Latest news with #L87
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Engine Teardown Reveals Internal Failures Behind GM's L87 6.2L V8 Recall
Engine Teardown Reveals Internal Failures Behind GM's L87 6.2L V8 Recall originally appeared on Autoblog. General Motors began 2025 facing a major issue: the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) launched a formal investigation into the company's widely used 6.2-liter L87 V8 engine. The probe affects 877,710 full-size trucks and SUVs, after multiple reports of engine failures were filed with the agency. The investigation has since led to a large-scale recall and a stop-sale order. In some cases, these engine failures occurred while driving down the highway or just a few miles into vehicle use. Needless to say, they pose serious safety risks. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article The list of affected vehicles includes the not-rookies-to-recall Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe, and Suburban; the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV; and the GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, and Sierra 1500, model years 2021 to 2024, all powered by the small-block V8 engine. The American automaker hasn't pinpointed the exact issue with the problematic power plant, only saying that the connecting rod and/or crankshaft components have unspecified manufacturing defects. But what happens inside the L87 V8 engine when it fails? Internet mechanic I Do Cars got its hands on one for an engine teardown, providing a more intimate look at the internals of one of GM's V8 mill that faced a catastrophic failure. The engine in question is said to have been recalled (from a 2022 GMC Yukon Denali), although details of how he got it weren't disclosed. The teardown starts optimistically: the engine can be cranked by hand, indicating no fully seized components. However, the first sign of trouble appears on the pushrods, which exhibit abnormal wear. The lifters, though none have completely collapsed, show signs of debris exposure, with one in particularly poor condition. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Removing the oil pan reveals more – a lot more. The internal oil has turned carbon-black, indicating severe overheating and oil breakdown. All eight connecting rods are completely shot, showing extensive damage. The camshaft lobe is also missing a chunk, while the block's front shows scoring, suggesting the crankshaft struck the block. The teardown reveals significant and unusual damage for a relatively young and modern engine, though it aligns with GM's claim that the problem lies with the connecting rods and crankshafts. It's also likely that this engine failed gradually, unlike other reported cases of instant engine failure. As the presenter notes, the owner likely ignored early signs of engine trouble, leading to more catastrophic damage. As part of the recall, GM has already provided a solution to the issue. Affected engines that haven't failed yet will have their oil replaced with thicker 0W-40 oil (replacing the former 0W-20), offering increased protection at operating temperatures. They will also get a new oil filter and oil fill cap that reflects the change. Engines that were shot will be replaced. However, not everyone's happy with GM's band-aid solution to this widespread problem. A lawsuit claims that replacing the engine's oil with higher viscosity would decrease fuel economy. The lawsuit claims that "owners are presented with two bad options: do nothing and risk catastrophic engine failure or get the recall and pay hundreds of dollars more for gasoline." Engine Teardown Reveals Internal Failures Behind GM's L87 6.2L V8 Recall first appeared on Autoblog on May 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GM Facing New Class-Action Lawsuit Over 6.2-Liter V8 Issues
In the wake of this April's major recall of 598,000 full-size trucks and SUVs due to issues with their 6.2-liter V-8 engines, General Motors is now facing a new class action lawsuit. The case was filed on Monday, May 19 by Seattle's Hagens Berman law firm in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. The plaintiffs allege that GM knowing sold vehicles containing a definitive engine, fully aware of the safety hazards that decision presented. The lawsuit, featuring plaintiffs from Washington and California, details familiar issues with the L87 engine, specifically in vehicles manufactured for model years 2021–2024. As outlined in that April recall, the engines may feature sediment on the connecting rods or in the oil galleries for the crankshaft, which can lead to rod-bearing damage. GM has also acknowledged some engines may feature a crankshaft that is out of production spec. Any of these issues can result in a catastrophic engine failure. The engines were installed in popular models like the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon and Yukon XL, as well as the Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV. Beyond the safety issue, the plaintiffs allege that this situation is causing financial harm due to decreased vehicle values. They further claim that replacing the defective powertrains with new L87 V8s doesn't properly address the bearing issue, leaving owners at risk of further issues. While that sentiment is understandable, GM maintains that the faults have been remedied for model year 2025. The automaker's internal investigation was able to locate a specific manufacturing defect that reportedly only impacted engines built between March 1st, 2021, and May 31st, 2024. That said, the lawsuit specifically includes model year 2019+ Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500s in its list of impacted vehicles. You Might Also Like You Need a Torque Wrench in Your Toolbox Tested: Best Car Interior Cleaners The Man Who Signs Every Car
The Drive
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
GM Truck Owners With 'Fixed' 6.2L V8s Sue Over Reduced Fuel Economy
The latest car news, reviews, and features. General Motors really can't catch a break this year. As if the ongoing V8 fiasco itself wasn't enough of a bugbear, the company is now being sued for it. Given the scope of the recall campaign—the company has more than 600,000 trucks to inspect and/or repair—it's not surprising that a group of owners has banded together to pursue legal action. But what is surprising is why; these owners aren't suing because their trucks were sidelined (for months, in some cases) or because the quality of the repair was poor. Instead, they're suing because GM's solution to the problem allegedly results in worse gas mileage. The purported culprit is GM's updated oil viscosity requirement. Originally, the maintenance schedule for the L87 6.2-liter V8 required 0W-20. GM's updated guidance requires the use of 0W-40. A higher number (or 'weight') refers to the oil's viscosity—or how thick it is. Higher viscosity oils cling to component surfaces more effectively than lower viscosity oils. This makes them better at their primary job (lubricating engine components), at the expense of increased drag. Imagine trying to swim laps in a pool filled with vegetable oil rather than water. Setting buoyancy aside for the moment, you'd need a lot more energy to get from one end to the other in the oil, no matter how 'slippery' it might make you. This is exactly what could be happening to the L87's internal components, only trucks don't run on carbs; they run on gasoline.* These owners are worried that they're going to need quite a bit more of it, translating to higher long-term ownership costs. 'Thicker oil may (or may not) help mitigate the engine defect, but it will also materially decrease fuel economy and require owners to purchase hundreds of extra gallons of gasoline over their vehicles' lifespans,' the suit says. 'Thus, as the result of the underlying defect and GM's recall remedy, owners are presented with two bad options: do nothing and risk catastrophic engine failure or get the recall and pay hundreds of dollars more for gasoline.' Based on the 2025 Chevy Suburban owner's manual available on Chevy's website, the higher-viscosity oil requirement was not carried over to the updated L87 sold in trucks built after the recall window. The maintenance instructions (above) still specify 0W-20. The suit (McNamara et al. v. General Motors LLC) was filed on behalf of seven owners in Pennsylvania, according to (registration required), but they're hoping to recruit owners nationwide to shore up their numbers. A GM spokesperson told The Drive that the company is reviewing the complaint but has no further comment. * Complex hydrocarbons are technically carbohydrates with extra steps, but please do not drink the delicious hydrocarbons. And don't try to swim in vegetable oil. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Byron is one of those weird car people who has never owned an automatic transmission. Born in the DMV but Midwestern at heart, he lives outside of Detroit with his wife, two cats, a Miata, a Wrangler, and a Blackwing.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GM recalls nearly 600,000 trucks, SUVs over risk of engine failure
General Motors is recalling 597,630 of its full-size U.S. trucks and SUVs because the vehicles' V8 engines can fail without warning, raising the risk of a crash. Manufacturing defects in the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components "can lead to engine damage and engine failure," according to documents posted Tuesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. No warning signs are listed. The recall comes amid an investigation by U.S. auto safety regulators following reports of engine failure in GM vehicles, including the company's best-selling Silverado. The NHTSA in January said it was investigating an estimated 877,710 vehicles after receiving 39 complaints from users of GM vehicles equipped with L87 V8 engines. GM manufactures the L87 6-Liter V8 engine at its assembly sites in Tonawanda, New York; Spring Hill, Tennessee; and St. Catharines, Ontario. The recall includes the following V8-engine models: 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV;Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban and Tahoe;GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL To fix the problem, dealers will inspect the engine for repair or replacement free of charge, GM states in the recall. Owner notification letters will be mailed June 9, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to NHTSA's number for the recall is 25V-274. GM in November recalled nearly 462,000 diesel-engine SUVs and pickup trucks in the of a faulty transmission control valve that could fail and cause the rear wheels to lock up. Trump touts UK trade deal, but U.S. companies fear they won't survive China tariffs Saturday Sessions: The Head and the Heart performs "After The Setting Sun" Saturday Sessions: The Head and the Heart performs "Time With My Sins"
Motor 1
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Someone Installed a Head Gasket Upside Down on This Small Block V-8
GM's 6.2-liter L87 small-block V-8 is subject to a huge recall over bad crankshafts and/or connecting rods in engines built between 2021 and 2024. This earlier L87 V-8, from a 2019 GMC Sierra Denali, is destroyed for an entirely different reason—likely human error. The always-entertaining I Do Cars on YouTube tears down an L87 in this video. This example has less than 50,000 miles, and the car it came from had a good service history. But it doesn't take much unbolting to reveal an engine with catastrophic damage. And it appears the problem isn't GM's fault. For whatever reason, the truck had a lot of work done to at the dealer it before customer delivery, and as a commenter who claims to be a GM mechanic points out, the driver's side head gasket was installed upside down. It's unclear how long the engine ran with its upside-down head gasket, but run it did, until it inevitably overheated. The commenter says that the improperly installed gasket blocks the coolant passages to the head, which severely limits cooling and will result in failure. Which is why the driver's-side head looks so terrible, especially compared to the passenger-side head, and even with frequent oil changes. There's all sorts of carnage deeper in the engine. Two of the connecting rods got extremely hot, and likely locked up the engine, causing the destruction we see here. What's funny is that there's even the word "FRONT" stamped into the head gasket to prevent exactly this sort of thing from happening. But, you truly can't make everything foolproof. More Engine Teardowns Subaru Flat-Six Engine Teardown Shows No Damage at 200,000 Miles This Engine Teardown Shows the Race Car Tech In VW's Iconic Diesel V-10 Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
