2026 Tahoe with 6.2, im all good?

[jfoj]

Yup you seem to understand. With fuel dilution and the extreme bearing loads due to high torque low RPM operation, the oil is just beaten into submission. The lower the RPM the more difficult it is to sustain an oil wedge, especially with thin engine oils. Causing frequent mixed and boundary layer lubrication conditions.

Add on the fact the oiling path in the V8's and probably other engines feed the main and rod bearings LAST. I would love to have an oil pressure transducer tied into the front main bearing oil supply on the V8 that can accurately track and log the oil pressure variations while under various condition. I would bet there would be all sorts of pressure variations due to the DFM system and variable cam timing requiring oil pressure and volume to operate at a high frequency leaving the main and rod bearings to suffer an early demise!

 

[LegalBrief]

1qt every 2k miles is normal on some vehicles

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-11010490-0001.pdf#:~:text=As%20a%20result%2C%20varying%20rates,State%2C%20Provincial%2C%20and%2For%20Local%20laws

 

[Marky Dissod]

1qt every 2k miles is normal on some vehicles

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2024/MC-11010490-0001.pdf#:~:text=As%20a%20result%2C%20varying%20rates,State%2C%20Provincial%2C%20and%2For%20Local%20laws

By some vehicles, they mean every vehicle that GM sells, yeah? How often do you think she's telling the truth when she says she has a headache?
If she issued a Tech Service Bulletin, would you be more likely to believe her the next time?
GM is going to convince a lot of people of this bullschidt, but that doesn't change the fact that it's bullschidt.

They're pinching pennies during the assembly process til they bleed, and passing the costs onto buyers. Case in point: L87.

 

[LegalBrief]

@Marky Dissod The L87 issue is a sub contractor error just like the back up camera. GM takes the heat but the subcontractor messed up (and has to pay).

 

[TML_75]

Been checking oil level since delivery to now. 4k miles and hasn’t burned a drop using the factory 0w20. I would think if I had bearing issues it would show some consumption.

Have you asked your dealership to change your oil from 0w-20 to 5w-30? My Denali is new 2026, but I have already taken it to the shop to ask them to change my oil over to 5w-30 or even 0w-40. I was sadly informed to WAIT until something goes wrong? I asked for a service manager. He ignored me and said that’s not the process. I asked why not if I’m trying to prolong my engine life and keep my family and I safe. I didn’t get a reply. I was left standing in the service area for about 15-20 mins. Also, you may want to invest in a catch basin and take it off when you go to the dealership. It’s a shame we have to be mechanics for something we purchased that is supposed to be under warranty. Good Luck

 

[ReaperHWK]

Have you asked your dealership to change your oil from 0w-20 to 5w-30? My Denali is new 2026, but I have already taken it to the shop to ask them to change my oil over to 5w-30 or even 0w-40. I was sadly informed to WAIT until something goes wrong? I asked for a service manager. He ignored me and said that’s not the process. I asked why not if I’m trying to prolong my engine life and keep my family and I safe. I didn’t get a reply. I was left standing in the service area for about 15-20 mins. Also, you may want to invest in a catch basin and take it off when you go to the dealership. It’s a shame we have to be mechanics for something we purchased that is supposed to be under warranty. Good Luck

Yes I have a catch can and my truck never sees a dealer because I don’t trust them.

I change my own oil and will be using the 0w-20 if I observe zero oil consumption and I get good oil analysis back; that’s just my thoughts on it. Means the bearings are good and will work as designed with 0w-20.


If you want to use 0w-40 I don’t see the harm vs possibly less gas mileage but I’d wager you’d have to change the oil yourself as the dealer has to follow GM guidance for warranty work. If you change the oil to 0w-40 and something goes wrong GM could deny the claim and state the improper oil was used.

I see the dealers point on this one but yeah they should explain it.

Even for my own oil changes I use penzoil platinum that meets the dexos spec. I can’t use the ultra platinum because it’s not dexos certified.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Next time you drain the motor oil, after it's all drained out, before buttoning up the pan, snake a flexy scope inside the oil pan, get a good look around in there.
If you notice anything of concern in there, you'll have a better answer than any guesses we can take from here.

Is NO ONE going to even consider examining inside the oil pan after an oil change?
At least cut up an oil filter, for GM's sake.

 

[ReaperHWK]

Is NO ONE going to even consider examining inside the oil pan after an oil change?
At least cut up an oil filter, for GM's sake.

No. Any oil analysis is better than looking at fragments your eye can’t even see. If you can see anything physical you got bigger problems.

I also have a magnetic drain plug if there is anything in there it’s also a problem.

Physically looking is a fools errand. Any bearing debris would be microns that even your oil
Filter wouldn’t capture.


If there is no oil consumption, clean oil analysis, and not even any metallic specs on the magnetic drain plug that’s the best test you can do. I’d say it’s good

 

[jfoj]

See my comments in this post, while PUP 0W20 and 5W30 are not included 0W40 is. This is a recent turn of events for Pennzoil.

Best Oil Filter for Tahoe Z71 2019 Midnight Edition

Sounds like a way for them to weasel out of any warranty work... Exactly. Even though it is deceitful, it is a business. The odds are in the warranty company's favor and their whole business is to keep money. They are always looking for a way to get out of paying a claim......ALWAYS.

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

 

[ReaperHWK]

See my comments in this post, while PUP 0W20 and 5W30 are not included 0W40 is. This is a recent turn of events for Pennzoil.

Best Oil Filter for Tahoe Z71 2019 Midnight Edition

Sounds like a way for them to weasel out of any warranty work... Exactly. Even though it is deceitful, it is a business. The odds are in the warranty company's favor and their whole business is to keep money. They are always looking for a way to get out of paying a claim......ALWAYS.

www.tahoeyukonforum.com

Hopefully they can certify 0w-20 soon….

 

[jfoj]

Not sure that will happen . The 0W40 approval is conditional due to the lack of 0W40 availability. But I would run any of the PUP regardless of approval.

 

[Marky Dissod]

No. Any oil analysis is better than looking at fragments your eye can’t even see. If you can see anything physical you got bigger problems.
I also have a magnetic drain plug if there is anything in there it’s also a problem.
Physically looking is a fools errand. Any bearing debris would be microns that even your oil filter wouldn’t capture.

If there is no oil consumption, clean oil analysis, and not even any metallic specs on the magnetic drain plug that’s the best test you can do. I’d say it’s good

Have you seen any teardown videos of L87s that failed prematurely? Every single one has enough swarf in the pan visible to anyone with 20/100 or better.

 

[ReaperHWK]

Have you seen any teardown videos of L87s that failed prematurely? Every single one has enough swarf in the pan visible to anyone with 20/100 or better.

I don’t think that’s the issue with these motors. Any bearing wear would be inside the caps you won’t be able to see anything…….

Besides I’ll post all my stuff at 10k miles; what I’m doing really negates the need for any visual inspection. This motor is covered to 96k miles anyway with the extended warranty. I’d prefer it to blow up catastrophically then slowly eat itself anyway.

 

[BacDoc]

Yes I have a catch can and my truck never sees a dealer because I don’t trust them.

I change my own oil and will be using the 0w-20 if I observe zero oil consumption and I get good oil analysis back; that’s just my thoughts on it. Means the bearings are good and will work as designed with 0w-20.


If you want to use 0w-40 I don’t see the harm vs possibly less gas mileage but I’d wager you’d have to change the oil yourself as the dealer has to follow GM guidance for warranty work. If you change the oil to 0w-40 and something goes wrong GM could deny the claim and state the improper oil was used.

I see the dealers point on this one but yeah they should explain it.

Even for my own oil changes I use penzoil platinum that meets the dexos spec. I can’t use the ultra platinum because it’s not dexos certified.

My 2024 Tahoe was part of the recall and it passed the test and got 0-40W after the test and the extended warranty as long as the 0-40w is used.
Since my OEM is good for 3/36 and longer on the drive train I will have the dealer oil changes.

I have the oil changed at 4k or less and I check the oil level consistently.
Haven’t seen any oil usage based on dipstick inspection and the 0-40W has not affected fuel economy at all.
Maybe just subjective as I always used higher viscosity oil in my previous trucks, but the engine sounds better and just feels smoother IMO but definitely no change in fuel usage.

I am in Florida and tow frequently and I know that 0-20W was original spec but 0-40W just seems more logical to me.

 

[Vladimir2306]

Have you seen any teardown videos of L87s that failed prematurely? Every single one has enough swarf in the pan visible to anyone with 20/100 or better.

In my Yukon 2022, we cut the filter every time we changed the oil, before the engine broke down, we also cut the filter 1,200 miles before the breakdown, it was perfect, free of chips and dust. And after 1,200 miles, the engine jammed.

 

[BacDoc]

In my Yukon 2022, we cut the filter every time we changed the oil, before the engine broke down, we also cut the filter 1,200 miles before the breakdown, it was perfect, free of chips and dust. And after 1,200 miles, the engine jammed.

And this is the frustrating thing!
It seems like there is no way you can tell when these engines will last over 100k or fail less than 10k.

On the optimistic side the failure rate is higher than we like but low enough to be statistically significant.

For reference, some medical procedures have evolved to be very effective but might have a 75% success rate even with the latest technology and AI assisted surgery. That’s a 25% fail rate for procedures like catheter ablation for A-fib and heart arrhythmias.

Maybe not the best example but perspective is very important.

 

[MileHighTahoez71]

Been checking oil level since delivery to now. 4k miles and hasn’t burned a drop using the factory 0w20. I would think if I had bearing issues it would show some consumption.

Well, without GM being transparent with what the problem is/was.......none of us will know. My 2022 6.2 Tahoe ran perfectly for 75k miles, zero problems, regular maintenance...... then had "recall" procedure done, with oil changed to 0-40, and at 77k the engine failed while cruising at 80 mph on the interstate. Picking it up today, with 2 weeks total down time to towing to the dealer, waited 3-4 days for new engine, and almost 5 days to install.

 

[ZKWBQD]

Been checking oil level since delivery to now. 4k miles and hasn’t burned a drop using the factory 0w20. I would think if I had bearing issues it would show some consumption.

I don't trust the sewing machine oil. I use 5W-30

 

[LEsoftballdad]

Greg from Demonworks is on the record as saying the 3% number for engine failures is false.

"GM does say 3%, but as a tech that has been replacing these engines for a few years now with this issue, just not under a recall, I would say they need to 10x that 3%."

Those are frightening numbers. And you'll get the same garbage for the next six years.

P.S. The Pico test doesn't test your oil.

 

[Hiebs]

Been checking oil level since delivery to now. 4k miles and hasn’t burned a drop using the factory 0w20. I would think if I had bearing issues it would show some consumption.

2022 with no oil consumption, motor grenaded at 27,000. And looking on line the 25 and 26s are still having issues.