Following a series of lawsuits, investigations, and engine replacements, GM issued a safety recall for certain full-size trucks and SUVs affected by an issue with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine. The problem involves loss of propulsion and, in some cases, complete engine failure. If a recalled model passes an inspection, techs are instructed to perform an oil change, but not with the oil viscosity originally recommended for these engines.
The recommended oil in the owner’s manual is 0W-20, but the recall calls for an oil change using 0W-40. Specifically, it requires a licensed dexosR brand such as Mobil 1 Supercar. This is the same oil used in the C8 Corvette Z06, formulated for high-revving, high-output engines in performance cars. It ensures flow during cold starts, high-temperature protection, and enhanced friction control, making it suitable for both road and track use in performance cars.
However, it doesn’t have to have the Mobil 1 Supercar branding. It can be any 0W-40 oil with the dexosR specification, which includes oils with Mobil 1, Mobil 1 FS, and Mobil 1 ESP X4 branding.
GM believes this oil will help prevent the problems identified with the L87 engine in 2021-2024 trucks and SUVs. The recall also calls for the engine oil cap to be replaced to reflect the new recommended viscosity.
Notably, the recall does not impact the 2025 model year. Per a statement from GM: “A series of crankshaft and connecting rod manufacturing improvements implemented on or before June 1st, 2024, addressed contamination and quality issues. Model-year 2025 vehicles were built after these improvements and are not included in the recall.” For that reason, owners of 2025 model-year GM trucks and SUVs with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine can continue using 0W-20 dexos1 Gen 3 oil.
The recall also doesn’t apply to 2019 and 2020 model-year vehicles, as GM’s investigation found that the rate 6.2L L87 engine failures in those units wasn’t as high.
The problem with the 6.2L V8 L87 is related to connecting rod and crankshaft components with unspecified manufacturing defects. The recall applies to the Chevy Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, Chevy Tahoe/Suburban, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV, but again, only from the 2021-2024 model years.
In a nutshell, here are the engines that need new oil viscosity, and those that don’t:
- 2019 and 2020 model years: 0W-20 (no change)
- 2021 to 2024 model years with non-replaced engines that passed inspection: 0W-40
- 2021 to 2024 model years with replacement engines manufactured before June 1st, 2024 that passed inspection: 0W-40
- 2021 to 2024 model years with replacement engines manufactured after June 1st, 2024: 0W-20
- 2025 model year: 0W-20 (no change)
Comments
The engine in my 2022 was replaced last fall.
My question to gm is how do I determine the engine’s exact date of manufacture? All that I was told by the dealer was that “the engine came right off of the engine assembly line”.
You can take it to the bank that gm will fight to death to void any warrantee!
Montana Bob
They cannot because they are legally obliged to fix the issue, or you better sue them and threaten and then they will fix….
look on rear of drivers side engine head for a sticker. “24183” would be 183rd day of 2024.
It appears that they do not have a clue. I just love the statement “The recall also doesn’t apply to 2019 and 2020 model-year vehicles, as GM’s investigation found that the rate 6.2L L87 engine failures in those units wasn’t as high.”
I’ll be using Mobil 1 supercar 0W40 in my non-recalled 21 Escalade that just went out of warranty.
Thanks for the warning.
I think it is also a QC issue.
The reason I am saying this as I have read of high mileage L87 owners who haven’t had issues, and most of those were MY19 and MY20 years. A few MY21s as well, but not a lot.
I know one rod bearing case at 200k miles for an MY19, but at high mileage it seems progressively rarer, UNLESS IT was in the recalled date range.
That said, something happened (after the bad lifter batch) that accelerated failures in these engines…most likely a poor QC supplier. The fact that THREE INVESTIGATIONS were opened shows that they REALLY were struggling to find the root cause, and they SHOULD HAVE STOP SALED them earlier which would have started the process earlier. Anyways, the management is to blame entirely here.
The MY26s have the same engine, so I don’t know if they will suffer similar issues.
Point is, I am shocked EVERYONE including Toyota have dropped their QC across the board and are instead overcharging….
Is incredible that all those customers have a ticking time bomb in the engine bay. These trucks amy truck or car is a huge investment. I got rid of my Tahoe before all this started, there were 8 Tahoes at my dealer at the end of Feb with toasted engines. I sent it to Carmax. It’s still sitting in NJ their lot. I called Gm and my Tahoe was a part of the recall. Let somelse deal with the stress.
We got rid of all our newer GMs. My wife has a 11 Escalade for now.
Still haven’t heard back from GM concerning our 2023 Denali Yukon as to its horrible “truck-like” ride we “believe” stemming from purchase during the manufacturing boggle of shortage of vehicles in which adaptive air ride was not available and the dealer said it could be added “later”. However, the dealers say it’s not possible after the fact. A deception by GM. If anyone knows of a way to add air ride OR to make the ride better, please advise. Thanks. We considered going down from 22″ inch tires to 20″ inch wheels but the side to side jerky movements might not be fixed, I assume.
I fixed my GM problem. I sold my GM truck and bought a Toyota.
Mary Bara needs to go. Yes, she makes a lot of money for General Motors by buying cheap components. Quality is down, and customer complaints are up. Slowly, as people learn about GM’s problems, they start buying other brands. She is pushing electric vehicles too much. Technology changes just fast enough to make electric vehicles a throw-away item.
GM needs an inexpensive vehicle without all of the bells and whistles that people can afford to buy. Make that ant they might stay in business.
The Toyotas are also having problems, the V35As blew motors even out of the recalled date range.
In case you are wondering, the motor costs 25k-32k for the V35A replacement…
Everything is trash nowadays, better get an extended warranty…
Is the cutoff date for improved engines June 1st or July 1st? Your statement from GM says June 1st but the service bulletin says manufacture date 24183 (July 1st).
GM and all the other auto/truck manufacturers enemies caused this, the US Federal Government fuel economy standards, GM like others went to the 0W20 oil to help get higher MPG ratings to please O’Biden. Larry, Moe, & Curly who were running the EPA for O’Biden among other useless politicians brought this on GM vehicle owners. While GM’s design teams understands a V-8 engine can only return just so many miles per gallon … O’Biden’s EPA team doesn’t. In the end, the very politicians who supported an caused these problems to begin with should (not the legal US taxpayers) be burdened with the cost of their decisions, as their NOT GM’s caused this and be forced to pay for an be held accountable financially. The old “we had good intentions” don’t help with the cost a vehicle owner of any GM (or other builders) car an truck engine problems that has came about as a result of trying to glean another few mpg’s from a engine platform that can’t run that lean, nor with a lower oil viscosity that shouldn’t have been used.
Its a terrible pity the goverment wants to kill reliability in addition to useless management at GMC/Chevrolet…the L86 has lifter issues yes but NOWHERE NEAR the problems the L87 has…
What role does “the government” have?
I have worked in auto service for close to 50 years.
I can assure you that the vehicles are designed to be assembled and marketed at minimum cost and maximum profitability with little concern for what happens beyond the warranty period.
There is NO concern for reapairability and the old concept that customer retention due to product quality is long gone.
The L86 problems hurt GM’s reputation. The L87 issues are going to cost them a LOT of money. People will still buy them. Especially when there are few options that are better by any significant margin.
Fanboys are going to stick to their brand.
FWIW, I work in a GM service dept. I drive a Toyota.
You are going too far by blaming the Biden administration and EPA for a manufacturing defect. It could happen to any OEM under any administration.
Dude your a idiot blaming Biden😭 how’s Trump working out for you
Fire Mary Bara! She is destroying GM!
She is beholden to the stockholder.
Thinking of the consumer is long term. That is long gone.
I saw a article that said they aren’t going forward with this and that’s they are going to need to replace all of the engines they may have started to do this but they have decided against it so this is not true
The Z06 uses 5w-50 oil, not 0W40.
I have a 2021 Silverado with the 6.2, engine blew 5 months after I purchased it. They replaced the engine. No problems yet.
Current situation just had my 21 Tahoe with the 6.2 L87 in the shop and confirmed that it is having oil consumption issues 2 quarts of oil every 3000 miles is what was estimated. Of course I would like to think this is part of the recall issue. However my Vin doesn’t register under the recalls. Is there a timeline as to when it may appear or could my car be slipping through the cracks some how. Thanks