2017 Equinox lost oil and blew a rear main seal

Trying to find out the same thing. This just happened to my mom’s 2013 Equinox, and she bought an extended warranty. And as of yesterday, they have denied the claim.

I just had the same thing happen to my 2017 Chevrolet as well. I found the 14882 which say it would be covered but it’s from 2015
How can I get help?

I also have a 2017 Equanox with the 2.4L with the same issue. This last Tuesday , a kind older gentleman was waiting for my wife to come out of the Kroger store in Flushing and informed her about a really bad oil leak under her car. When I checked the oil I had to add 3 quarts. So I got on U-Tube and found the cause of the oil leak. There’s a GM manufacturers engineering DEFECT built into the PCV valve system that causes condensation to freeze up the PCV valve creating high pressure in the engines crankcase pushing the engines rear main seal out resulting in a massive oil leak. Further investigation found out GM won’t even acknowledge this issue for us owners but they did send out a service bulletin (14882) to dealers about this issue and a SIMPLE fix to prevent it from happening. GM should have sent to us owners !😡So I went out to see about getting repaired , 2 local shops , one had 4 in line waiting just from last weeks FreezingAss -0 temperatures , $2000 and 2 week wait, Shop two just did 4 this past week and has 3 waiting. $1900 and 2 week wait. Then I find out I was the Lucky One !! Yeah !! I’m so Lucky. 😡 when this condition occurs and there’s No Warning light for Low oil, but the oil light we do have is for Low Oil Pressure , if this Light comes on, your engine is toast and needs to be replaced !!😡 The vehicles I these two local shops were engine replacements for most !! 😡 $5000+ !! . I ended up at Simms Chevrolet in Clio, took 2 days and lifetime warranty, $2028 !! I had the car towed there cuz the oil was gushing out when running ! I did find a class action Lawsuit established about a year ago, call The Miller Law Firm in Michigan, 248-843-0811. Ask about the GM PCV Oil leak issue, they will email you a questionnaire and put you on a list of potential plaintiffs in the case, was told to call back every 6 months for updates unless they call you first . GM is running scared on this one ! Good Luck ! Ben C.

Update on my issue with PCV/ oil leak . My car was repaired at Simms Chevrolet, Rear main seal and a preventative repair to prevent this issue from happening again. Cost me $2028 . For the last 3 weeks now I’ve Ben going around with Chevrolet customer care and Simms Dealership Service trying to get my money back. To date I recieved a $1000 refund check from GM. Im not done with this yet, having trouble with Simms cooperating with customer care and lack of Simms sending a required document to customer care. Stay tuned for more updates.

Just so happens my (79,000 miles) 2017 Equinox Premier has the same problem in Massachusetts. I really thought the car was running well… down 3quarts of oil turns out leaking into the driveway. Its the rear seal like all others. Blah blah blah, have to remove transmission to get to the problem fix the cracked seal, intake blockage. $3900 repair. So disgusted in chevrolet. Do I trash the car and look for another or do I fix it and get 20,000 more miles out of it. ugh, Cars and computers are such headaches.
Why isn’t there a reasonable fix?

I had this happen to my 2011 Equinox. Claim denied because my VIN wasn’t in the range of vehicles impacted. Since no real fix was made available, my fix was to install a pressure relief or poppet valve in the oil fill cap. Never had a problem after that. I sold the car to a friend of mine and it’s still running strong.

The build up of crankcase pressure and loss of rear seal and quarts of oil is the secondary failure and unfortunately the most catastrophic.

The primary issue is the failure of the engine’s PCV system. Its a common problem with the 2.4 Ecotech Engine. PCV intake manifold passageway and PCV lines get clogged up very easily with debris. In colder states and Canada moisture in the PCV system will also freeze up in the passageways adding to the pressure buildup problem. Its a terrible design PCV system.

Best you can do is keep the oil changed and as clean as possible. Change oil and filters more frequently. GM says every 7500 miles on a ’15 Equinox. I’m replacing a failed engine in my daughter’s ’15 Equinox from this same issue. Oil changes will be every 4000 miles max with daughter’s ’15 Equinox once it’s up and running.

Keep the engine’s intake area warm (Trouble light with 75w incandescent blub works) and a block heater plugged in (if you have one) if parked outside in winter months. Check if pressure is building up by loosening the oil fill cap of a running engine. If internal engine air pressure output is significant then you likely have a plugged PCV system.

I would think that the Chevrolet dealer should be able to unclog the PCV systems as well as install a factory block heater for us northern folks. I’m installing a block heater in daughters car as it endures winters in Montana.
All the best
Chuck

FYI All:

I read on line that keeping the PCV Hose from air box to engine cleaned regularly helps.

Dealers are upgrading the PCV hoses to a larger 1/2″ diameter flexible hose w/ connectors and capping off the old PCV connector in the air box as a fix improving engine PCV and reducing risk of moisture freeze up and clogging of the line.

Also by adding a pressure relief oil fill cap (AC/ Delco P/N FC219) or keeping the existing pressure relief oil filler cap clean and functioning will help to reduce the risk of crankcase pressure buildup and rear main oil seal failure.

All The Best Chuck