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An extreme example: What if your bathroom faucet required filtered water?
"Honey, before you start the car, read over that SAE paper on oil specifications that's in the glove box".
Where the problem lies is in the fact that when some of them do realize that they need to know more they find the kind of advice written in articles like this one, https://www.edmunds.com/car-news/tips-advice/stop-changing-your-oil.html
and this one https://www.edmunds.com/car-care/do-i-have-to-use-the-manufacturers-oil.html
and this one https://www.edmunds.com/car-care/choosing-and-using-the-right-engine-oil.html
which is in part completely at odds with this one https://www.edmunds.com/how-to/the-top-down-oil-change.html.
Remember this? http://www.amsoil.lube-direct.com/2011/04/dexos-1-amsoil-has-it/
And then PQIA data revealed this
The Quaker State test data is on the left, Amsoil OE is in the middle and the Castrol is on the right.
Jut look at the volatility mass (3rd yellow highlighted line) and the Viscosity at -30C (second yellow highlighted line) and it jumps right out. The Quaker State approved product is a 5W30 and it is thinner at cold temperatures than the Amsoil is and it's rated as a 5W20.
The average consumer does not have to study this to such a level but the articles linked above need to explain it correctly for those who do choose to investigate it. What's more the articles need to advise the readers to support shops and techs who are taking the time and making the effort to stay up to date, not criticize them for it.
Let the finger pointing begin.
Maintenance recommendations here seem to me out of place a bit in respect to expectations of a newer engine or any engine.
I like popping the hood and checking things out to feel comfortable about driving something.
I started with a 1965 Mustang, have had VW Beetles, an A-body 340 mopar and new Saturn for over 10 years with very few problems and maintained a lot of company vehicles for 17 yrs , Chevy V8s and Ford in line 6-300.
The idea that this is problem should be alleviated or put off with cost effectiveness of major repairs being answers is absurd to me. These previous vehicles with years and miles under their belt did not consume this much oil or anywhere close to it.
The only engine I ever saw do this was my brother's Mazda rotary engine that consumed oil by burning it through the cylinders to the firing chambers I suppose.
I will have to struggle with the dealer as others have, we do have a VSC for 120 months or 100k miles but I am very disappointed in this engine and the quality of many parts of the vehicle, speakers,actuators and the chrome plating of interior body parts.
Here is one example.
https://www.toyoheadquarters.com/threads/excessive-oil-consumption-on-2az-fe-engine-lsc-ze7.362/
In fact, a little oil burning (not as much as your car, however) is probably a good thing.
With the cars we own today, I hate to admit it but I rarely bother checking the oil and when I do after 3-4000 miles they are never low at all! I usually change my oil around the 4000 mile mark.
Were they to start going through a quart say every 2000 miles I wouldn't be bothered by that BUT I would start checking it more often!
Any actions against GM regarding this engine? By 2013 they must have known, yet continued to use this engine.
If it's under warranty, Chevrolet likely will end up doing some engine work for whatever the cause of the oil use is. I think you'll come out ahead assuming their standard oil test shows consumption levels above their acceptable level.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
I saw a post that said you shouldn't have to open the hood to check the oil? What? Take 5 minutes and look under the hood, look for leaks, check the dip stick ,Learn the car, check the tires, lights and horn once a week its your money and your or your family's safety your taking about! Just because you took it for an oil change Doesn't mean the put the right amount of oil in the engine. the one time I didn't look they put 5 instead of 7 Quarts, It pays to look!!! .
Regarding the oil consumption on your Equinox, it seems like you are not too put off by having to add oil every 1750 miles? I personally consider that rate of consumption acceptable on an 11 year old engine, but many owners don't. What's your attitude about this?
I have a 2011 Equinox with 126k mi. and this is my story... EDIT: Im at work, dont have time for correct grammar, please excuse that...
I purchased this used in sept of 15 at 84k mi. Nox has been my "dream" (affordable) car since they came out in high school (grad 2009). It was great for the first year or so... and then not. I noticed the usual oil consumption everyone here mentions (2L every change). Family mechanics-who are a bit old school and not up on modern GM work- recommended checking exhaust. No smoke but pipe is COVERED in oil. So pointing fingers to rings... a couple weeks go by and engine is idle rough. i do some research and find ECOboost to be causing issues for many, in fact it only saves about 1-1.5MPG while on, but at the expense of rough idle. So i turn that off... every oil change is now 2L in between and a full thing of Lucas... BTW- often hearing "chattering"- typical of old 80s-90s lifters, i add oil and it goes away.....
about a year later, constant monitoring, im driving to work and the engine starts running super rough i look down and Im running hard at 5k rpm and struggling to keep 50mph (i had 75 set on cruise). Thank God i was near a exit- I shot over and tried not having a heart attack.
Called my home town shop that was about 35mi away to come toe it and work on it. about a week later i got a call that the timing chain had slipped causing 3 bent valves and im lucky it wasnt much more.
Proceeding with repairs, 3 weeks later i get my car back. It gets me 1300 miles before im hearing the "chattering" again. i push to make it home from work and it is ROUGH. im so pissed because i just got it back 2 weeks ago.
--So i proceed to take it to the shop the next day and HERE is what im told EDITThis is where people need to read, and get a little education
It was low on oil. low!? how!? it JUST came back from the shop. they checked pistons and everything looked fine. im not leaking oil, im not burning too much, where the hell did it go!? "this is normal". i was as shocked as everyone else. oil consumption wasnt nearly as bad when i first brought it in, so something is wrong. No, not according to GM, and i agree, its a bad design, im waiting for a lawsuit. GM-"aggressive drivers should expect to see loss of 1qt oil every 500mi if over 120kmi". I drive 98mi a day for work (round trip) @ $9.98/qt for oil...
now here is the *BIG KICKER*- the reason the timing chains are going bad- is because the chain tensioner is held by oil pressure. So if you run low on oil and youre hearing your valves tap, youre also hearing your timing chain rattle, add oil and it goes away. But what happened to me was that it was low, no tension on the chain and the chain slipped gears causing timing issues. I get it, im lucky but it doesnt take a rocket scientist to see that this is a HORRIBLE design for a engine. A engine that is DESIGNED to burn oil as well as gas, but also keep oil pressure up to keep timing chain pressure. thats a catch 22 if you ask me.
Hope this helps someone. Im not happy. i will NEVER recommend a equinox to anyone, i dont care what year it is. Ive studied to see what other GM vehicles have this same motor design and steer clear! But... that this point, ive got to get to work, Ive got bills to pay and still have a car payment. EQUINOX OWNERS- CHECK YOUR OIL EVERY 500-1000 MILES. JUST CHECK IT. RUNNING LOW OIL COST ME $2100. $40/MO IN OIL IS WAY CHEAPER. and because this is a purchasable item by the consumer, it is OUR responsibility and not covered by warranty for not caring for our vehicles......
Pissed is a understatement.
I'd be visiting the service department at the Chevy dealer to ask the service manager not just the writers about what's available. It's be worth it to see if there's problem with this particular engine and year and oil use rates.
The worse they could do is ask you to have them change the oil and put in the Dexos approved oil they use and then seal the cap and have you return for checks on the oil level use at frequent intervals.
They would need to document the rate of usage and the quality of oil. They also should want, if any potential warranty or assistance exists, to see documentation of your oil changes and oil used.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
As for the consumption, -- how many miles on this engine?
It might be a good idea for you to ask the dealer how to do an "oil consumption test" so that you'll know, by mileage, when to starting checking.
There have been some problems with the Equinox concerning oil burning, mostly related to improperly seated piston rings. Chevy has been repairing some of these, but only if you have the factory or an extended warranty.
This is something you may have to monitor and live with. As long as the oil consumption isn't monstrously excessive, the truck should continue to run a long, long time with this condition. If the truck starts to smoke really badly and consume large quantities of oil, then that might damage the catalytic converter and that gives you no choice but to repair the engine---probably an overhaul, not a rebuild.
How can I get this fixed?
The Dealership does not want to help, they just keep putting me off. I have called Chevy Customer Service over the years. Each time no help. We payed good money for a car that used oil right out of the Factory. I see that Patsy with Customer Service offered to help, I would love for her to help us. I will look at other cars if Chevy does not fix this car.
Major repairs were:
17500
WATER PUMP AND BALANCE SHAFT CHAIN REPLACEMENT
39500
CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR SOLENOID VALVE REPLACEMENT
Last oil change was Dec 2018 with 62000
MAINT1 INCLUDES LUBE OIL FILTER, TIRE ROTATION, RESET TIRE PRESSURES TO FACTORY SPECS, , COMPLETE GM MULTI POINT INSPECTION, RESET OIL LIFE MONITOR TO 100% IF EQUIPPED.
CHECK FOR OPEN RECALLS/CAMPAIGNS/SP
Now with 66,000 miles we are told that the oil was 2qts low and the dealer says that the vehicle needs pistons and rings and a new timing chain. The initial quote for the work was $3300 after contacting GM the dealer says they can do it for $1800.
We've aged out of the 7.5 year special coverage period. We're about 8 months past.
Where were at now. Grandma likes the car and would probably pay to have it fixed. Grandpa has been telling her to get rid of the car for a year or two previous to this because he thinks the timing chain is going to break. I had been vouching for GM thinking that the chain issue had been fixed not knowing that there are two chains in the engine.
Do we bite the bullet and just pay for the repair?
Do we opt out of the class action suit by sep. 20 and take GM to court for the full cost of the repair noting the excellent service history and low mileage?
Do we trade the thing off?
If we do fix the car, is there some other expensive issue waiting to pop up?
I also wonder if we had serviced it ourselves on a more normal schedule if things would have been different. If I could go back I'd change the oil and filter at 500 miles then maybe 2500 and every 5000 thereafter. Oil is cheap. As it was the first oil change was at 6000 miles which didn't seem right even at the time.
For many engines 1500 miles for consuming a quart of proper viscosity and quality oil is typical and considered normal oil use rate. IN a 4000 mile oil change interval, the engine would use 2.6 quarts of oil. When oil level is down 1 quart, it's required to refill with a replacement quart.
Now you're at 100K and over; likely 120000 miles. The engines have worn and use slightly more oil than they did in the early life of the engine.
Checking the oil is the owner's responsibility. The OLM only gauges the quality of the oil left in the sump after miles and use: it does NOT check the level of the oil. A few cars have an oil level indicator that turns on a light when the oil level drops; it's the owner's job to know if their vehicle has that feature on that engine.
Any sound from an engine would indicate the oil level needs to be checked immediately and refilled.
You may download the owner manual at chevrolet.com under the header "owners."
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
oil level at each fuel fill."
https://my.gm.com/content/dam/gmownercenter/gmna/dynamic/manuals/2011/chevrolet/equinox/2011_chevrolet_equinox_owners.pdf
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
When was Chevrolet going to notify us of this??
U will save a lot of wondering and sleep at night. For my car I check it about every 500 to 750 miles. If u dont it's your own fault that your car engine could seize.
Herman.
I started an oil consumption test bc the dealership told me too and told me I could have a test done at any certified dealership. I wanted to have the test done closer to home bc of the issue. Be aware that is a lie!!
I went back to complete the test and was told , you are past the warranty, we can fix it for 2-3k. Hum, do you think they already knew this was a problem? Do you think they saved the paperwork, no?
Class action suit I thought would help. GM will not accept the 2nd dealerships test bc the dealership said I did not complete the test. But wait, they were going to fix it and acknowledged it was an issue. Dealer is now telling me GM won’t accept a test from one of their own certified dealerships that I had to have all the tests done at that dealership. What? They don’t trust their certified dealers? GM does not plan on paying and I am out of a car or pay 6-7k for a new engine.
GM horrible Corp who knew of his issue and will do what they need to do not to pay. Consumer “screw you!” Never never buy an Equinox or a GM product!!! Try I suppose American, not any more.