can 13, 14, and 15 LFX engines be used in a 2012?
 

Simple question, are the 13, 14, and 15 LFX engines backward compatible with a 2012 camaro? I can't find a firm answer on this anywhere.

Yes, nothing should have changed from 2012-2015 with the LFX.

Yup

Absolutely

I hope this is the case but they have different part numbers. I drilled down and the 13-15 have a different valve spring part number and valve cover part number from the 12

That wouldn't make the engine non-compatible with a 2012 though. That could have just been a redesign, or a new manufacturer. But that's not an electronic part, or part that would prevent connecting the engine to an existing wiring harness.

What are you trying to accomplish? You made it just sound like you wanted to swap the engine out.

My 2012 LFX engine seized (still diagnosing the cause). I have it mated to the manual trans. I need to swap out to a used LFX. When I am looking up motors the used ones are specifying years 13-14 or 15, not all four (12-15) years. I am trying to determine why the used sites would be breaking it apart by the years. I have found that the LFX with the automatic trans is not compatible for all four years as something was changed in how it communicated with the transmission. Luckily I have the manual transmission and I believe this works with all four years.

I don't want to have a problem with the ECU communicating with the engine.

I did that swap in my 2012 last year...no issues

why in the hell are your LFX's blowing up? do I need to be concerned??

what year LFX motor did you swap too? Also, why did yours go bad?

I am still at a loss as to what happened to mine only 80K on the clock and I keep it up to date on all maintenance - The oil was low but not enough to cause failure. I am still investigating. of course I just paid it off and it is out of warranty :mad0259:

What happens when you try to start it? I know I damaged my engine a few years ago when I mis-shifted coming off the highway (was going to engine brake and caught 2nd instead of 4th and spun the engine way high, think I spun a few rod bearings, also managed to have it replaced under warranty) but the only reason it wouldn't actually start was because my battery died. Replaced my battery and it fired right up but would stall occasionally (and knocked, etc).

I saw your other post but only briefly looked at it. Besides the engine codes you listed, what symptoms did/do you have?

All the lights on the car still work so it isn't the battery (the battery is old but the electronics are all working no problem). So there was the knocking sound that I thought was the exhaust leak. I only heard it at certain RPMs. the car was running fine tho - felt slightly underpowered but no shaking for anything out of the normal. After a hard pull, the CELL flashed for about 4 -5 seconds indicating a misfire but then it went away. about 20 seconds I was slowing down and pulling into a parking lot and then it quietly and unceremoniously would shut off. I didn't even realize it had at first because it happened so gently. The engine would not turn over at that point. The starter tries but nothing happens. After trying to bump start it unsuccessfully I checked the oil and none was showing on the dipstick which was very strange because the car has zero leaks and has never burnt more than a quart of oil. I drained the oil a few days later after getting it towed back and there were still 3 quarts in it and I am guessing a bit more because it was really cold when I drained it and it was coming out very slowly. There were small metal flakes in the oil when I ran a magnet through it but it wasn't anything large like I would have expected. I never got a low oil engine warning light at any point.

The codes I pulled after the car died are as follows:

P0325 Knock Sensor 1 circuit bank 1 (Pending)
P0300 Multiple Random Misfire Detected (Pending)
P2270 Oxygen Sensor Signal Stuck Lean Bank 1 Sensor 2 (Confirmed)
P2097 Post Catalyst Fuel Trim System Too Rich Bank 1 (Confirmed)

I figured I would put them here too