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Top issues
16 known problems · 2 high
high
Lower intake-manifold (LIM) gasket failure
3.8L Ecotec V6 (L36)
high
Timing-chain stretch (early VZ)
3.6L Alloytec V6 (LY7)
medium
Rust - rear window/cab seam, tailgate and chassis (coastal)
All engines
At this odometer
See which of this car's known problems are due at that mileage, which should already have been dealt with, and what's coming up.
Generations
Price (AUD)
$5k-$30k (SS V8 and clean Crewman/Cross examples at the top)
Body styles
Single Cab (coupe utility / styleside), Cab Chassis (One Tonner), Dual Cab (Crewman crew cab, from 2003)
Drivetrain
RWD, AWD (Crewman Cross 6 / Cross 8, 2004-2006)
Origin
Australia
Built in
Australia
Overview
The VU (2000-2002) launched the modern Commodore ute on the long-wheelbase platform; the VY (2002-2004) refreshed the styling and electrics; the VZ (2004-2007) brought the all-new Alloytec V6 and, late in the run, the 6.0L Gen IV V8. The body line-up grew from the single-cab ute to the One Tonner cab-chassis and the Crewman dual-cab from 2003, plus the AWD Crewman Cross 6/Cross 8 (2004-2006). Engine choice drives everything here. The old pushrod Ecotec 3.8 V6 (VU/VY) is simple and cheap but suffers the well-known plastic intake-manifold gasket failure. The Gen III 5.7 LS1 V8 is the hero engine - strong and tuneable - but early (pre-VY II) blocks are known for cold-start piston slap. The VZ's Alloytec 3.6 V6 is more powerful and modern but carries a poor reputation for early timing-chain stretch, oil consumption and an undersized PCV system. The brief VZ 6.0 L98 V8 is the pick of the petrols. These are car-based utes, not 4WDs (the Cross AWD aside), so tow ratings are modest - typically 1600kg, up to 2100kg (V6 auto Crewman/One Tonner) and 2500kg (V8 auto Crewman/One Tonner). Rust, tired suspension and ageing electrics are now the main condition concerns.
Engines & variants
3.8L Ecotec V6 (L36)
Engine
Ecotec 3.8L OHV pushrod V6 (VU/VY only)
Engine code
Config
V6 NA
Displacement
3791cc
Power
152kW @ 5200rpm
Torque
305Nm @ 3600rpm
Drivetrain
RWD
0–100
~9.0s
Economy
11-13 L/100km combined
Tow (braked)
1600kg (2100kg V6 auto Crewman/One Tonner)
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5MT, 4AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Gear-driven (no belt/chain) - very robust bottom-end timing
Pros
- Simple, cheap, mechanically tough pushrod six
- Cheapest VU/VY ute to buy and run
- Huge parts availability and easy DIY
- Gear-driven timing - nothing to snap
Cons
- Plastic lower intake-manifold gaskets are a known failure point
- Modest power and tow rating for the size
- Less desirable than the V8 - lower resale
- Coarse and thirsty for its output by modern standards
Known problems
high
Lower intake-manifold (LIM) gasket failure
The factory plastic lower intake-manifold gaskets warp and crack with heat and age, allowing coolant and oil to mix. Symptoms: unexplained coolant loss, milky oil, overheating, rough running. Left unchecked it can lead to engine damage.
Fix: Replace with upgraded steel/metal-reinforced gasket kit (Mace, Havoc and similar). Address at first sign of coolant loss; flush cooling system.
medium
Coolant elbows / plastic fittings cracking
Plastic coolant elbows and fittings on the Ecotec become brittle and crack with age, causing coolant leaks and overheating.
Fix: Replace brittle plastic elbows with metal aftermarket items; refresh hoses at the same time.
low
Worn engine and gearbox mounts / oil leaks
At age and mileage these engines weep from rocker covers and develop tired mounts causing vibration.
Fix: Reseal rocker covers; replace engine/trans mounts. Straightforward DIY.
5.7L Gen III V8 (LS1)
Engine
5.7L OHV alloy V8 (SS / S V8 and Crewman/One Tonner V8)
Engine code
Config
V8 NA
Displacement
5665cc
Power
225-235kW (250kW in some late VZ tunes)
Torque
460-470Nm
Drivetrain
RWD (AWD on Crewman Cross 8)
0–100
~6.5s
Economy
14-16 L/100km combined (18+ city)
Tow (braked)
1600kg (2500kg V8 auto Crewman/One Tonner)
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
6MT, 4AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven (single short timing chain) - robust
Pros
- Strong, characterful and hugely tuneable alloy V8
- Robust chain-driven timing and bottom end
- Massive aftermarket and parts support
- The hero engine - best driving experience and best resale
- Available in the AWD Crewman Cross 8
Cons
- Early (pre-VY II) blocks known for cold-start piston slap
- Thirsty - 14-16+ L/100km
- Lifter tick is common with age
- SS/V8 examples often modified or hard-driven - check history
Known problems
medium
Cold-start piston slap (early blocks)
Early Gen III LS1 blocks (notably pre-VY Series II, roughly before mid-2003) suffer piston-to-bore clearance noise - a diesel-like rattle on cold start that quiets as it warms. Holden added a 'piston slap' ignition table to mask it. Usually cosmetic/noise, but pronounced cases indicate bore/piston wear.
Fix: Verify it disappears when warm and that oil consumption is acceptable. Later (revised piston) blocks are largely free of it. Severe cases need a short-motor rebuild.
medium
Oil consumption / lifter tick
Valve-stem seals and rings wear at higher km causing oil use and exhaust haze; hydraulic lifters can tick, especially on neglected oil-change intervals.
Fix: Keep to fresh oil; replace valve seals if smoking; lifter/cam replacement if persistent tick. Check oil level habitually.
medium
Modified / abused engine risk
V8 utes attract performance mods and hard use - dodgy tunes, worn clutches and tired diffs are common on SS examples.
Fix: Pre-purchase inspection, scan for tune, check service history and clutch/diff condition; favour stock, documented cars.
3.6L Alloytec V6 (LY7)
Engine
Alloytec 3.6L DOHC quad-cam V6 (VZ only)
Engine code
Config
V6 NA
Displacement
3564cc
Power
175kW @ 6000rpm
Torque
320-340Nm @ 2800rpm
Drivetrain
RWD (AWD on Crewman Cross 6)
0–100
~8.5s
Economy
11-13 L/100km combined
Tow (braked)
1600kg (2100kg V6 auto Crewman/One Tonner)
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
5MT, 6MT, 4AT, 5AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven (multiple chains) - early chains prone to stretch
Pros
- Much more power and a modern DOHC feel than the old Ecotec
- Smoother and quieter than the pushrod six
- Available with the AWD Crewman Cross 6
- Plentiful and affordable used
Cons
- Early timing chains prone to stretch (rattle on start, chain-related faults)
- Undersized factory PCV can drive oil consumption / sludging
- Complex quad-cam design - dearer to repair than the Ecotec
- Very sensitive to oil quality and on-time servicing
Known problems
high
Timing-chain stretch (early VZ)
Some early Alloytec timing chains were not made to spec and elongate, sometimes very early in life. Symptoms: chain rattle on start-up, timing-related fault codes, rough running. Holden introduced a revised 7.7mm inverted-tooth chain in January 2006.
Fix: Replace stretched chains, guides and tensioners with updated parts; verify the engine has had the later chain or has documented replacement.
medium
Oil consumption / PCV sludging
An undersized factory crankcase-ventilation (PCV) system and poor servicing lead to oil consumption (some examples reported around 1L per 1000km) and sludge build-up.
Fix: Use correct spec oil and shorter intervals; clean/upgrade PCV; check oil level frequently. Avoid examples with poor service history.
low
Rear-of-block / coolant weeps
Alloytec engines can develop coolant weeps (including from the rear of the block area) and perished hose/gasket leaks with age.
Fix: Pressure-test cooling system; reseal/replace affected gaskets and hoses.
6.0L Gen IV V8 (L98)
Engine
6.0L OHV alloy V8 with Active Fuel Management hardware (late VZ SS)
Engine code
Config
V8 NA
Displacement
5967cc
Power
260kW @ 5600rpm
Torque
510Nm @ 4400rpm
Drivetrain
RWD
0–100
~6.0s
Economy
14-16 L/100km combined (18+ city)
Tow (braked)
1600kg (2500kg V8 auto Crewman/One Tonner)
Tow (unbraked)
750kg
Transmission
6MT, 4AT
Timing chain / belt / gear
Chain-driven (single short timing chain) - robust
Pros
- The pick of the petrols - strong, torquey and refined
- Larger, later-design block free of the early LS1 piston-slap reputation
- Excellent tuning potential and aftermarket support
- Best-performing and most sought-after VZ ute
Cons
- Thirsty big V8
- Only available very late in the VZ run - fewer examples
- Premium pricing for clean cars
- Often modified - check history
Known problems
medium
Lifter tick / valvetrain wear
Like other Gen IV V8s, hydraulic lifters can tick at higher km, particularly with extended oil intervals; AFM-era hardware adds complexity over the LS1.
Fix: Maintain oil quality/intervals; replace lifters and inspect cam lobes if persistent.
low
Oil consumption at higher km
Valve-stem seals and rings can allow some oil use at high mileage causing light exhaust haze.
Fix: Replace valve seals if smoking; monitor oil level; compression/leak-down test pre-purchase.