Question for the 4cyl owners

Is it just me or do they all have that chatter in the motor? Is there anyway to cure this? Also, I've noticed that the exhaust pipe from the header to the cat tends to break alot right (hair line fracture of the weld) where it bolts up to the motor. Any way to stop this?

to stop the hair line fracture be sure the the springs for the flange clamp are new and make sure you have a little bit of play for the pipe to move under acceleration, the chatter ( knock ) in the motor maybe lose or worn rocker arms from high mileage
you could use feeler guages to get the right gap on them but if it has high mileage it wouldn't be a wise thing to do

Shoot it's chattered from 50K miles when I bought it. I've noticed alot of other 4cyl S10's do the same. Just thought it was funny. I figured it was something like that, but i'm at 160K now so I'm not too worried about it. Far as the pipe goes. I install it just like it's suppose to be. My friend has the same problem. I notice that the dealer wants more and more for the pipe every year too. This year I'm going to weld the flange back together and grind it flat and see how long it lasts. Figure it's work a try.

Anyone know the average life of the 4 bangers? 300k?

I have 107,000 and its still running strong. hope i get another 200k out of it. only major engine thing ive done is the valve cover gasket. The engines are a little noisy. but the manual trannys seem to be even louder.

I had a water pump, alternator and belt tensioner go out before I hit 60k. I'm at 160k right now and I need to change the water pump again. (Noticed water in the weep hole when I was changing the oil.) But everything else is still running good. Oh.. I have an Auto trans BTW. Been having issues shifting from first to second when the fluid gets hot or dirty. Installed after market radiator for it along with the one in the radiator and it helped. South Texas summer heat is a bitch on any car or truck.

I had a 1987 S10 with a 2.5L 4 banger and the motor had to be replaced. I think I had 60,000 to 80,000 kms on it when I bought the truck and I also bought an extended warranty from the dealership. A couple months after I bought the truck I noticed it was making noises that I could hear from about 30-50 ft away. I took the truck back to the dealer and I got a re-conditioned motor from GM put in ... under warranty. I got a new motor, drove a loaner car for 2 months (engine was back-ordered) all for $50.00 deductable payment.

I was told that the bottom end of the 4 bangers were not the strongest. I now stay away from the chevy 4 banger motors.

Take Care of your routine maintainance and you will have no problems. My waterpump went out back at 100,000 but thats an easy and cheap fix. And it was due time. Ive always ran synthetic oil and never had any motor problems.

My 1993 2.5L 4-banger seems to still be going strong after 260,000km.

My son has a 96 s-10 4 cyl and it used to chatter like hell until we replaced the timing chain tensioner.

now it looks like an engine replacement because its chattering and KNOCKING for real now. i heard the bottom ends and cranks are bad to go out on these trucks...

I'm glad there's nothing wrong with the 6 cyls. :D

the rattling noise is the throwout bearing on the engaging arm. mine did it from brand new and after talking to some of my buddies that work for chevy dealerships and taking it in just to have the complaint on record, i was told that its completely harmless and there isnt anything you can do about it. i have an 02 2.2 5sp and ive got 68k and only had the airpump suck some water one too many times and burnt it up. took it in under my extended warranty and got em to replace it. ANYWAY, nothing to worry about with that noise, as long as its the same noise im talking about. it goes away if you push the clutch in im assuming.