Main Bearing Failure with 6.2L at 3,200 miles

[ChrisYukon]

I saw a few threads on this, but it's such a big failure that I think my issue deserves another thread.

I was an hour from home on Friday and fortunately was 2 miles from my exit, so I was in the right lanes of the freeway. The engine died, and I coasted off at the next exit. I stopped at a red light, and the truck automatically shifted into park. When the light turned green, the truck refused to move out of park, and blocked the exit that was down to one lane due to construction.

I had the truck towed to my local dealer, and got the call today - it's a "spun bearing" and I need a new engine. The dealer has submitted it for approval, and I'm told it should be "5 to 10 days."

I think the truck is fantastic - 10 times better than the '17 Yukon Denali XL that I had before. (And that I'd still be driving if a drunk driver hadn't hit that truck and totaled it.) Can't wait until I'm driving it again.

I'll post updates on the process here.

 

[Big Mama]

Wow! Glad you were off the highway when it happened.

 

[gatorintx]

I saw a few threads on this, but it's such a big failure that I think my issue deserves another thread.

I was an hour from home on Friday and fortunately was 2 miles from my exit, so I was in the right lanes of the freeway. The engine died, and I coasted off at the next exit. I stopped at a red light, and the truck automatically shifted into park. When the light turned green, the truck refused to move out of park, and blocked the exit that was down to one lane due to construction.

I had the truck towed to my local dealer, and got the call today - it's a "spun bearing" and I need a new engine. The dealer has submitted it for approval, and I'm told it should be "5 to 10 days."

I think the truck is fantastic - 10 times better than the '17 Yukon Denali XL that I had before. (And that I'd still be driving if a drunk driver hadn't hit that truck and totaled it.) Can't wait until I'm driving it again.

I'll post updates on the process here.

Wow - that sucks. Glad you were able to get off the highway safely. And if you can get it fixed in 5-10 days, that's probably a win. Though absolutely crazy to happen at just 3,200 miles. Is this an issue specific to the 6.2L? Seen a few posts lately about this but all seem to be with the 6.2.

 

[StephenPT]

Wow - that sucks. Glad you were able to get off the highway safely. And if you can get it fixed in 5-10 days, that's probably a win. Though absolutely crazy to happen at just 3,200 miles. Is this an issue specific to the 6.2L? Seen a few posts lately about this but all seem to be with the 6.2.

Seems to be 6.2L only. I came across a post on a different forum from a GM Tech that the 6.2 main bearing tolerances are all over the board and many out of spec. What's likely happening here is too large of main bearing clearances, which flow too much oil to the "up-stream" main bearings and then "down-stream" main bearings get starved of oil and metal on metal results in a very premature failure.

 

[ChrisYukon]

Yep. The failures seem to happen at about 3,000 miles or so, too - so that’s how long a 6.2 LS will last with bad bearings, I guess.

Another interesting note - according to the dealer, when the push button transmission sticks in park, the only work around is to have someone crawl under with a vice grip and pull the cable into neutral - but it won’t stay there, so they just use dollies to push ‘em around. Hard to believe that GM hasn’t come up with a solution to that yet.

 

[tom3]

I wonder if it's core shift due to heat cycles, water splash, stress. A 0.001 shift would wreck this modern engine pretty quick. Darn shame to do a heart transplant on a brand new machine like that though.

 

[GMCnewbee]

Sorry for the bad news, but thanks for reporting it. You must have a great Dealer! Hope you are back on the road soon.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Damn shame to do a heart transplant on a brand new machine like that though.

GM putting so many brand new 6.2L buyers through the ordeal of stopping traffic due to atrocious quality control,
that's the damn shame.

 

[chrisbusnut]

GM putting so many brand new 6.2L buyers through the ordeal of stopping traffic due to atrocious quality control,
that's the damn shame.

Couldn't agree more, and this is exactly why I wanted the Duramax when I bought my 24. The 6.2 is such a sweet engine and sounds amazing. I really hope they get these issues resolved with the mid cycle refresh next year. It's starting to remind me of the HT4100 debacle in early to mid 80s Cadillacs (though totally different reasons for failures on those).

 

[Stbentoak]

Wow - that sucks. Glad you were able to get off the highway safely. And if you can get it fixed in 5-10 days, that's probably a win. Though absolutely crazy to happen at just 3,200 miles. Is this an issue specific to the 6.2L? Seen a few posts lately about this but all seem to be with the 6.2.

What's crazy about this is, while the vast majority don't/won't/haven't had a problem yet, there is enough failures floating around to make you stop and think every day.... Am I driving one of these ticking bombs or not? And most people's outcomes won't be a 5-10 day fix.....

 

[koachdaddy]

What's crazy about this is, while the vast majority don't/won't/haven't had a problem yet, there is enough failures floating around to make you stop and think every day.... Am I driving one of these ticking bombs or not? And most people's outcomes won't be a 5-10 day fix.....

I believe the OP stated that the approval would be 5-10 days. Interested to hear how long this process takes altogether.

 

[Fleet of GMs]

I believe the OP stated that the approval would be 5-10 days. Interested to hear how long this process takes altogether.

Sorry to hear about your issue. I will be interested to see what the time line is for my engine replacement. I can mirror what you experienced with your vehicle, as mine did the same on March 3rd. Thankfully I was in a neighborhood when my 2017 Denali Yukon XL shut off and left me stranded due to bearing failure. The engine oil is most sparkly. The extended warranty rep just left the dealership and has approved an engine change. Just turned over 150,000 miles and had less than 3500 on my warranty. The dealer has told me there is a warehouse with over 1100 6.2s in the northeast. He is unaware of the back log for engines and unsure how long it will take for a replacement engine to arrive.

 

[ChrisYukon]

The dealer called and said my new engine arrived today. I should be up and running by Wednesday next week.

 

[ChrisYukon]

Got a call during lunch today that the truck was ready, so I went and picked it up. The tech told me it was a main bearing, but the work order said that the #7 and #8 rod bearings failed. They:

1. Replaced engine.
2. Replaced oil cooling system. (contaminated with metal debris)
3. Replaced Radiator
4. Replaced battery fuse box. (shorted from over cranking, it said.)

The dealer only had me approved for a rental car until the 12th, but I'm pretty sure they will work that out with Enterprise. I've been told to "take it easy" on the new engine for 1,000 miles. So far, so good - can't wait to take it out and drive some more.

Total down time - 17 calendar days. (March 1 - March 18)

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Got a call during lunch today that the truck was ready, so I went and picked it up. The tech told me it was a main bearing, but the work order said that the #7 and #8 rod bearings failed. They:

1. Replaced engine.
2. Replaced oil cooling system. (contaminated with metal debris)
3. Replaced Radiator
4. Replaced battery fuse box. (shorted from over cranking, it said.)

The dealer only had me approved for a rental car until the 12th, but I'm pretty sure they will work that out with Enterprise. I've been told to "take it easy" on the new engine for 1,000 miles. So far, so good - can't wait to take it out and drive some more.

Total down time - 17 calendar days. (March 1 - March 18)

Seems like the correct steps were taken, Radiator is part of the oil cooling system, so makes sense they did that too. Looks like they were thorough. Follow dealer's advice on breaking it in, glad they got you on the road.

I know it is frustrating, but it is a machine, made by men, it will break. Like I alwasy say, its what happens after stuff happens that makes the difference. Sounds like your dealer did you rigth.

 

[Dilligaf34]

Just found this forum and I am now a member of the locked up 6.2. I have a 22 GMC AT4X with 13,649 miles. Dealer told me it may take a month to do a diagnoses on it and GM said no rental until the dealer does the diag.

 

[RST Dana]

Just found this forum and I am now a member of the locked up 6.2. I have a 22 GMC AT4X with 13,649 miles. Dealer told me it may take a month to do a diagnoses on it and GM said no rental until the dealer does the diag.

Wow. I’d be looking for another dealer unless you are stuck in the middle of bfe

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Hell guys, just curious…what have you been using for fuel? 93, 91, 89, 87??

 

[ChrisYukon]

Just found this forum and I am now a member of the locked up 6.2. I have a 22 GMC AT4X with 13,649 miles. Dealer told me it may take a month to do a diagnoses on it and GM said no rental until the dealer does the diag.

That doesn’t make any sense. Why would it take a month to diagnose? Did you talk directly to GM about a rental, or did the dealer tell you that? As suggested, I think you need a different dealer- those guys are terrible.

As for fuel - I always use 91 (highest available in California.). Had a friend blow up an LS in a Corvette 10 years ago from using low octane gas and knocking, so I’m not messing around with that.

 

[Tahoe14]

Contact GM customer service, they may authorize a rental or reimburse you.