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6.2L L87 Powertrain Engine Noise (Lifter Failure) Question

clowe1243
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clowe1243 Enthusiast

clowe1243

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Need a little advice here before I just trade the truck in for a 2500 6.6L L8T and SPA it.  Really dont want to be left with a broken truck and lose value.
 

Just replaced my oil lines due to leaking, never leaked more than half a quart between 5k oil changes (barely noticeable on dip stick).  Afterwards, hopefully just paranoia, I hear a distinct powertrain noise.  Could have always been there, but now paying more attention.  Pretty sure the leak wouldn't have caused some kind of oil delivery issue to some of the internals.

I really don't think its the direct injection system, as that is still pretty distinct.

Took the truck into the dealer, and specifically asked for someone who has worked on the L87 (6.2) lifter failure, and they stated if it was the lifters/cam failing or making that noise, I would have a CEL and misfires/performance decrease.  Which I do not.

 

2019 L87 6.2L 10 Speed 56k miles (Outside Warranty)

2020truck Enthusiast

2020truck

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At what percent or miliage do you change your oil?  You should be changing it at 5k miles, I don't care what anyone else says.  

 

Personally if I were you,  trade it before you have transmission problems.  

 

I have a 2020 6.2l 10l80 112k miles.  93k trans idler bearing gave out and started whining. At 112k transmission failed. Well, slight slip then fishbite but dealer said needed a transmission. So about 14k worth of trans work at the dealer.  

 

 

 

 

clowe1243 Enthusiast

clowe1243

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4 hours ago, 2020truck said:

At what percent or miliage do you change your oil?  You should be changing it at 5k miles, I don't care what anyone else says.  

 

Personally if I were you,  trade it before you have transmission problems.  

 

I have a 2020 6.2l 10l80 112k miles.  93k trans idler bearing gave out and started whining. At 112k transmission failed. Well, slight slip then fishbite but dealer said needed a transmission. So about 14k worth of trans work at the dealer.  

 

 

 

 

5k always...maybe twice did it go ~100 miles past waiting for royal purple to be delivered.  I really doubt an oil quality issue.  Today, at a bar, a GMC mech, so who knows how valid; suggested switching to 5w40 (the lifter failure "fix") which is still in court.  I honestly just need, but probably wont get, it's not a lifter failure, as a response.  If trans failure on the 10 speed, going 6.6L, it would be the same problems.  For all of that, I'd go Ford Godzilla motor.

newdude Senior Enthusiast

newdude

Posted
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8 hours ago, clowe1243 said:

5k always...maybe twice did it go ~100 miles past waiting for royal purple to be delivered.  I really doubt an oil quality issue.  Today, at a bar, a GMC mech, so who knows how valid; suggested switching to 5w40 (the lifter failure "fix") which is still in court.  I honestly just need, but probably wont get, it's not a lifter failure, as a response.  If trans failure on the 10 speed, going 6.6L, it would be the same problems.  For all of that, I'd go Ford Godzilla motor.

 

 

The oil is NOT a lifter failure switchover.  You are mixing up two separate things.  The 0w40 had to do with protecting engines built from 2021-2024 which is the 6.2 "recall" range and special coverage for engine machining and manufacturing defects with the crankshafts and connecting rods.  

 

 

BIGDOGx Senior Enthusiast

BIGDOGx

Posted
Posted
57 minutes ago, newdude said:

 

 

The oil is NOT a lifter failure switchover.  You are mixing up two separate things.  The 0w40 had to do with protecting engines built from 2021-Current which is the 6.2 "recall" range and special coverage for engine machining and manufacturing defects with the crankshafts and connecting rods.  

 

Sorry had to fix it for you, lower end 6.2 issues are still happening because the parts is still being made at the same Mexican sweatshop. Why should anyone expect anything other then failure when you have people being paid 5 bucks an hour to make crankshafts for your premium engine. The oil weight has beyond nothing to do with this issue, it has to do with paying near slave labor wages to make important engine components.

 

I think the Oil debate was just a stall tactic and a throw it against the wall change to see if the thicker oil helps prolong engine life to get out of warranty. I have watched tear downs of never run 6.2 engines and all the finish surfaces were trash but like i said you get what you pay for!

clowe1243 Enthusiast

clowe1243

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Well...went to drive to work this morning, and it kicked the bucket.  Its at the another dealer now; dont trust the previous one that just said "You do have powertrain noise.".  Hopefully just lifters and pushrods.  Fingers crossed they dont rape me, but I'm sure it will be 10k rebuild or 13k for crate.  Just sad this happened at only 56k miles.

2020truck Enthusiast

2020truck

Posted
Posted (edited)
On 5/1/2026 at 12:29 PM, clowe1243 said:

Well...went to drive to work this morning, and it kicked the bucket.  Its at the another dealer now; dont trust the previous one that just said "You do have powertrain noise.".  Hopefully just lifters and pushrods.  Fingers crossed they dont rape me, but I'm sure it will be 10k rebuild or 13k for crate.  Just sad this happened at only 56k miles.

Sorry to hear that bud. Any updates?   

 

Also have you thought about going to an independent shop, ordering a DOD deleted rebuilt engine and have the shop tune it?  I bet it would be cheaper and more durable than another DOD engine with the same trash lifters.  It's the lifter quality, not necessarily the design that is causing the issues.  There is a brand of lifter The Car Wizard recommends if you go back with the DOD. 

Edited by 2020truck
clowe1243 Enthusiast

clowe1243

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18 hours ago, 2020truck said:

Sorry to hear that bud. Any updates?   

 

Also have you thought about going to an independent shop, ordering a DOD deleted rebuilt engine and have the shop tune it?  I bet it would be cheaper and more durable than another DOD engine with the same trash lifters.  It's the lifter quality, not necessarily the design that is causing the issues.  There is a brand of lifter The Car Wizard recommends if you go back with the DOD. 

 

Dealer called back, not just lifters, but the shavings in the oil pan, can pay them more diag to tear it down, but would cost another 3-5k.  So decided new motor, 13k comes with 3 more years of warranty.  So said screw it.  Got to get it fixed to be worth anything.  Can upsell the new motor a bit for the 43k quote from the dealer after repair.  Going to see how that goes.  Looking at the 2026 Chevy 2500 ZR2 6.6L gas, but really dont like the price tag.  Maybe something else will come out in the next year or two that will

I did think about going independent and having them pull the motor and rebuild without DOD (with some upgrades of course), came out to about 10k (Lifters, cam, pushrods, crank, etc).  Of course that assumes my block doesn't need machining.  It will cost me more if they tear it down and the block isn't good.  Same as dealer.

 

So in the mean time, I'm done with DOD and the 6.2L in the near future; all of the trucks (RAM, GM, Ford, Toyota) have issues because of it.  Going to buy this cheap, but good on gas, 2016 Miata tomorrow to get around town.  Tired of riding the bike in the rain just to get the milk.

 

WHO KNOWS, MAYBE GM WILL REIMBURSE ME BY 2035!  56k miles and a bad engine just doesnt make sense to me.  Even if I would have got the extended warranty, it would have ran out too.

BIGDOGx Senior Enthusiast

BIGDOGx

Posted
Posted
5 hours ago, clowe1243 said:

 

Dealer called back, not just lifters, but the shavings in the oil pan, can pay them more diag to tear it down, but would cost another 3-5k.  So decided new motor, 13k comes with 3 more years of warranty.  So said screw it.  Got to get it fixed to be worth anything.  Can upsell the new motor a bit for the 43k quote from the dealer after repair.  Going to see how that goes.  Looking at the 2026 Chevy 2500 ZR2 6.6L gas, but really dont like the price tag.  Maybe something else will come out in the next year or two that will

I did think about going independent and having them pull the motor and rebuild without DOD (with some upgrades of course), came out to about 10k (Lifters, cam, pushrods, crank, etc).  Of course that assumes my block doesn't need machining.  It will cost me more if they tear it down and the block isn't good.  Same as dealer.

 

So in the mean time, I'm done with DOD and the 6.2L in the near future; all of the trucks (RAM, GM, Ford, Toyota) have issues because of it.  Going to buy this cheap, but good on gas, 2016 Miata tomorrow to get around town.  Tired of riding the bike in the rain just to get the milk.

 

WHO KNOWS, MAYBE GM WILL REIMBURSE ME BY 2035!  56k miles and a bad engine just doesnt make sense to me.  Even if I would have got the extended warranty, it would have ran out too.

Did your dealer just tell you there is nothing they can do? Usually with that low of miles they might be able to secure a partial amount to help off set the cost or something, perhaps call the gm service line. I know it's a long shot but heck even getting a grand in gm accessory's gifting would help with the sting of this.

 

I take it the 13k is a for a direct crate replacement engine? I wouldn't blame you because I'm sorry the independent shop route is a bumpy one imo. There are FAR more hack mechanics out there then good reliable ones imo, and finding a go fast shop that does good solid work is very very very hard to come by imo these days.

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BIGDOGx Senior Enthusiast

BIGDOGx

Posted
Posted
19 hours ago, GMCustomerService said:

Unfamiliar noises can definitely cause concern, Chris. We are glad you were able to get connected with your dealer about this and would like to offer a layer of assistance between you and them to ensure this gets addressed. Please fill out our support form here https://s.chevy.com/support-request  so one of our advisors can follow up with next steps. 

Looks like a bit more going on here then unfamiliar noises..... His motor let go on him @ 57,000 miles and GM clearly thinks that is an acceptable outcome. How about actually doing something and work to help secure him at least partial coverage here?

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  • 3 weeks later...
clowe1243 Enthusiast

clowe1243

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On 5/11/2026 at 2:00 PM, GMCustomerService said:

Unfamiliar noises can definitely cause concern, Chris. We are glad you were able to get connected with your dealer about this and would like to offer a layer of assistance between you and them to ensure this gets addressed. Please fill out our support form here https://s.chevy.com/support-request  so one of our advisors can follow up with next steps. 

 

What do you mean, like another middleman?  Really needed my truck this weekend to pull my trailer, but after almost a month, its still not done.  Service advisor is at least going to put me in a 2026 Colorado today that cant even pull my trailer.  I feel like putting someone else between the dealer and I would just delay things further.

What really needs to happen, GM needs to drop the suit, accept they messed up, and start paying for their mistake.  Or is it only acceptable for us (The taxpayer), to bail GM out.

Ended up having the buy a cheap, but reliable 2018 Maxima, and it feels like I'm going to grow a uterus.  Now all the sudden a vehicle is available.  So now I'm 18k for the car; 13k for the motor.  And who knows what else they will try to delay and add on.  This truck is going to be sold immediately, and GM will never see another dime from me.

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