BREAKING: GM is officially recalling the L87

[22BlackDenali]

Here are images of the full GM N252494002 bulletin so this looks like the real deal, something will likely either be updated or posted on the NHTSA site next week.

In short vehicles with engines built BEFORE July 1, 2024 require an engine replacement.

Found on Reddit

N252494002 Page 1

N252494002 Page 2

N252494002 Page 3

N252494002 Page 4

For the guys aware of all the parts that should be changed in this scenario, does it look like everything is there? I see they did include the radiator. Anything missing?

 

[Vladimir2306]

For the guys aware of all the parts that should be changed in this scenario, does it look like everything is there? I see they did include the radiator. Anything missing?

The radiator really needs to be replaced due to the fact that it is clogged with chips from the wear of metal parts

 

[cjlewis]

Thanks for the GM Bulletin info. Just picked up my Yukon yesterday from a scheduled oil change. Dealer said they won't have any guidance until June, which aligns with what others have said here. For back ground, 2023 Yukon (purchased in winter 2022). Blown engine at 16K. On second engine. Have 61K on vehicle (45K on second engine). Invoice from the engine replacement in June of 2023 had a total cost of $14K (parts and labor). Plus $5K for my rental car. Took four months to complete. I have a feeling this is going to take 1-3 years unless GM dedicates production runs of engines to replacement vs new vehicles. Dealer had four SUVs waiting for engines already.

 

[ReaperHWK]

This guy is really scientific and detailed. Good video.

 

[WalleyeMikeIII]

Several new docs with FAQ, messages to dealers, and all three bulletins are now posted on NHTSA.gov,

See Here https://www.nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2022/GMC/YUKON%2520XL/SUV/4WD#recalls

From My read, it looks like the 00 Recall identifed all in stock vehicles and told dealers to stop sale
The 01 Recall contained the inspection procedure
The 02 Recall summarizes the procedure for engine replacement for identified vehicles.

What is not clear is which recall any given individual owner is going to receive...but what I didn't see was a blanket "All 2021-2024 vehicles in the time period will receive a new engine." So, I think we all have to wait or inquire w/ our dealer do to an Investigate Vehicle History on our specific VIN to see which of the 3 recalls apply.

But, maybe I read it wrong.

For Kicks, I looked up my VIN, and it says the 00 Recall Applies rignt how and "Remedy Not Available" is listed. Meaning, I think at this time it needs an inspection, or that GM hasn't got around to deciding if 02 applies or not?

I also ran the vin that @StephenPT listed in post #16, and that VIN says it has the 02 recall, and it's status in incomplete (2nd attached file).

So, I would say keep an eye on your specific VIN's recall number...it will guide what remedy you get, I think.

 

[Silverado4x4]

Gm is extending the warranty on motors that just get an oil change to 0W40. 10yrs or 150,000 miles https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/0...od-engines-to-get-extended-warranty-coverage/

 

[NoYukonYet_1Jeep]

Why would you carry a case of oil in your trunk?

Forever scarred from the time I pulled my dipstick at 40% OLM and it was bone dry, just before an 800 mile road trip. Looking back though, I was parked on a slight incline, with front the car facing down. I’m sure that impacted my dipstick reading. But was enough to illuminate my “low oil” light, which never lit up before my first blown motor at 3.6k miles. Oil in the trunk now as a constant reminder.

 

[vcode]

Gm is extending the warranty on motors that just get an oil change to 0W40. 10yrs or 150,000 miles https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/0...od-engines-to-get-extended-warranty-coverage/

Just as I predicted......

 

[jfoj]

Nose down on the truck would likely make the oil level slightly higher due to the dipstick being toward the front of the engine. I recommend checking the oil level at least every 2nd tank of fuel, which will equal around 750-1000 miles depending on how the vehicle is driven.

I think some of the higher mileage engine failures may be due to chronically running them low on oil. Often once the oil gets fuel diluted the oil thins out even more than will likely get consumed easier. Then the viscous circle starts, lower oil level takes less fuel to become diluted to a higher concentration, then the thinner oil protects less and is more likely to be consumed easier. Again a viscous circle.

Even if 0W40 shows no less wear metals in the engine, there are clearly some other reasons to run 0W40. Far more headroom or safety factor for fuel dilution, less likely to be consumed as fast as 0W20, many have made comments the engine is overall quieter engine operation and my main reason for running 0W40 is the extremely High Loading at Low RPM or lugging the 6.2l experiences while on the highway taking even the slightest grades. I want the extra oil film protecting the bearings under these conditions which the way I use my vehicle is quit common as most of my driving is highway.

I have logged this Low RPM (1500-1700)/High Engine Load (70-100%) behavior over and over where I am talking no more than a 50-100 foot rise over a mile distance. The TCM is configured to use a much torque on the 6.2l to keep the RPM's lower for fuel economy. Engine loading varies depending on factors, but 70-100% loading, sometimes slightly less if the transmission downshifts to 9th gear, but this is only about a 100 RPM change, you can barely perceive the transmission downshifts because the close gear ratio.

 

[vcode]

Note that the Reddit post says to refill the new engine (Line 3) with 0W20......

N252494002 Page 3

 

[jfoj]

Gm is extending the warranty on motors that just get an oil change to 0W40. 10yrs or 150,000 miles https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/0...od-engines-to-get-extended-warranty-coverage/

This entire 6.2l debacle is moving at warp speed. It will be interesting to see if GM backs out of large scale engine replacement because the GM N252494002 says very different things than the "Oil Change" Recall.

Maybe someone let out a draft document that was under consideration, but once the Genie is out of the bottle, hard to put it back in.

 

[jfoj]

Note that the Reddit post says to refill the new engine (Line 3) with 0W20......

N252494002 Page 3

That's because the "new" engines built after July 1, 2024 are supposed to be the "good" engines. But I also think there are some underlying CAFE, EPA issues at play here. Just changing from 0W20 to 0W40 will SLIGHTLY impact fuel economy and therefore the vehicle no longer meets the approved CAFE/EPA documents originally submitted and the EPA Fuel Economy numbers will likely be lower.

 

[LegalBrief]

Think about this, the bulk of the older engines have already failed, the 2024 will have a few failures, they will inspect the engines and replace a few more. Then over the next decade they will deal with anymore failures, that eases the impact to production and the service departments. Not all engines will fail, they know which parts went where… very reasonable solution.

 

[Scarey]

Not sure which it is, replace all engines in this range or inspect and replace as needed?

 

[vcode]

That's because the "new" engines built after July 1, 2024 are supposed to be the "good" engines. But I also think there are some underlying CAFE, EPA issues at play here. Just changing from 0W20 to 0W40 will SLIGHTLY impact fuel economy and therefore the vehicle no longer meets the approved CAFE/EPA documents originally submitted and the EPA Fuel Economy numbers will likely be lower.

Exactly, which clearly indicates that mfg defects are causing the problem, not oil.

 

[jfoj]

I suspect the spin doctors will be out sometime next week to try to explain all this away.

 

[vcode]

Unless GM starts filling new truck and SUV 6.2's from the factory with 0W40, oil is not the culprit here.....

 

[LegalBrief]

Unless GM starts filling new truck and SUV 6.2's from the factory with 0W40, oil is not the culprit here.....

The issue is defective parts and an oil port, by changing the oil viscosity the oil port is addressed.

The 2025 has a redesigned oil port and different parts (or perhaps parts supplier).

 

[Stbentoak]

Not to mention have you seen the price of 0W-40 supercar oil? There are like 3-4 Mobil variations of 0W-40.. Super car is like 25 bucks a qt. Plus the "You need to change it more frequently crowd" ? Talk about expensive.....What if you go like 3 years on this 0-40 stuff before a failure?

Maybe I'm wrong and "Supercar" variant wasn't the prescription....

 

[blanchard7684]

This guy is really scientific and detailed. Good video.

Cliff notes

0w20 won't make your engine blow up/seize or malfunction if you continue to use it and keep it changed often...aka don't get lazy or cute with long oil change intervals.
0w20 and all other ultra low viscosity oils are designed to improve fuel consumption in a very specific drive cycle designated by SAE (for EPA).
Downside is reduced safety factor in oil film thickness.
Upside is statistically validated improvement in fuel economy.

0w40 is good because it has exceptional HTHS capability. 0w40 has 3.5-3.6 HTHS viscosity (cSt)
HTHS is a worst case scenario for what a bearing "sees".
2.3 -2.6 is minimum HTHS by SAE...0w20 operates right at 2.6 cSt. Right at the minimum.
Therefore not much safety factor.

Stribeck curve shows the tribological regimes for lubrication: boundary, mixed, and hydrodynamic

All "0" oils will have the same boundary lubrication. And the mixed lubrication will be similar. The separation happens with hydrodynamic lubrication.

The stribeck factor of speed x viscosity/load is from Sommerfeld formula. In other words, Sommerfeld picks up where Stribeck leaves off.

My take from the video and current recall information:

0W40 is recommended because GM has found a defect in manufacturing that is upsetting the bearing clearances where by 0w20 can't carry the load effectively. This is likely a reduced clearance scenario: crank taper, rod concentricity, bearing crush issue from rod caps being slightly off spec.

This creates a hot spot such that 0w20 film thickness drops to a point that looks like a huge increase in eccentricity ratio in Sommerfeld.

To counteract this, a higher viscosity oil is used.

The new replacement engines and the 2025's are spec'd with 0w20.