2023 Yukon Denali 6.2L, Dead at 3600 miles

[Boomer73]

How many miles on yours? Also was curious how you managed to get your hands on a 2023, 10 months ago?!

I submitted my order in may 2022 for a 2022 model. I think in October it got flipped to 2023 model. It arrived at our dealer just before January 2023.

I think I’ve come to grips with the fate of my truck. Appreciate all the info here. It’s comforted me a bit to hear the engine swap on mine should be okay. I was initially not very optimistic. But it does feel like I’ll be driving my suburban rental for a few months

I have 18k on mine at the moment. We ordered it in September of 2021 and got it in April of 2022. I just went back and read that I posted (multiple times) that it was a 2023. Apparently, my ability to count has been blinded by rage.
Hopefully they will deliver a new engine for you without too much delay and they will dot all the i's and cross all the t's on the install.

 

[91RS]

I think the issue on the motor is not the swap - that’s actually easier now than on some previous generations given how componentized and plug-and-play everything is.

Definitely not the case. These new trucks are significantly more of a pain in the rear to work on than the 800s, 900s, or K2s.

 

[R32driver]

Definitely not the case. These new trucks are significantly more of a pain in the rear to work on than the 800s, 900s, or K2s.

THIS. When I installed the black grill/color matched surrround on our '21 it was quite a pain just popping off the front bumper cover. Tugging and pulling on it and feeling like it was going to break the whole time. Took me a couple hours to get the job done and I consider myself decently competent when it comes to working on cars. In contrast I was chasing a short in the wiring on my '09 silverado this summer and I could have the entire front end removed and put back on it about 30 minutes. That's a simple rig to work on.

There is nothing simple about these new ones and I would be very worried about having mine totally taken apart and put back together by a "professional" at a dealership. It would be one thing if it had 200K on it and needed a new engine, but brand new I'd be pissed and looking for a way out of that rig.

 

[Roll On]

I’m surprised that the dealership doesn’t send your engine out to be rebuilt, instead of waiting for a replacement to come in from the factory.

 

[Boomer73]

Definitely not the case. These new trucks are significantly more of a pain in the rear to work on than the 800s, 900s, or K2s.

I used to own a body shop and I know a bunch of people in the industry. I have a friend who is a master tech and this is what he told me. I asked him what he thought about a driveline swap and he said with a helper he could swap a driveline in two days and it would be “no problem”. He said two more days for testing and evaluation. Maybe he’s a liar. Maybe his ego is enormous. I’ve known him for 10 years and I’ve not found him to be that way. I’ll take him at his word.

 

[Blackcar]

I’m surprised that the dealership doesn’t send your engine out to be rebuilt, instead of waiting for a replacement to come in from the factory.

Not with spun main bearing If it's mine I want new engine. If my truck had lifter problem and ruined cam, I would want new engine, but they aren't going to do that.

 

[DuraYuk]

Definitely not the case. These new trucks are significantly more of a pain in the rear to work on than the 800s, 900s, or K2s.

Based on what? Explain.

 

[DuraYuk]

I used to own a body shop and I know a bunch of people in the industry. I have a friend who is a master tech and this is what he told me. I asked him what he thought about a driveline swap and he said with a helper he could swap a driveline in two days and it would be “no problem”. He said two more days for testing and evaluation. Maybe he’s a liar. Maybe his ego is enormous. I’ve known him for 10 years and I’ve not found him to be that way. I’ll take him at his word.

I could swap an engine in 5 hours. Its not that bad. Clutch jobs on corvettes took 8 hours from start to finish. If your a competent person you can do it. The first one takes the longest then it's gravy from there.

 

[Geotrash]

Based on what? Explain.

He’s a *current* GM tech.

 

[DuraYuk]

He’s a *current* GM tech.

I was looking for specifics. Architecture is pretty similar. The only one that poses more challenges that I have found is the duramax and it's transmission removal. The gas engines are cake.

Working at GM over the years every generation has gotten easier to work on. I used to hate the old stuff.

I guess it depends on the individual.

 

[NoYukonYet_1Jeep]

I’m surprised that the dealership doesn’t send your engine out to be rebuilt, instead of waiting for a replacement to come in from the factory.

Service tech said since it is such a new vehicle they would opt to replace the motor and not rebuild. I prefer that option as well.

 

[91RS]

I was looking for specifics. Architecture is pretty similar. The only one that poses more challenges that I have found is the duramax and its transmission removal. The gas engines are cake.

Working at GM over the years every generation has gotten easier to work on. I used to hate the old stuff.

I guess it depends on the individual.

The engine itself may be similar but the vehicle it is in is completely different. There is nothing similar between the T1 and the older trucks. The fenders being so insanely high and the engine being pretty far down and back in the engine bay are the biggest issue with working on these. The radiator and fans are extremely close to the engine now and are not easy (compared to the old body styles) to remove. You have to remove all of that and the whole front grille/fascia to get the engine out. The old stuff is far easier to work on. No one wants to work on the new ones over the old ones. And they don’t pay well.

 

[DuraYuk]

The engine itself may be similar but the vehicle it is in is completely different. There is nothing similar between the T1 and the older trucks. The fenders being so insanely high and the engine being pretty far down and back in the engine bay are the biggest issue with working on these. The radiator and fans are extremely close to the engine now and are not easy (compared to the old body styles) to remove. You have to remove all of that and the whole front grille/fascia to get the engine out. The old stuff is far easier to work on. No one wants to work on the new ones over the old ones. And they don’t pay well.

No one wants to work on them? It's just a learning curve. Taking the fascia off isn't terrible when you have all the clips on hand. Warranty never paid well. Hopefully you get good enough to beat book time otherwise you will starve.

Underneath it's not terribly different from the previous generations . sure you have IRS but the rest is similar enough.

I felt the same way about the v8 fwd models and transmission removal. After a few its cake like anything else.

Other then occasional lifters the rest have been pretty solid. Some had bad engine wiring harness that ate a few peoples lunch.
Its less about being easy and more about being different. Like the work vans. Look thru the top and looks unappealing. Doghouse and underneath are wide open.

I think the real issues are steaming from electrical diagnosis. Most techs are insanely weak at it. In my shop we would specialize. We had interior guy, heavy line guy , engine guy , and electrical guy.

Compared to the rollout in 2007 and again in 2015 it's much improved. Fenders have always been insanely high for me and im not short.

Your views are interesting thanks for sharing!

 

[Blackcar]

I'm just work on vehicles at home but on trucks I pull wheels off to get vehicle lower now that's why Ilike working on my 1996 corvette you just walk in and sit on tire to work on it.

 

[NoYukonYet_1Jeep]

I guess my take away here as the vehicle owner is to get down to their shop and feel out of there are specialists and how comfortable they are with the full motor swap.

I think after all is said and done if I am still not confident in the vehicle ( two young kids, long road trips), then I’ll have no choice but to sell it and start fresh.

 

[Oaktree]

Update from the dealership:

“Tech found perform tear down on the engine- remove lower oil pan and discovery metal inside the oil pan. perform inspect on the bottom engine and found rod bearings spun- causing internal premature engine failure.”

Engine blown. They’ll replace the motor. Except the 6.2 L is currently on back order. I’m guessing this truck will be MIA for 6-8 weeks, unless a motor miraculously shows up. Working with my GM case manager to see which other options I have, if any.

DM me or check my post (6.2L lifter issue).
I'm wiling to give you my cell and tell you what we've gone through since Dec 31st.

 

[91RS]

No one wants to work on them? It's just a learning curve. Taking the fascia off isn't terrible when you have all the clips on hand. Warranty never paid well. Hopefully you get good enough to beat book time otherwise you will starve.

We aren’t starving, I can assure you. We know what we’re doing even though everyone here thinks we don’t.

It isn’t just the fascia that has to come off, it’s everything behind it up to the radiator, condenser, and fans which are not easy to remove. You could have the fans out of any of the older ones with two bolts and an oil cooler line (if equipped) in 5 minutes and you had room to get the engine out.

I said nobody wants to work on them over the old ones. Every single one of us agree they are significantly more difficult to work on than the older ones. Access is worse and because of the extremely high fenders, it is much harder on the body.

 

[DuraYuk]

We aren’t starving, I can assure you. We know what we’re doing even though everyone here thinks we don’t.

It isn’t just the fascia that has to come off, it’s everything behind it up to the radiator, condenser, and fans which are not easy to remove. You could have the fans out of any of the older ones with two bolts and an oil cooler line (if equipped) in 5 minutes and you had room to get the engine out.

I said nobody wants to work on them over the old ones. Every single one of us agree they are significantly more difficult to work on than the older ones. Access is worse and because of the extremely high fenders, it is much harder on the body.

It doesn't take much for a consumers confidence in the service department to wane. Especially with delays.

You will get used to it. All products have a learning curve. It's a trade off. I remember it well but don't miss it.

 

[NoYukonYet_1Jeep]

I met my mechanic, and tbh, service dept at the dealer has treated me very well so far. Good communication and no unnecessary calls / questions. Can’t say the same about GM customer service. Eye roll.

My motors been pulled. I picked up the dealers loaner and parts has told the new motor is en route and could be here by Friday. Here’s my old motor in a heap on the floor ..

 

[Geotrash]

I met my mechanic, and tbh, service dept at the dealer has treated me very well so far. Good communication and no unnecessary calls / questions. Can’t say the same about GM customer service. Eye roll.

My motors been pulled. I picked up the dealers loaner and parts has told the new motor is en route and could be here by Friday. Here’s my old motor in a heap on the floor ..

Looks fine from here. Send it!

Congrats on the progress toward getting your ride back.