BREAKING: GM is officially recalling the L87

[Blackcar]

The question would be what is content of inspection if tech is dropping pan and PLASTIGAUGE bearings and finds over spec on clearance then going with higher weight oil for problem.

I don't know if this is the fix for these vehicles. After they release vehicle to sell, I would be looking for vehicle to purchase that still had 0W-20 oil fill cap that way you know engines to spec.

 

[DuraYuk]

It's real. I took a used 6.2L Suburban High Country for sale on Cars.com and punched the VIN into the GM Recall site.

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You have been completely vindicated in your stance on this topic. I know you took a lot of flak from other forum members saying things like "IT HAS A VARIABLE DISPLACEMENT PUMP!!!" "IT WAS DESIGNED TO USE 0W-20!!" "THE THICK OIL WON'T FLOW AS WELL AND STARVE BEARINGS OF LUBRICATION!!" "YOU'RE GOING TO VOID YOUR WARRANTY!!"

None of that was true. GM pushed the engine as hard as they could, strictly for the purposes of CAFE credits and got burned. This is a giant egg on their face and the others that defended the 0W-20 debacle. As mentioned on another forum when warranty $$$ is > CAFE credits = Recall.

The diesel still requires 0w-20

I'm not convinced the fix is heavier oil. Im convinced outside of engine replacement for the affected bad motors the oil recommendation is just to appease everyone who doesn't have a blown engine.

The problem is bad parts either made to wrong spec or got thru from a supplier.

Either way it's good peace of mind to have a recall if your engine blows outside of the warranty period.

 

[jfoj]

The engine bearing clearances are no different than they work 50 years ago.

All they did was move to a DANGEROUS lower viscosity oil for 0.1 or less improvement in MPG so the manufactures would not get fined for selling too many larger vehicles with larger engines. Nothing tech related here at all, just trying to paly games.

The 0W20 came out of my engine at 544 miles, I probably should have dumped it earlier, but I was well aware of Fuel Dilution and how long it takes to warm up 11-12 quarts of oil between the engine sump, oil cooler and cooling lines.

Talked my neighbors into dumping their 0W20 on their 2025 early as well. Luckily the one neighbor dumped it before a 1000 mile road trip.

 

[DuraYuk]

The engine bearing clearances are no different than they work 50 years ago.

All they did was move to a DANGEROUS lower viscosity oil for 0.1 or less improvement in MPG so the manufactures would not get fined for selling too many larger vehicles with larger engines. Nothing tech related here at all, just trying to paly games.

The 0W20 came out of my engine at 544 miles, I probably should have dumped it earlier, but I was well aware of Fuel Dilution and how long it takes to warm up 11-12 quarts of oil between the engine sump, oil cooler and cooling lines.

Talked my neighbors into dumping their 0W20 on their 2025 early as well. Luckily the one neighbor dumped it before a 1000 mile road trip.

Diesels still use this oil. And no kaboom

 

[StephenPT]

The diesel still requires 0w-20

I'm not convinced the fix is heavier oil. Im convinced outside of engine replacement for the affected bad motors the oil recommendation is just to appease everyone who doesn't have a blown engine.

The problem is bad parts either made to wrong spec or got thru from a supplier.

Either way it's good peace of mind to have a recall if your engine blows outside of the warranty period.

Bad spec parts for the last 4 years? Right...

 

[jfoj]

The diesel still requires 0w-20

I'm not convinced the fix is heavier oil. Im convinced outside of engine replacement for the affected bad motors the oil recommendation is just to appease everyone who doesn't have a blown engine.

The problem is bad parts either made to wrong spec or got thru from a supplier.

Either way it's good peace of mind to have a recall if your engine blows outside of the warranty period.

The fix was to NEVER install or use 0W20. If you tow, forget even considering 0W20.

The Diesel is in danger zone as well with 0W20, but the Diesel is built a bit more robust.

The 5.3l can suffer as well, BUT, been working with some 5.3l owners and it became VERY obvious early on that the TCM (Transmission Control Module) was programmed much differently than the 6.2l TCM. I had been pulling data on my 6.2l an it was CRAZY the engine loading/loading the TCM put the engine under, downshifting from 10th to 9th gear only raises the engine RPM by like 100 RPM. The 6.2l operates like a Diesel due to the stupid high torque output and they use this to get the fuel economy out of the 6.2l at the detriment of early OIL RELATED bearing failures. I am still convinced the 6.2l will get better fuel economy on the highway than the 5.3l as well.

 

[DuraYuk]

Bad spec parts for the last 4 years? Right...

It's not all of them. And I'm sure they can't discern via batch numbers. It could be the bearings themselves. A machine that's out of spec sometimes. Could be human error. They may not actually know the route cause.

 

[jfoj]

Parts are not the problem, trust me.

Following the phrase from many years ago, It is the oil stupid!!!

My Vortec 6000 6.0l has 275,000 HARD miles and it has used 5W30 most of its life, but it is not loaded up like the 6.2l running 70 MPH at 1500 RPM!

 

[DuraYuk]

Parts are not the problem, trust me.

Copying the phrase from many years ago, It is the oil stupid!

But all the rest use the same oil. And continue to do so without blowing up.

I'm not convinced but maybe with some more data we will see.

The new 2025s are shipping with the same old oil..why would they not change that at the production lime ?

Maybe when one that has had the new oil from the beggining and it still blows up will shed some light.

 

[jfoj]

So lets watch this entire mess unfolds.

Are ONLY the 2021-2024 that are UNSOLD recalled?

What about all the 2021-2024 on the road? Maybe GM brokered a deal where they only will provide an oil fill cap, an adhesive note for the Owners Manual for the 2021-2024 models on the road, not even a free oil change to 0W40.

2025 Owners, GOOD LUCK!

Not all the rest of the owners use the same oil or drive or operate the vehicles under the same conditions.

The SINGLE BIGGEST threat to these engines is how the TCM is programmed to pull max torque at very low RPM's on the highway. How many of these engines failed at 70 MPH on the highway? Most of them.

The next BIGGEST THREAT is fuel dilution of the engine oil. Too many short drives in cold temps, too much use of the Remote Start to warm the engines up, too much engine idling for warm up from cold start. Too long between oil changes, sure follow the OLM, but you are a FOOL. Change the oil when the OLM hits 50%.

EVERY light duty and heavy truck on the road is in jeopardy of engine failures if they continue to use 0W20. Disable the Auto Stop/Start, disable the DFM. Then you are hopefully have something reliable. Otherwise you are gambling.

The NEXT GM fiasco unfolding is the valve body problems with 10 speed transmissions.

Just search my user name, you will find more than you care to read about the engine and valve body problems!

 

[jfoj]

If you have a 2025, I highly suggest you get on the 0W40 bandwagon sooner than later!

 

[22BlackDenali]

I got a notice of recall on my GMC app. Called my dealer to schedule the recall inspection. They said they are not ready because GM has not told them what the fix is if does not pass inspection. Told me to wait for letter in mail.....

 

[22BlackDenali]

It would be nice if they would also extend the warranty on the motor to 100k miles.

Agreed. Need some additional protection beyond current 60k powertrain

 

[jfoj]

I got a notice of recall on my GMC app. Called my dealer to schedule the recall inspection. They said they are not ready because GM has not told them what the fix is if does not pass inspection. Told me to wait for letter in mail.....

The document is a bit misleading. If they connect a scan tool and see P0016 they are supposed to "Quarantine" any unsold vehicles and mark them not for sale.

Have run my 2024 VIN multiple places and checked my GMC App a number of times, nothing. But I am not worried, I solved this problem at 500 miles and the oil has been changed in my engine 3 times and I did not even have 6000 miles on the truck.

I assume they might either tear down the engines with P0016 for cam or crank bearing inspection, but if a vehicle ends up with P0016, I assume they may just replace the engine??

Funny thing is, I have not seen any P0016 code problems preceding any engine failures.

The majority of the engine failures occurred at highway speed, typically between 60-75 MPH from what I have read.

GM 6.2l Engine Failure Fix!

 

[viven44]

@jfoj well done, you called the shots on this oil viscosity stuff accurately. I believe @Vladimir2306 should also chime in and let us what he thinks as his mind was very well made up on 0W-20... I saw the discussion over on the other thread discussing engine oil fill capacity.

I can relate to some aspects of this goof up from GM, as I deal with ridiculous politics. I am sure the engineers that designed and qualified this engine knew what was best for reliability. I'm sure the 0W-20 recommendation was the by-product of some stupid inter-company politics where the org responsible for emissions / economy came up with this 'fleet recommendation' and strong armed the engine dept...... From personal experience, all it takes for a technology company to ship garbage is a few bad apples who have been promoted high up in the technical and managerial ladder.

https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/N252494001-Bulletin.pdf

@jfoj I'm still going to ask you to not worry too much about the oil fill level as I don't see any recommendations in the recall for a new dipstick. Getting it at the max line when parked level, and periodically topping off to that level is good enough for the life of the engine.... Factory fill level as you have observed is probably garbage as well. Who knows if that is correct when they goofed up on the oil viscosity.......

 

[2024 White Tahoe]

I got a notice of recall on my GMC app. Called my dealer to schedule the recall inspection. They said they are not ready because GM has not told them what the fix is if does not pass inspection. Told me to wait for letter in mail.....

GM’s notice of recall states (twice) that the recall should only be performed on vehicles in dealer inventory (only).

 

[DenaliCountry]

So lets watch this entire mess unfolds.

Are ONLY the 2021-2024 that are UNSOLD recalled?

What about all the 2021-2024 on the road? Maybe GM brokered a deal where they only will provide an oil fill cap, an adhesive note for the Owners Manual for the 2021-2024 models on the road, not even a free oil change to 0W40.

2025 Owners, GOOD LUCK!

Not all the rest of the owners use the same oil or drive or operate the vehicles under the same conditions.

The SINGLE BIGGEST threat to these engines is how the TCM is programmed to pull max torque at very low RPM's on the highway. How many of these engines failed at 70 MPH on the highway? Most of them.

The next BIGGEST THREAT is fuel dilution of the engine oil. Too many short drives in cold temps, too much use of the Remote Start to warm the engines up, too much engine idling for warm up from cold start. Too long between oil changes, sure follow the OLM, but you are a FOOL. Change the oil when the OLM hits 50%.

EVERY light duty and heavy truck on the road is in jeopardy of engine failures if they continue to use 0W20. Disable the Auto Stop/Start, disable the DFM. Then you are hopefully have something reliable. Otherwise you are gambling.

The NEXT GM fiasco unfolding is the valve body problems with 10 speed transmissions.

Just search my user name, you will find more than you care to read about the engine and valve body problems!

The recall is for trucks on the road, not just unsold inventory....

 

[PPV_2018]

I foresee a big mess ahead..

hopefully the 6.2 owners will get some justice for GM’s poor business practices.. but it looks like it’s going to be more of a burden on the owners than anything else

Let’s see how this plays out

 

[DenaliCountry]

The document is a bit misleading. If they connect a scan tool and see P0016 they are supposed to "Quarantine" any unsold vehicles and mark them not for sale.

Have run my 2024 VIN multiple places and checked my GMC App a number of times, nothing. But I am not worried, I solved this problem at 500 miles and the oil has been changed in my engine 3 times and I did not even have 6000 miles on the truck.

I assume they might either tear down the engines with P0016 for cam or crank bearing inspection, but if a vehicle ends up with P0016, I assume they may just replace the engine??

Funny thing is, I have not seen any P0016 code problems preceding any engine failures.

The majority of the engine failures occurred at highway speed, typically between 60-75 MPH from what I have read.

GM 6.2l Engine Failure Fix!

Mine failed at 30 mph FYI. Small sample size of course, but highway speeds may not always be the issue. It also states in the attached that they are to inspect the engine to determine if it needs replacing... unclear what that inspection protocol is.

 

[DenaliCountry]

GM’s notice of recall states (twice) that the recall should only be performed on vehicles in dealer inventory (only).

I got a recall notice that states my vehicle has a recall (even though I don't own it anymore). My buddy has the exact same spec Denali I had and he received the recall notice as well for his vehicle (both are 2022's). No where in the notifications does it say it's only for dealer inventory. However, I agree that it does say that if the vehicle is on the lot that they have to quarantine it and are not allowed to release it.