Holden Commodore Engine Problems

Stretched timing chains are a problem on the V6 engine. On early engines they were being replaced as low as 50,000km, until a change to the chain in 2007 supposedly fixed the problem. I would be trying to get Holden to come up with at least part of the cost of the repairs, and I would be reviewing the extended warranty to fully understand what it covers and what it doesn't.

If you have been servicing your car regularly, changing the oil and oil filter, you shouldn't have too much sludge to deal with and I would use one of the additives available for the purpose at your local automotive store. Change the oil and filter at the same time as you put the additive in, then change the oil and filter again after a week or so of driving.

The system is designed such that the car starts on petrol and automatically switches over the LPG once the engine has warmed up. From your description it would seem that it is not starting on petrol, but trying to start on LPG. I would suggest the cold-start electronics are faulty. I would also suggest that you take it to an IMPCO dealer. IMPCO is the company that designed and developed the system for Holden and they should be able to sort it out. Go to http://www.impco.com.au to find your nearest dealer.

Overall the Commodore is a decent car, but the V6 does have a few problems that can show up over the longer term. The cam timing chain does stretch, which affects the valve timing, and the engine can run roughly as a result. Replacing the chain is quite expensive. It can also use oil, so check to see if there have been any oil consumption issues with the car you are looking to buy.

Towing is all about torque, not power, as you want bottom-end grunt for the extra weight on the back. It's often the same with overtaking, so performance is not just about kilowatts. A turbodiesel will always beat a petrol engine for that pulling power.

 They are renowned for having problems with the coils, so check those and replace them if needed. I would also clean the throttle body and put some injector cleaner in the fuel.

Yes, you can run it on E10. If you are concerned, run it on premium unleaded on one on four fills. Like all cars the VE is not immune from problems, but the one I would be watching ids the oil consumption. Some engines use oil, others don't use as much. The best practice is to check the oil weekly to see what it is actually using.

The cold-start rattle seems to be something that Holden V8 owners must accept as part and parcel of the engine.

While oils are better now than they once were, so to are the demands placed on them. Regular oil changes are wise to keep your car ticking over at it should, don't hesitate to do the servicing.

Holden has an obligation to fix your car if it has a problem, and while you might disagree it would seem that they have attempted to fix it. They fitted a short motor, then offered to fit another one, and they have done an oil consumption test to determine if it does have an oil consumption issue. Most Holden V6s do have an issue with oil consumption, so I wouldn't be surprised if yours does as well, but it comes down to how much oil it uses as to whether it has a problem. If you doubt the results of the oil consumption tests, do your own.