So i just bought a 98 Z24 last week for a back up car. I should have none not to buy this car because of the reliable 2.4 it has under the hood. My sister has had to replace hers. So drove it around the past 3 days it was fine. Today im getting on the highway and all the sudden the car isn't shifting gears so i let of the gas and so if it would correct its self and it did. I got off the next exit and im driving the car and it was not accelerating like it should. So first though was great the tranny just blew. so i call the garage i deal with thats down the road from where i am and get the car there. I got about 3 miles from there and the oil light comes on.The motor was making a ticking sound no the loud knocking sound my sisters was making when she blew hers. So im thinking the oil pump @!#$ the bed.

Im sorry but ill take the slow as @!#$ 2200 motor over a 2.4L motor any day. My 2.2 never gave me a single issue with over 200k.

my cav went 135k with nothing but regular maintenance and the few things that are known to break.. timing set and water pump just before 100k.. plastic water outlet around 110k.. and it had (or has) more in it.. but the car is wrecked so eh.


Have a nice day.

I cant compare the cavaliers I had Both 98s both same miles and the 2.2 was a better motor in every way other then the power. The Z24 has a very clean body no rust at all. So if it does need a motor im prob going to so a motor swap to something else. A 2200 motor or a 2.2 eco, I will not put another 2.4 in there.

gooooood luck with that. the 2.4 can be very reliable if it is taken care of. there is no reason it would die/blow up/shell out whatever happened to it.. I drove my cav daily to and from work and on 1000 mile trips. keep em cool, keep oil in them.. and they go.


Have a nice day.

My 2.4 has been great, 175k mi sees redline everyday and abuse from the previous(s) owners but the Isuzu blew. =(

However our 2.2 also is super reliable it developed a head gasket leak and has been running around overheating for the past 3 months and just won't die.

The Z24 i just bought a week ago so i don't know how its been treated. It has 174K on it. I did not beat on it at all because i new the motors are a hit or miss and with my luck i would get a bad one and i did. My sisters motor blew the bottom end. They think mine lost the oil pump. I will find out tomorrow when the garage puts a oil pressure test on it. When we were trying to find a motor for my sisters car every junkyard we called told us good luck trying to find a good one,

Mine has 273,000 miles, original everything but water pump, which i replaced the tign set to while i was in there at 230,000. I ran water through the system for 2 weeks, which prolly caused the pump to start leaking.

my z24 ran with no problems for the 2 years i had it and i didnt take it easy on it. just did regular maintenance on it.

I found out last night the motor is no good. threw a rod bearing.

I'll say this I love my 2.4l!!! How can you beat the torque monsters that they are? And Jordans rigt, keep oil in them and keep em cool. Also don't go above 5800 rpm in some. There are rare engines that love 6500rpm and don't complain. Had one but sold the car and they timed it wrong. But I've never had issues really. Previous engine had spun #3 rod bearing and still saw 6500 rpm everyday and is still intact in my garage. Still had full range of power and was quick while knocking. Surprise surprise. Ld9 for life I'll always be

The car is now back on the road. The new motor has 64K on it before i put it in i put new plugs and thermostat in it. I was having a issue with the car running hot and the coolant not going threw the motor like it should. I took it to the chevy dealer and they told me the Metal line the runs under the motor that hold the thermostat is smashed. Car now has been running great and running around 195 to 200 temp wise. I did order the new pipe should be in tomorrow. I plan on keeping the car till march then selling it.

the 2.4 is fun until it blows, as an aside i have a full turbo kit for it if you are looking

haha no im not going to turbo this car. Ill let the next owner worry about that. Car has been on the road for a little over a month now and its been doing good. Put over 1000 miles on it with no issues. Not to hot on gas but oh well. Still plan on selling it in a month or so.