New bulletin/Campaign 6.2 L87

newdude · May 14, 2025

23 minutes ago, customboss said:

customboss

Posted 17 hours ago

GM BLINKS FOR BREATHING SPACE??? Confusing a confused and pissed off customer base with more disappointment?
Creating another problem.

GM Recall Sparks Supply Chain Concerns Following Sudden Switch to dexos^® R SAE 0W-40

Tom Glenn

Jobbersworld.com

General Motors has issued a large-scale safety recall affecting nearly 600,000 vehicles equipped with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine. The recall cites potential internal engine defects linked to crankshaft and bearing durability, which could lead to a sudden loss of propulsion. It applies to select 2021–2024 models, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe; GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL; and Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV.

Under the recall procedure, GM dealerships will inspect affected engines. Units deemed fit for continued operation will receive an oil and filter change, and a new SAE 0W-40 fill cap. Critically, GM is mandating a change from the previously recommended dexos1 Gen3 SAE 0W-20 motor oil to dexos R SAE 0W-40.

This mid-year viscosity shift could have significant ramifications for the lubricants industry. If fully executed, the switch could displace approximately 570,000 gallons of 0W-20 motor oil while driving equivalent demand for SAE 0W-40 by year-end. The abrupt change creates volatility in inventory planning and purchasing patterns across the supply chain. Although the potential impact on volume accounts for only about 1.5% of U.S. passenger car motor oil (PCMO) demand, it is expected to significantly elevate the profile of SAE 0W-40—a viscosity grade that currently sees limited sales. In the aftermarket, consumers will likely face a price premium for this specialized oil.

While it is still too soon to determine how many vehicles will switch to 0W-40, the prospect of a widespread transition has raised concerns about potential supply shortages. The rapid shift could strain production capacities, leading to backorders and delays in fulfilling demand. Distributors, retailers, and quick-lube operators may face increasing difficulty securing adequate volumes, further complicating their ability to meet customer needs. A key challenge lies in the limited availability of dexos R-approved SAE 0W-40 motor oils. A review of General Motors’ official list of licensed dexos R products shows only four SAE 0W-40 formulations, all supplied exclusively by ExxonMobil. GM specifically recommends Mobil 1 Supercar dexos R SAE 0W-40 for the affected applications. This stands in sharp contrast to dexos1 Gen3 SAE 0W-20, which is broadly available and produced by nearly all major lubricant manufacturers.

As a result, dexos R-approved SAE 0W-40 oils are distributed by a much smaller pool of suppliers and may be challenging to procure. With such a constrained supply base, any surge in demand—such as that triggered by the recent GM recall—is likely to further strain availability.

Although other SAE 0W-40 motor oils can be found in the API licensee directory, only those supplied by ExxonMobil currently appear on GM’s official list of dexos R licensed brands. Expanding this list is likely to be lengthy, as the dexos certification procedure is rigorous and costly. Securing approval typically requires at least a year to complete all testing and administrative steps.

It is unclear whether GM has initiated efforts to approve additional products in light of the recent issue and associated remedy. The initial oil change under the recall is being performed at no cost to consumers, but is limited to service at GM dealerships. Consequently, it may take a considerable amount of time before other oils are approved and consumers are presented with broader options for service providers and oil brands.

The timing of the recall adds an additional layer of disruption. Taking place mid-year—after the majority of 2025 procurement plans have been finalized—it has the potential to significantly impact inventory allocations. Distributors are now faced with the need to reevaluate and adjust their ordering cycles, and in some cases, explore alternative supply sources to ensure sufficient volumes of SAE 0W-40 motor oil are available to meet updated demand forecasts.

While GM maintains that the recent change in oil viscosity is solely related to a specific crankshaft defect, the decision will likely reignite consumer skepticism toward low-viscosity motor oils. SAE 0W-20 has long been promoted for its fuel economy advantages; however, concerns persist regarding its performance in high-load and high-temperature conditions. The broader implications of this recall may extend well beyond the immediate issue, potentially influencing long-term consumer preferences and prompting original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to reevaluate their viscosity recommendations and formulation strategies.

This development also raises questions about the real-world acceptance of SAE XW-20 oils, which are expected to be introduced in future Class 8 diesel engines under the upcoming PC-12 specification.

GM has emphasized that the issue is isolated to a single engine platform and does not indicate a broader change in its stance on SAE 0W-20, which remains its primary recommended engine oil. V8 engines have become increasingly uncommon in modern passenger vehicles, and SAE 0W-20 has seen widespread adoption since its introduction by Honda and Toyota in 2009 for most gasoline-powered applications. Today, it is one of the fastest-growing viscosity grades globally, supported by an industry-wide push for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Aside from this specific case, no significant or widespread issues regarding using SAE 0W-20 have been reported.

Note: dexos® is a registered trademark of General Motors LLC“

Our GM oil distributor placed a 10 case limit on the M1 Supercar 0w40 Dexos R per order. I scored 10 from them and then 20 more cases from one of our ACDelco distributors (payed a bit more for it). We usually order twice a year for 0w40 to handle Corvette/Camaro demand.

Last year I moved 180 quarts (30 cases, most Vette/Camaro that use it take 10 quarts so 18-20 oil changes), I'm at 60 quarts (10 cases) this year so far. 206 quarts on hand at the moment. But we've sold a few more Vettes that last year that haven't even come in for their first service yet either so my usage on this will go up quite a bit.

Edited May 14, 2025 by newdude

dieselfan1 · May 14, 2025

What a shittshow this is turning into

WeGone · May 14, 2025

6 minutes ago, dieselfan1 said:

What a shittshow this is turning into

And all I want is a reliable truck that I can safely travel on long trips in and not worry about getting left on the side of the road... Guess this years coast to coast trip is out!!!

MrLeadFoot · May 14, 2025

2 hours ago, customboss said:

Posted 17 hours ago

GM BLINKS FOR BREATHING SPACE??? Confusing a confused and pissed off customer base with more disappointment?
Creating another problem.

GM Recall Sparks Supply Chain Concerns Following Sudden Switch to dexos^® R SAE 0W-40

Tom Glenn

Jobbersworld.com

General Motors has issued a large-scale safety recall affecting nearly 600,000 vehicles equipped with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine. The recall cites potential internal engine defects linked to crankshaft and bearing durability, which could lead to a sudden loss of propulsion. It applies to select 2021–2024 models, including the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe; GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL; and Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV.

Under the recall procedure, GM dealerships will inspect affected engines. Units deemed fit for continued operation will receive an oil and filter change, and a new SAE 0W-40 fill cap. Critically, GM is mandating a change from the previously recommended dexos1 Gen3 SAE 0W-20 motor oil to dexos R SAE 0W-40.

This mid-year viscosity shift could have significant ramifications for the lubricants industry. If fully executed, the switch could displace approximately 570,000 gallons of 0W-20 motor oil while driving equivalent demand for SAE 0W-40 by year-end. The abrupt change creates volatility in inventory planning and purchasing patterns across the supply chain. Although the potential impact on volume accounts for only about 1.5% of U.S. passenger car motor oil (PCMO) demand, it is expected to significantly elevate the profile of SAE 0W-40—a viscosity grade that currently sees limited sales. In the aftermarket, consumers will likely face a price premium for this specialized oil.

While it is still too soon to determine how many vehicles will switch to 0W-40, the prospect of a widespread transition has raised concerns about potential supply shortages. The rapid shift could strain production capacities, leading to backorders and delays in fulfilling demand. Distributors, retailers, and quick-lube operators may face increasing difficulty securing adequate volumes, further complicating their ability to meet customer needs. A key challenge lies in the limited availability of dexos R-approved SAE 0W-40 motor oils. A review of General Motors’ official list of licensed dexos R products shows only four SAE 0W-40 formulations, all supplied exclusively by ExxonMobil. GM specifically recommends Mobil 1 Supercar dexos R SAE 0W-40 for the affected applications. This stands in sharp contrast to dexos1 Gen3 SAE 0W-20, which is broadly available and produced by nearly all major lubricant manufacturers.

As a result, dexos R-approved SAE 0W-40 oils are distributed by a much smaller pool of suppliers and may be challenging to procure. With such a constrained supply base, any surge in demand—such as that triggered by the recent GM recall—is likely to further strain availability.

Although other SAE 0W-40 motor oils can be found in the API licensee directory, only those supplied by ExxonMobil currently appear on GM’s official list of dexos R licensed brands. Expanding this list is likely to be lengthy, as the dexos certification procedure is rigorous and costly. Securing approval typically requires at least a year to complete all testing and administrative steps.

It is unclear whether GM has initiated efforts to approve additional products in light of the recent issue and associated remedy. The initial oil change under the recall is being performed at no cost to consumers, but is limited to service at GM dealerships. Consequently, it may take a considerable amount of time before other oils are approved and consumers are presented with broader options for service providers and oil brands.

The timing of the recall adds an additional layer of disruption. Taking place mid-year—after the majority of 2025 procurement plans have been finalized—it has the potential to significantly impact inventory allocations. Distributors are now faced with the need to reevaluate and adjust their ordering cycles, and in some cases, explore alternative supply sources to ensure sufficient volumes of SAE 0W-40 motor oil are available to meet updated demand forecasts.

While GM maintains that the recent change in oil viscosity is solely related to a specific crankshaft defect, the decision will likely reignite consumer skepticism toward low-viscosity motor oils. SAE 0W-20 has long been promoted for its fuel economy advantages; however, concerns persist regarding its performance in high-load and high-temperature conditions. The broader implications of this recall may extend well beyond the immediate issue, potentially influencing long-term consumer preferences and prompting original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to reevaluate their viscosity recommendations and formulation strategies.

This development also raises questions about the real-world acceptance of SAE XW-20 oils, which are expected to be introduced in future Class 8 diesel engines under the upcoming PC-12 specification.

GM has emphasized that the issue is isolated to a single engine platform and does not indicate a broader change in its stance on SAE 0W-20, which remains its primary recommended engine oil. V8 engines have become increasingly uncommon in modern passenger vehicles, and SAE 0W-20 has seen widespread adoption since its introduction by Honda and Toyota in 2009 for most gasoline-powered applications. Today, it is one of the fastest-growing viscosity grades globally, supported by an industry-wide push for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions. Aside from this specific case, no significant or widespread issues regarding using SAE 0W-20 have been reported.

Note: dexos® is a registered trademark of General Motors LLC“

Thanks for doing that. That said, Holy Crap, I never thought of all this, and I was wondering what we would for subsequent oil changes if our motors don't get replaced. Don't tell me we'd be forced to use dealerships for oil changes, because that would be llegal. What a nightmare this has become. I don;t know whether I hope my motor blows up or mine ends up being unaffected, but I have a suspcion that every single 6.2 in the specified date range IS indeed affected, and it's just a matter of when will it sieze.

MrLeadFoot · May 14, 2025

1 hour ago, WeGone said:

And all I want is a reliable truck that I can safely travel on long trips in and not worry about getting left on the side of the road... Guess this years coast to coast trip is out!!!

I would go on that trip. Perfect opprtunity to give your motor a chance to blow up. I mean, when else would you have that opportunity? And, if it does blow up, they have to give you a loaner of some sort. It says so right in the bulletin. And, you can be the guinea pig for the rest of us to see how GM handles someone breaking down 4 states away when you drive that loaner home. Do they ship your fixed truck back to you and pick up the loaner for the return shipping?

On the other hand, if it doesn't blow up, maybe you have one that's fine. The only problem I can see in that scenario is your trip will rack up some miles, so you have to do an oil change sooner, but what happens if there's no 0w40 available? Do they expect you to keep running on the old oil?

Edited May 14, 2025 by MrLeadFoot

WeGone · May 14, 2025

5 minutes ago, MrLeadFoot said:

I would go on that trip. Perfect opprtunity to give your motor a chance to blow up. I mean, when else would you have that opportunity? And, if it doesn blow up, they have to give you a loner of some sort. It say so right in the bulletin. On the other hand, if it doesn't blow up, maybe you have one that's fine. The only problem I can see in that scenario is your trip will make it so you have to do an oil change sooner, and what if there's no 0w40 available?

LOL Already been on 2 trouble free coast to coast trips one pulling 6500lbs. But than I'm only at 16K miles so far.

Edited May 14, 2025 by WeGone

MrLeadFoot · May 14, 2025

49 minutes ago, WeGone said:

LOL Already been on 2 trouble free coast to coast trips one pulling 6500lbs. But than I'm only at 16K miles so far.

I know, this bother me, too. I, too, have low miles. Not as low as you, but somewhere around 24,000. I was initially thinking that, if there was a tolerance issue, it would have reared its ugly head pretty quickly, but I guess this spec is off by so little, it takes quite a while for something to wear abnormally. Obviously, this took 28,000 vehicles of which some had many tens of thousands of miles on them, so even if you pass the recall "inspection" doesn't mean that something won't happen down the road, so you always have to worry. I think the only way those of us who have the date range engines will ever feel comfortable again is if our motors get swapped. I'm sure the undue stress of worrying about this can be converted to a dollar value by a law professional, but this would not be worth pursuing by such a person unless it's a class action, which would make it worth their while but, unfortunately, but not the owners'. That said, I can see how an argument can be made that the undue stress exacerbates other existing issues.

Let's just hope that, in the end, GM decides to do the right thing here, and replace all the engines. If they do decide to do this, please look for the guy with the blue face, because I'll be holding my breath.

Edited May 14, 2025 by MrLeadFoot

Andrew Martens · May 15, 2025

Now I noticed oil on my garage floor. Had it in for the injectors anyway and they said the oil pan is leaking oil.

dieselfan1 · May 15, 2025

I wonder how many failures had higher mileage? Say 50- 60-70K?

Thats my question.

I'm at 49,000 on my 23 and I'm not too worried. I did change the oil to Mobil 1 0w40 supercar oil though. But if it goes it goes. As long as I get a truck for a loaner I'm fine with getting a new motor.

brianf60 · May 15, 2025

5 hours ago, WeGone said:

And all I want is a reliable truck that I can safely travel on long trips in and not worry about getting left on the side of the road... Guess this years coast to coast trip is out!!!

This is exactly where I’m at. I took a trip to Florida in March with my wife and 3 kids (from Toronto, Ontario). About half way home the valvebody failed on my wife’s Tahoe. The valvebody was another item that suffered recall recently. In this case GM chose to reprogram the engine computer to only shift into 5th when it detected a failure. I’m it was way cheaper for GM to do this instead of replacing all the effected units. Anyway it failed 12 hours from home on a Saturday night. We ended up needing a hotel until Tuesday. Dealer of course is closed weekends. Monday afternoon they informed us that the valvebody was faulty and on a national back order. “May take months to get one”.
My wife and 2 kids got ride home with her parents who were still in Florida and cut their trip short to help. My son and I had to fly home.
About a month later GM got it the valvebody replaced so I flew down to pick it up. My wife missed 2 days of work and I have lost 4 days. GM told us they would reimburse us for the expenses. So far they have paid half and are now giving us the runaround about the rest. We are out thousands but GM sure saved by not being proactive and replacing all the effected parts.

I have a 2023 Trailboss with the same valvebody and also a 6.2 motor. I’m afraid to take it on any trips. My son has a go kart race 6 hours from home next month and I’m going to have to pay to transport his kart. I’m not confident my truck will be problem free and to be honest I can’t afford to pay the expenses if it fails and I’m towing g a trailer. It was a disaster with just the vehicle and no trailer.
FWIW I have held off posting this because GM had told us they would reimburse us but they haven’t come through.
My wife wants to trade both vehicles in for 2025 models but I’m not confident that would be any better. At least for us. If a pair of 2 year old vehicles aren’t reliable can you really expect that spending another $80,000 to $90,000 will?

MrLeadFoot · May 15, 2025

1 hour ago, Andrew Martens said:

Now I noticed oil on my garage floor. Had it in for the injectors anyway and they said the oil pan is leaking oil.

Sh|t, so sorry to hear this. Maybe the rest of us shouldn't be wishing they would replace our engines. But, like I said before, the dealer network is not equipped to handle replacing all these engines. Just look how many "come backs" they're doing to get yours right! Again, so sorry for your troubles.

Byrds8 · May 15, 2025

At this point, I would rather them just give me a 10yr 150K mi warranty and send me on my way with the 0W40 oil.

As for worrying if it will die, she's gonna go or she's gonna blow. Why sweat it every day.

MrLeadFoot · May 15, 2025

51 minutes ago, brianf60 said:

This is exactly where I’m at. I took a trip to Florida in March with my wife and 3 kids (from Toronto, Ontario). About half way home the valvebody failed on my wife’s Tahoe. The valvebody was another item that suffered recall recently. In this case GM chose to reprogram the engine computer to only shift into 5th when it detected a failure. I’m it was way cheaper for GM to do this instead of replacing all the effected units. Anyway it failed 12 hours from home on a Saturday night. We ended up needing a hotel until Tuesday. Dealer of course is closed weekends. Monday afternoon they informed us that the valvebody was faulty and on a national back order. “May take months to get one”.
My wife and 2 kids got ride home with her parents who were still in Florida and cut their trip short to help. My son and I had to fly home.
About a month later GM got it the valvebody replaced so I flew down to pick it up. My wife missed 2 days of work and I have lost 4 days. GM told us they would reimburse us for the expenses. So far they have paid half and are now giving us the runaround about the rest. We are out thousands but GM sure saved by not being proactive and replacing all the effected parts.

I have a 2023 Trailboss with the same valvebody and also a 6.2 motor. I’m afraid to take it on any trips. My son has a go kart race 6 hours from home next month and I’m going to have to pay to transport his kart. I’m not confident my truck will be problem free and to be honest I can’t afford to pay the expenses if it fails and I’m towing g a trailer. It was a disaster with just the vehicle and no trailer.
FWIW I have held off posting this because GM had told us they would reimburse us but they haven’t come through.
My wife wants to trade both vehicles in for 2025 models but I’m not confident that would be any better. At least for us. If a pair of 2 year old vehicles aren’t reliable can you really expect that spending another $80,000 to $90,000 will?

OMG, I wouldn't even consider another GM had that happened to me. Especially since they said they'd reimburse you. So sorry to hear of your experience!

Now I'm sorry I sold my 2000 Suburban. I had 235k on it, and actually considered redoing everything including the entire powertrain and interior. It would have been much cheaper than buying my new truck, but I figured things MUST be much better made nowadays. Now, I'm kind of kicking myself in the a$$.

Edited May 15, 2025 by MrLeadFoot

MrLeadFoot · May 15, 2025

10 minutes ago, Byrds8 said:

At this point, I would rather them just give me a 10yr 150K mi warranty and send me on my way with the 0W40 oil.

As for worrying if it will die, she's gonna go or she's gonna blow. Why sweat it every day.

I was thinking the same thing til I read brianf60's story. I bought my truck to tow my bass boat. I know there are many things that can cause a breakdown, but imagine what happens if you suddenly throw a rod while towing on a winding two-lane highway somewhere. GM probably hopes I perish in the subsequent accident so they don't have to deal with the ramifications of that engine failure.

Edited May 15, 2025 by MrLeadFoot

WeGone · May 15, 2025

10 hours ago, brianf60 said:

This is exactly where I’m at. I took a trip to Florida in March with my wife and 3 kids (from Toronto, Ontario). About half way home the valvebody failed on my wife’s Tahoe. The valvebody was another item that suffered recall recently. In this case GM chose to reprogram the engine computer to only shift into 5th when it detected a failure. I’m it was way cheaper for GM to do this instead of replacing all the effected units. Anyway it failed 12 hours from home on a Saturday night. We ended up needing a hotel until Tuesday. Dealer of course is closed weekends. Monday afternoon they informed us that the valvebody was faulty and on a national back order. “May take months to get one”.
My wife and 2 kids got ride home with her parents who were still in Florida and cut their trip short to help. My son and I had to fly home.
About a month later GM got it the valvebody replaced so I flew down to pick it up. My wife missed 2 days of work and I have lost 4 days. GM told us they would reimburse us for the expenses. So far they have paid half and are now giving us the runaround about the rest. We are out thousands but GM sure saved by not being proactive and replacing all the effected parts.

I have a 2023 Trailboss with the same valvebody and also a 6.2 motor. I’m afraid to take it on any trips. My son has a go kart race 6 hours from home next month and I’m going to have to pay to transport his kart. I’m not confident my truck will be problem free and to be honest I can’t afford to pay the expenses if it fails and I’m towing g a trailer. It was a disaster with just the vehicle and no trailer.
FWIW I have held off posting this because GM had told us they would reimburse us but they haven’t come through.
My wife wants to trade both vehicles in for 2025 models but I’m not confident that would be any better. At least for us. If a pair of 2 year old vehicles aren’t reliable can you really expect that spending another $80,000 to $90,000 will?

Wow this what I fear. For those that say just go on that 6K plus mile road trip and let it die... I'm 70 and don't want to deal with that kind of issue, thought this would be my last truck and I would enjoy it trouble free for at least 15 years. Hell my 2000 GMC may only have 134K and never had any issues never let me down, I trust it more than the 2021. I have owned over 30 GM vehicles and this may well be my last GM truck !