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Would you Buy one ?

2018 Diesel Equinox

25K views 35 replies 20 participants last post by  ZNuts! 
#1 ·
2018 Diesel Equinox

Poll has 3 Options : please Vote.
 
#5 ·
I work in the bus industry, this year we've almost sold more GAS buses than diesel. In my opinion any 2010+ diesel is more trouble than they are worth. Tons of emission related issues, doser valves for the DEF. I would not purchase a diesel.
 
#6 ·
I like the idea of a diesel and in past years seemed worth the price.

Now, besides the initial cost, it seems the industry is going through growing pains with the additional use of DEF and the software/hardware to make it work reliably. Also, other issues associated with the newer diesel technology and even transmission issues due to the heavier torque loads produced by a diesel. The newer transmissions are smaller and lighter than ever, yet need to be beefier for diesel torque applications. So issues working that out as well.

There seems to be more maintenance issues than ever, at least in reading a few forums I have in the past year or so.
 
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#7 ·
Buy a 2018 Equinox Diesel? You bet!

Been driving a 2004 Jetta TDI for the last 12 years and love the car. The only issue is that it this Canadian climate I have reached the end of my rope for driving in the winter without an AWD. So this spring I started shopping. I've been waiting for the CX 5 Diesel to arrive in Canada, initially expected this fall but now estimating Feb 2018. I researched other AWD SUV's with diesel engines (I excluded pick ups). Jaguar F Pace, out of my price range, as is the BMW, high end Jeep and Mercedes. Eventually I learned of the 2018 Terrain available in Diesel and went to test drive one only to find it was not due to arrive on the lot till mid Nov. Then I learned of the 2018 Equinox and to my excitement a local dealer had one on the lot. I was almost immediately sold on the test drive and initial inspection. The vehicle is awesome, from exterior design to interior luxury to the tech. Price was an issue but with the preferred pricing features I was able to get the price from 40000 and change to 37000 and change. The engine seems to have the bugs worked out since its proven in the Cruze. The mechanical and frame is not as beefy as a VW but I'm banking on it standing up to at least a decade of use. A couple of (yes cosmetic) features I only noticed after I got the vehicle home was the dealer installed black bowtie and attractive black and chrome sideboards but they suit the Satin Steel paint on this Premier trim like sweet on sugar. I swore after my 1990 Sunbird rusted to the ground I would never buy another GM product. They say never say never. Now the test is on over the next ten years, I really hope my decision works out. Cheers to Equinox.
 
#10 ·
Been driving a 2004 Jetta TDI for the last 12 years and love the car. The only issue is that it this Canadian climate I have reached the end of my rope for driving in the winter without an AWD. So this spring I started shopping. I've been waiting for the CX 5 Diesel to arrive in Canada, initially expected this fall but now estimating Feb 2018...
I'm glad you went with the Nox, I was about to tell you that if you were seriously considering the Mazda because AWD, then do a lot of research if you haven't already. From what I read and saw on youtube at the time they use open diffs all around so one wheel slipping = useless car. The AWD is nothing more than a false sense of security badge and no one will realize it's uselessness on a test drive.
 
#8 · (Edited)
I got the diesel already.. As i have said in another thread...you should read this article to make part of an opinion. https://phys.org/news/2011-06-myths-diesel.html Ok putting DEF at every 5000 miles is an extra cost (~$20 every 5000 miles)...and so far the only extra maintenance i see is the fuel filter has to be replaced quicker than gasoline. The particle filter should work (DPF, read article linked above) the life of the car ..but yes we know there could be issues....more pieces of stuff more failure points. We did buy the extra warranty just because it is a new model...don't know what can fail...but also especially for us the electric window in our last car failed just beyond the normal warranty...so did not want to get caught this time with all the electrical do-da's (including the sunroof) that can fail Anyways in 2 months of driving this...we love it so far...best mpg (got a best 50 mile stretch at 43 mpg) on the highway, quite quiet inside and the engine not noisy when warm. Very safe to accelerate on short highway ramps. Drove it up on a dirt mountain road upto 11000 ft..no issues, loved the hill assist feature.

That said talk to people who have the cruze diesels for a few years they can tell you the issues with this engine...it is the same engine i believe.

Also if you have a good mix of highway and city then diesel is a good fit. if you have only city then the DPF auto cleaning will request you, i believe, to get on the highway once in a while otherwise it can get damaged. If you are a mostly a city commuter only then a hybrid may be the best car.
 
#9 ·
“That said talk to people who have the cruze diesels for a few years they can tell you the issues with this engine...it is the same engine i believe.” the first generation cruze diesel was a 2.0 clean diesel designed by fiat years ago. they ran really well especially once tuned but when vw got into real troubles with the epa gm decided it was time to quit while they were ahead and stopped production the 2nd generation may be using the same motor as the equinox/terrain i believe they were just released last year and i haven’t seen one yet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#11 ·
“That said talk to people who have the cruze diesels for a few years they can tell you the issues with this engine...it is the same engine i believe.” the first generation cruze diesel was a 2.0 clean diesel designed by fiat years ago. they ran really well especially once tuned but when vw got into real troubles with the epa gm decided it was time to quit while they were ahead and stopped production the 2nd generation may be using the same motor as the equinox/terrain i believe they were just released last year and i haven’t seen one yet
I just remembered teh 2013 from the wikipedia article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Medium_Diesel_engine

Thus i stand corrected ..this engine appears in Cruze 2016 model (released in 2017 ? )but the engine has been in production since 2013 and in use in Opels mainly. So people from Germany if any on this forum may have more experience with this engine.
 
#14 ·
I thought the allure of diesel was the great gas mileage?

But diesel costs a LOT more than 87 octane gas, and you pay a lot more up-front for the same vehicle with a diesel engine, so the question is - when do you start coming out ahead (overall-cost wise), and is it really worth it considering the potential maintenance issues?

I mean - it's the same vehicle, but with a diesel engine and its associated mechanical infrastructure, right?
 
#15 ·
Price varies from 5c more to 40c more than octane 87 but diesel is cheaper than 93 octane always around where i live. Isn't 93 octane what is recommended in the other nox versions ?
The question about good gas mileage is not just the price but the feel good factor ...ask the volt or hybrid buyers..if it is about saving money. As i posted in a link above these cars are as clean as gasoline engine and even lower C02. We do not want to drive in a car that has the same mpg as one that was in 1970.

Different people have different feel good factors ...some love their car to reach 60 mph in 4 seconds...others want their work horse to have better gas mileage or technology than their parents work horse and still have pull to bolt in front of traffic off a ramp without fear.

This is the best mpg you'll get in this class of vehicle ..beat the rav 4 hybrid by ~10 miles or so per gallon on the highway.

And when Iran and Saudi go to war and the price reaches above $4 per gallon it will pay for itself in a year or two...that will just be the cherry on the cake.
 
#21 ·
One thing that disappointed me about the diesel is I thought it had zero towing capability recommendation. Not sure why, because I thought people with buy trucks with diesel just for the towing capability. I know they have about 900 Ft-lbs of torque, but I though the Equinox diesel had more torque that the 1.5, and 2.0 gassers.
 
#23 · (Edited)
I read why they are not recommending higher towing weight for the diesel is because of cooling issues..though diesels can tow more than similar sized gasoline engine.

(BTW most of our highway mileage average 42 mpg at 75 mph...we topped at slightly more than 46 mpg once...we are driving at an altitude of 5000 ft...i am not sure if that matters).
 
#28 · (Edited)
I deal with diesel engines commercially. A must in that situation. 21,000 gallons of diesel fuel a year I have to buy for my business. Since the OEM's piled on the emissions stuff on diesels, I have had no interest in having a diesel in a personal vehicle. No appreciable benefit.

My Nox is flex fuel. It lives on E85 fuel I get for $1.72 right now. Averages for all miles (city, highway, rural, gravel roads, winter, summer) about 21 mpg on E85. A big yawn, but that equates to 8.2 cents a mile fuel cost at current price.

Diesel is going for $3.14 in my area. For a diesel Nox to just break even on a 8.2 cent per mile fuel cost it would have to average (city, highway, rural, gravel, winter, summer) about 38-39 mpg. Not going to happen.

And the additional cost of maintenance on a diesel wasn't even part of that consideration. Even more reason not to have one.
 
#29 ·
2018 equinox diesel owner

I bought my 2018 equinox premier diesel last year and I have over 22,000 miles on her. GREAT car!!! problem is GM requires Dexos 2 motor oil. It has to be special ordered at the car stores at $10.00 a quart. Some dealers do not have the oil. seems like GM is keeping the spcial equipment and fluids close to the chest...Change oil every 4,000 miles. dealers want $100...oil change. But I really do like the car. I also own a 2017 Highlander and the Equinox is more fun to drive.
 
#30 · (Edited)
The Dexos2 thing is not "required", it is recommended. If it was "required" then it would also be required that they provide it to you free of charge per Federal Regulations. CK-4 is the latest diesel oil spec across the country. I would just use a CK-4 rated oil and stick with the viscosity that GM recommends. There is nothing spectacular about a GM diesel that it "requires" dexos2 and there is nothing special about the dexos2 specification compared to CK-4. You can get a very good semi synthetic CK-4 oil for around $20 a gallon. A quality full syn for not a lot more. Paying $100 for an oil change is robbery.

And no.... they can't just ad hoc void the warranty because you are not using dexos2. That is also a violation of Federal Regulations. If you kept your mouth shut, they wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a dexos2 and CK-4 rated oil even if they sent in a sample for analysis. Just act like you are talking to police and either shut up or play stupid.

And you should be able to go a longer than 4000 miles on any oil change. Before I sold it to my son, I had a Jeep Liberty 2.8L diesel (the same motor that was the foundation of the 2.8L Dmax in the Colorado/Canyon pickups). Changed oil on it every 9000 miles. It did just fine. Had over 100,000 miles when I sold it to him.
 
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#31 · (Edited)
Also, while CK-4 is ok to use, there is a wide selection of Dexos 2 oils on the market. Should be able to find a good value. There are several 5w30 dexos2 oils on the list. You could also use 0w30. Both are 30 weight oils just with different cold flow rates. Again, dealer or OEM could not tell the difference between a 0w30 and a 5w30 if they wanted to.

https://www.gmdexos.com/brands/dexos2/index.html
 
#33 ·
Bought one of the last new gmc terrain diesels. Already got 55k on 2017 cruze diesel stick. I probably could have used a better name for this forum, but so be it. Son had an 018 cruze diesel stick but traded it for gas tahoe - he has about 60k on his canyon diesel so far.

Why no topic here for general equinox/terrain diesel discussions? We can start a specific thread to argue about dexos2! I let valvoline do my most recent cruze diesel oil change since their synthetic is on on the dexos2 nice-list.

Reportedly there are about 4000 GMC terrain diesels in USA. Maybe the same number of equinox diesels?

Torque at ya later, folks.
 
#34 · (Edited)
I would like to see that number....i have seen a handful cruze diesels (sold a bit longer) and i have seen another equinox diesel but no terrain diesel.


BTW watch out for your battery if it has spent a long time between date of manufacture and date you took possession. The AGM batteries do not like being left idle for months....A few on this forum have had their battery die on them within a year or less when their new car had been sitting on the dealer lot for 6 to 12 months.


I suspect there only 4 to 5 active members of this forum with diesels.
I hope GM would give us a little tag to stick on the car like "limited edition" !
 
#35 ·
I bought a 2018 4wd diesel terrain back in December and couldnt be happier with it. 5500 miles and still havent put def fluid in it. I've average 38.7mpg during ownership and never paid more than $2.52/gal for diesel in texas. I just filled up @ 2.22 yesterday. The ride is great, the noise canceling system makes the vehicle significantly quieter than I expected. It pulls a trailer without issue. After I upgraded the speakers and added a subwoofer it is now a joy to drive for extended periods of time. The infotainment system seamlessly works with my android. Overall it was an absolute bargain @ $24.4k with 13k miles on it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. I'll change the exhaust out and try to squeeze some additional mpg out of it soon.
 
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