stated , it should not be an issue until the Elio is out of warranty . And honestly , for $6800 ...Who cares ?

That might be a good topic: What do you think your Elio will be worth after three / five / ten years?

 

[Grumpy Cat]

That might be a good topic: What do you think your Elio will be worth after three / five / ten years?

If I'm still working where I'm at in 5 years, I'll be amazed if mine is still running (40k miles a year).

 

[Sethodine]

That might be a good topic: What do you think your Elio will be worth after three / five / ten years?

Considering 90's Geo Metros are still worth their weight in Dollars, I expect the Elio will not depreciate at much as other new cars. Consider this: a used car's pricing becomes more about functionality than value-of-components. I anticipate a used Elio will be worth about the same as similar Used cars.

 

[skygazer6033]

Hotscoots --- I believe you're mistaken regarding the Northstar. Although admittedly it is a POS the problem is the fact that the Northstar uses fine thread head bolts. After a few years corrosion eats away at the theads in the block and the bolts pull out. One of the fixes is to install oversize studs. The other fix is to install "timesert" threaded steel inserts in the block. Both fixes require a lot precision boring and rethreading of the block. Neither is economically feasible. 4.7 to 5.0K is about right.

 

[skygazer6033]

By the way I own a Northstar Cadillac and I've learned far more on the subject than I ever wanted too.

 

[AriLea]

Considering 90's Geo Metros are still worth their weight in Dollars, I expect the Elio will not depreciate at much as other new cars. Consider this: a used car's pricing becomes more about functionality than value-of-components. I anticipate a used Elio will be worth about the same as similar Used cars.

Actually, there for a while a same year caddy was worth a lot less than the used geo metro. Gas prices and reliability vary the results. Very used Honda's and Toyota's hold value in the sedan segment above other 'very used' cars.
If it's reliable enough, I think the Elio will retain value very very well. But given they started at only $7k with only 2 seats, a used one will still cost less than a Honda in the same year.
I think people will take the Elio for granted, doing all kinds of experiments, art and hammering them. With supply so low and demand high, there will be a super good retention of value for ones in good shape. Used parts will be even cheaper.
But we're all guessing at the supply/demand ratios, of course.

 

[Hotscoots]

Hotscoots --- I believe you're mistaken regarding the Northstar. Although admittedly it is a POS the problem is the fact that the Northstar uses fine thread head bolts. After a few years corrosion eats away at the theads in the block and the bolts pull out. One of the fixes is to install oversize studs. The other fix is to install "timesert" threaded steel inserts in the block. Both fixes require a lot precision boring and rethreading of the block. Neither is economically feasible. 4.7 to 5.0K is about right.

The stock NorthStar uses single-use, torque-to-yield head bolts ( TTY) to secure the head . Once tightened, they permanently stretch. Overheating , even once stretches the head bolts further than they were meant to . They don't shrink back to size when the heads contract. That causes the head to sit loose on the block and the head gasket to blow. Since they are not conventional and, in the interest of brevity , I called them studs. The fix you mentioned is exactly how Cadillac should have designed this exotic engine in the 1st place.