Not since the 50's anyway.
My bought new 1975 Suburban was made with ungalvanized Japanese steel and turned into a rust bucket like this within a couple of years:
Posted on 04/29/2025 6:19:32 AM PDT by V_TWIN
GM is recalling nearly 600,000 SUVs and trucks in the United States due to engine issues, it announced Tuesday.
The Detroit automaker is recalling 2021 through 2024 model year Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with 6.2L V8 gas engines.
It said the connecting rod and crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage or failure.
GM said it identified 12 crashes and 12 injuries in the United States that may be related to the recall issue. Dealers will inspect the engine and, if needed, repair or replace it.
Vehicles that pass inspection will be provided a higher viscosity oil, which will also require a new oil fill cap and an oil filter replacement, GM said.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in January opened an investigation into 877,710 GM vehicles over reports of engine failures involving vehicles with the V8 engine.
The company subsequently opened its investigation.
GM previously closed three prior investigations into the issue since 2022 based on the available safety field information.
It identified 28,102 field complaints or incidents in the United States potentially related to failure of the engine due to crankshaft, connecting rod, or engine bearing issues, including 14,332 involving allegations of loss of propulsion.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
In the meantime, I have an older 3800 engine with quite a few miles on it that shows no signs of giving up. GM used to build many good engines. Did they forget how it was done?
In the meantime, I have an older 3800 engine with quite a few miles on it that shows no signs of giving up. GM used to build many good engines. Did they forget how it was done?
Well, GM made many good engines & vehicles at one time & so did other manufacturers that now build questionable stuff. It isn’t just GM.
Now do the 5.3L engines. That AFM system and lifters cost me a bunch of money. https://i.ibb.co/d4m6QFNs/IMG-3473.jpg
I’ve had multiple 3800s. The cars rusted out or otherwise fell apart long before the engine had any issues. Got 236k miles on my Buick right now.
And yes, the base model Frontier was extremely affordable and I was able to find one without the “technology package” meaning no automatic braking, lane departure crap, auto headlights and who knows what else. Just a basic truck that drives and feels like a truck. Assembled in Mississippi. Not the best on gas but I prefer that over a four cylinder turbo set up.
However, I have seen this issue before with GM back in the early 1980's on big block engines. Undersized rod journals and/or soft crank/rod bearings.
Why just their 6.3L and not the 5.3L? What’s different about the crankshaft and connecting rod in the 5.3L? Just the amount of torque pulling on these parts?
Thanks
following...
Not since the 50's anyway.
My bought new 1975 Suburban was made with ungalvanized Japanese steel and turned into a rust bucket like this within a couple of years:
The rod/crank tolerance is about as critical as it gets in an internal combustion engine.
A couple of thousandths would all it would take I imagine.
Or, like you said, substandard materials.
Still throwing rods after 100 plus years.
Ford had those issues in the late 70’s - early 80’s. Both my dad and myself bought Ford trucks that broke pistons due to the cylinders being bored oversize. Mine had other unbelievable problems, such as the timing chain jumping teeth on the sprocket at 30,000 miles.
Ford quality was such crap they actually improved their game and came out with the Quality Is Job One adds.
GM’s problems today probably is DEI. Ford’s issues back then were unionized machine operators and quality control people.
This sounds like a BS fix. First off they would have to tear the lower side of the engine completely down in order to inspect it. Then dumping heavy oil in it to temporarily hide any damage is a real hoot. That sham started with used car salesman.
If Gm would stop replacing their old proven engines with new junk designs then they would not be in this boat.
I had 7 GM vehicles in a row and was pretty satisfied with all of them. The last being a 2004 SUV.
But when they got in bed with obama that was the end of that.
Agreed. Heavy oil is something you do as triage when on the road and just trying to get home before it let’s go.
A couple of thousandths is typical total rod bearing clearance on a sbc, so that would definitely be critical!
I’ve built a bunch of racing engines, drag raced for 20 years or so and now have an oval track car.
When talking about oil viscosity, the critical thing is bearing clearance, lack of volume of oil will be worse than oil pressure. You adjust your oil use to clearance, the one I just put together this year was slightly tighter than I really like, so I’m running 10W30 racing full synthetic. You have to have a sufficient volume of oil for cooling the bearing surfaces, or it’s all over. At 10,000 rpm, things need to be just so.
A couple of thousandths is typical total rod bearing clearance on a sbc, so that would definitely be critical!
I’ve built a bunch of racing engines, drag raced for 20 years or so and now have an oval track car.
When talking about oil viscosity, the critical thing is bearing clearance, lack of volume of oil will be worse than oil pressure. You adjust your oil use to clearance, the one I just put together this year was slightly tighter than I really like, so I’m running 10W30 racing full synthetic. You have to have a sufficient volume of oil for cooling the bearing surfaces, or it’s all over. At 10,000 rpm, things need to be just so.
I drive a 2018 Tundra. Big V8. I get 14.5 mpg. Oh well it pulls big trailers if needed.
The wife drives a 2022 4Runner. Built on Tacoma frame with V6. Purchased both used with 20k miles or so on them. Will run them till they get hit or 200K or so.
Not sure what we will buy in 5 years or so.
“It said the connecting rod and crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage or failure.”
Those parts aren’t aluminum.
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