L87 Engine Recall

[bc.gold 3,406]

This engine is manufactured both side of the border, 28,000 failures have resulted in a class action suit. https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/05/gm-6-2l-l87-engine-recall-issued-in-canada/

[kpinnc 14,414]

Really gotta question the 20W oil requirement in an engine when part of the manufacturer's fix is to swap to 40W... I was always told that the tighter tolerances of the newer engines was the reason for the lighter oil. I guess not. 

 

Affects hundreds of thousands of engines? Gonna be tough to get into a GM service department for a while. 

Edited May 26 by kpinnc

[ri702bill 9,288]

6 hours ago, kpinnc said:

Gonna be tough to get into a GM service department for a while.

Maybe not. The "word on the street" is that there is No fix at the moment. Seems to be either a machining or metalurgical failure in nature. Gotta get that one first - and gotta pass "life-cycle" testing with the new parts. Then whip up a batch of short blocks (I believe Toyota did the same with the Tundra / Lexus engines - complete engines cost too much.) Then get the recall notice for an appointment... then wait. Glad I do not own one.

[grinchsr 644]

My son has a Trail Boss with that motor which locked up solid when he was restarting it after it was already warm.  Dealer installed a reman motor with another 12,000 mile warranty.  Had to wait 2 months to get the motor

[Treepep 672]

 

 

Brand new Subaru in 2015.  "boxer" engine.  4 cylinder.  She took it to the dealer for "required warranty" service oil change etc. 

 

Turns out it consumes about a quart of oil per oil change period. (5000 miles) They would overfill and no warning light.  When I began the routine maintenance I filled to the factory specifications.

 

2500 miles in and low oil light comes on.  1/2 quart low.  It would burn a quart per period!

 

Fast forward to now.  I change the oil every 40 days.  I drive A Lot.  No oil consumption???

[Ed Kennell 41,629]

41 minutes ago, Treepep said:

 

 

Brand new Subaru in 2015.  "boxer" engine.  4 cylinder.  She took it to the dealer for "required warranty" service oil change etc. 

 

Turns out it consumes about a quart of oil per oil change period. (5000 miles) They would overfill and no warning light.  When I began the routine maintenance I filled to the factory specifications.

 

2500 miles in and low oil light comes on.  1/2 quart low.  It would burn a quart per period!

 

Fast forward to now.  I change the oil every 40 days.  I drive A Lot.  No oil consumption???

Sounds like the Ford Coyote Engine fix.  They burn a quart every 1K mile.  So they installed a new dip stick and put in 9 quarts instead of seven and required an oil change every 3K mile.      So it could burn 3 quarts and the new dip stick still showed the oil in the safe range if you added 9 new quarts every 3K mile.

[squonk 43,563]

Subaru's are known oil drinkers. If they don't drink it they leak it. Low tension rings and low viscosity oils have added to the problem across just about every manufacturer.

[Handy Don 13,819]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

Low tension rings and low viscosity oils have added to the problem across just about every manufacturer.

Part of the reason my trusted service tech and I agree on oil changed every 6k for both cars, regardless of manufacturer’s specs. 

One car takes 0W-20!

Edited May 26 by Handy Don

[bc.gold 3,406]

2 hours ago, squonk said:

Subaru's are known oil drinkers. If they don't drink it they leak it. Low tension rings and low viscosity oils have added to the problem across just about every manufacturer.

I"m guessing the low viscosity oils are not prone to making sludge resulting in early engine failure. with the recommended lighter oils an engine might last warranty. My 2010 ranger drinks oil.

[Ed Kennell 41,629]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

 oil changed every 6k for both cars

Ford manufacturer says every 10K, Ford dealer says every 3K.  I change at 7K.  The computer monitors  the oil life based on driving conditions and at 7k I have 50% oil life remaining.

[squonk 43,563]

I don't go over 5000. I don't care what the manufacturers say. Because they don't care.

[oldlineman 1,517]

Me too Squonk,my new car says 10,000 miles for oil change interval, I have around 17,000 on it now, it had a change at 2,500, 5,000,10,000,15,000 , and will get one at 20,000, and every 5,000 after, by there count should only have 2 changes by that time. If you run a car for 2 , 3 years go there route, but if your are like me and go for 8, 10 years, change the oil, very cheap compared to engines. Just my opinion and experience. Bob  

[ri702bill 9,288]

12 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Sounds like the Ford Coyote Engine fix.  They burn a quart every 1K mile.  So they installed a new dip stick and put in 9 quarts instead of seven and required an oil change every 3K mile.      So it could burn 3 quarts and the new dip stick still showed the oil in the safe range if you added 9 new quarts every 3K mile.

You just know that someone at Ford that came up with that "treat the sympton, not the cause" idea got a big gold star...!

[Ed Kennell 41,629]

15 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

"treat the sympton,

The sad part is Ford forced dealers to tell the new Coyote owners that burning a quart/1k miles is normal.

Also the fuel shut off valve during deceleration that caused the oil to be sucked into the cylinder on the intake stroke was installed to meet new federal milage standards.   So it saved a few ounces of gasoline and used 9 quarts of oil every 3k mile.   Thankfully the class action suit worked and many got new engines.

[lynnmor 7,759]

Here is a video explaining the real problem.  Yes, gubbermint strikes again!

[ri702bill 9,288]

21 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Sounds like the Ford Coyote Engine fix.  They burn a quart every 1K mile.  So they installed a new dip stick and put in 9 quarts instead of seven and required an oil change every 3K mile.      So it could burn 3 quarts and the new dip stick still showed the oil in the safe range if you added 9 new quarts every 3K mile.

You just know that someone at Ford that came up with that "treat the sympton, not the cause" idea got a big gold star...!

[Treepep 672]

 

 

My 2005 Ford F150 STX 4x4 uses a a half quart in 5K miles  5w-20 synthetic always. Bought new.  188,000 miles now.  I have replaced most of the things myself 3 times. 6 quart capacity 

 

 I had no idea that a new car used oil.  Wild.  Just old I guess.   I check all the fluids every gas up.  It's what DAD said to do.  Subaru oil consumption has ceased??? Meant to be worked

 

hard I think  I drive it about an oil change a month.  No notable oil consumption now.  110,000 miles now

 

[ri702bill 9,288]

Crankshaft journal surface finish...... IS related to shortcuts taken in the Manufacturing process.

I am surprized (and disapointed) to see that GM did NOT utilize either one or both of 70 plus years of time-proven Hot Rodder oil distribution

Micropolish the journals to eliminate roughness. Install a high flow oil pump (or a reworked stock one with the oil pressure control spring changed to give a higher pressure)

Oh yeah, both add cost...... sorry.

[Ed Kennell 41,629]

2 hours ago, Treepep said:

 

My 2005 Ford F150 STX 4x4 uses a a half quart in 5K miles  5w-20 synthetic always. Bought new.

My 2010 F-150 XLT Crew cab 4X4  with the Triton 5.4 engine six speed auto never used any oil.  Changed every 7k miles.

A recent 400 mile road trip showed 19.2 mpg on the computer.

[R Scheer 505]

2 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

My 2010 F-150 XLT Crew cab 4X4  with the Triton 5.4 engine six speed auto never used any oil.  Changed every 7k miles.

A recent 400 mile road trip showed 19.2 mpg on the computer.

My 2015 F150 Supercrew Coyote doesn't seem to use any oil between oil changes, oil changes every 8000 km, 5000 miles.  

[squonk 43,563]

Manufacturers have claimed a qt. of oil per 1000  miles is normal since at least 1979 when I started working at Dealerships.  Not saying they are right.  Just what they say. 

[Ed Kennell 41,629]

17 minutes ago, R Scheer said:

My 2015 F150 Supercrew Coyote doesn't seem to use any oil between oil changes, oil changes every 8000 km, 5000 miles.  

2018-2020 were the years for excess oil consumption.

[Beap52 1,358]

I was told to be sure and use the viscosity of oil that manufacturer lists.  As I understand, there may be passages or screens that thicker oil won't pass through and oil starve other components.

 

Back in early 70's the dealership told me that 1,000 miles for one quart consumption was normal.  Chevrolet's valve guides would wear and allow oil into cylinders. 

 

Before the days of unleaded gas, I liked to see a nice clean grayish inside the tailpipe on a vehicle.  Now I like to see a nice clean inside of a tailpipe. 

 

I give the tailpipe on my 33 year old pickup the same exam the doctor gives me when he checks my prostate.  I expect my finger to come back clean.   Even though the tailpipe on my pickup is dark, it's certainly not sooty.