BREAKING: GM is officially recalling the L87

[BacDoc]

As far as parts availability when a Recall is released, it is almost always the case that parts are not initially available. If I owned a vehicle in the recall window, I would change to 0W40 now and document it, this way if it takes 3-6 months for parts and oil to show up, hopefully you would be saving your engine based on GM's solution.

Understand that there will be a Mobil 1 0W40 Supercar oil shortage!!!

They only made about 40-50k Corvettes the past few years, now you will need close to 6,000,000 quarts of oil at once!!! Good luck, I have what I need for the the next 15,000 miles and it is not Mobil 1.

You have provided a lot of great information with the data to support your thesis - thanks for that!

Im not as worried about the inconvenience/time involved with replacing my engine if my motor is in that 4% failure, but it is the “loss of propulsion” specifically when it might happen. That is the scary part!

90% of my driving is on smooth flat roads and 45-55 mph max but I do use the interstate where traffic can get packed running 75-80mph. Lack of propulsion of any 6.2l out there is like playing Russian roulette! There are hundreds of these GM V8’s running around here on the east coast of Florida! I still have yet to see even one on side of road broken down or on a flat bed.

 

[22BlackDenali]

I cannot recall if I tossed this thought/idea out yet.

So if GM is SO CONFIDENT that switching to 0W40 engine oil will allow all of these engines to continue to operate, where is the 15 Year/150,000 Warranty on the the original or replacement engines in the recalled vehicle group??

I look at is this way, if GM was so confident that the recalled vehicles original or replacement engines will operate without a problem after moving to 0W40 engine oil, it will cost GM $0.00 to offer the additional engine Warranty if there are no engine failures! If engines fail, then GM needs to step up to help out all the guinea pigs.

This would also help the resale value and owner interest in used vehicles within the Recall window.

I like your logic. It would be some reassurance that GM is trying to do the right thing.

 

[Lonny]

In absence of any GM solution right now - should we just go ahead and make the change over to 0W-40 as a holdover until the trucks are able to get formally inspected and updated?

 

[KMeloney]

People here have advocated for that prior to the recall. And others figure that the OEM specs have gotten them this far without issue. You’re going to have to do whichever sits best with you.

 

[jfoj]

In absence of any GM solution right now - should we just go ahead and make the change over to 0W-40 as a holdover until the trucks are able to get formally inspected and updated?

My take is a 2 prong approach.

Fresh 0W20 oil is probably better than what you have in the crankcase at the moment. I would hope that dealers should start to get more guidance and parts in the next 6 to 8 weeks.

Or you can change to 0W40 in the engine on your own. Just realize that to properly complete the Recall Campaign, the dealer will need to perform checking for P0016, perform an oil change to 0W40 along with replacing the oil fill cap and either giving you an addendum to the owners manual. Unclear if this will be a peel and stick cover page or just a supplemental paper to add to the manual to just add to the confusion in the long run. Peel and stick would be a better solution?

Unclear when the dealer will have the parts and when you could take the vehicle in. Ironically you will probably change the oil and then next week the dealer will contact you and say they are ready for the recall!!

Sometimes it is hard to win.

 

[jfoj]

You have provided a lot of great information with the data to support your thesis - thanks for that!

Im not as worried about the inconvenience/time involved with replacing my engine if my motor is in that 4% failure, but it is the “loss of propulsion” specifically when it might happen. That is the scary part!

90% of my driving is on smooth flat roads and 45-55 mph max but I do use the interstate where traffic can get packed running 75-80mph. Lack of propulsion of any 6.2l out there is like playing Russian roulette! There are hundreds of these GM V8’s running around here on the east coast of Florida! I still have yet to see even one on side of road broken down or on a flat bed.

Moral of that story, do not get in line close behind any late model GM that may have a 6.2l!

Unfortunately we may not know the failure percentage for some time, we have all become accustomed to engines that should run 200,000k+ miles with reasonable maintenance.

Looking back I should have been nicer to my 2005 6.0l, but life was different and much busier then. I just wish the rocker panels were not rust out so bad, otherwise I would be putting the old 6.0l on life support to keep it going longer. I still drive it more than my 2024 at the moment, keeping the 2024 more for highway runs.

 

[15burban]

I don't have a dog in this fight but I do have a question for the guys who do. Are you feeling lucky?

A thicker oil although it should protect better will NOT fix a manufacturing (part) defect. So my opinion is switching to 0w40 just prolongs it until the catastrophe happens. Whether that's an extra 5 miles or 50k.

I wish you all with 6.2s the best of luck! I know I'd be pissed with an expensive paperweight with low miles on it.

 

[jfoj]

Ah you 5.3l guys!

I guess time will tell if there is a danger zone on mileage with the 0W40. We may not know for months or years.

But anyone that has a failure with the 0W40 needs to fill out a NHTSA complaint form so the ticker can start up again if needed.

Hopefully there will not be a sequel to the Movie 6.2l Hell, like 6.2l Hell 2!

 

[Jay P Wy]

2019 & 2020 info for the Silverado/Sierra L87s.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2025/04/gm-explains-why-6-2l-v8-l87-engine-recall-doesnt-apply-to-2019-2020-vehicles/

 

[viven44]

I'm neither a mathematician nor a mechanic. Are you saying that the percentage the oil is diluted after a sample mileage can be multiplied out over the number of miles you drive thereafter, and the dilution percentage will climb linearly with the miles you drive?

Yes it will just linearly increase........ You are adding an extra ingredient (fuel) to the oil at a steady rate over the 7500 miles. That is ... unless the fuel vaporizes fully / cleanly somehow (which I don't believe happens once its mixed with the oil).

Direct injection oil dilution is a big problem. All the DI engines have the same issue to some level. In extreme scenarios, you will find 1-2 quarts extra oil between oil change intervals. I have personally observed this on a 2018 Honda Accord with the 1.5L turbo DI engine.

Personally I haven't seen these GM engines display this characteristic of higher oil level due to dilution...( I have changed oil many many times on our 2018 Tahoe that short tripped all the time but that sucker burned oil as well at relatively low mileage....)... not because of the dilution math... but a different math.. I don't believe dilution is as big a problem on these engines. It is more of an issue on small engines with "loose rings"/Turbochargers, and small chamber/displacement.. The bigger the displacement, the more the appetite for fuel (and thus tolerance for a little extra)... at least thats my simplistic view.