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2015 Nox finally gave out! Engine Trouble

8K views 21 replies 9 participants last post by  chevy05 
#1 ·
Finally broke 115k miles and she gave out with little to no warning. Started the care pulled out of a parking lot and when idling the car acted and felt like the front end had hydraulics. I drove it back into the parking lot, checked the oil and she was about 2qts shy. Added the oil and she still acted like it was, Drove to the local auto parts store and did a code check. Codes thrown indicated CRANKSHAFT POSITION A, FUEL RAIL SYSTEM, FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR A, FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. My mechanic said it would probably be ok to drive it to them so I did, The vehicle drove "normally" as fuel was being applied to the engine via the pedal, and only was idling rough and eventually died twice in transit, but re-fired normally.


Mechanic stated it was an issue with a timing chain that caused issues with oil consumption and eventually led to a valve issue. Now the car wont start, when they did a compression test the numbers were 80, 155, 0 and 0. I was also told that this is a "common" issue with these nox's and I can see several threads on here that started in a similar fashion. Just sucks, I really did enjoy the nox and now I am potentially in the market for a new vehicle.


New engines are not all that easy to find on my own and I am not sure I trust a junk yard one as it may have the same problems.
 
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#2 ·
Wow! A 2015 2.4L engine eating oil?!?!

How can we prove that this person and problem are, in fact, real ??

Could GM Customer Service be contacted to verify the owner for us here?
 
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#3 · (Edited)
Looking back on this, the vehicle should not have been driven.
It went from "drove normally while in transit" to "led to a valve issue".
Pointing fingers isn't going to help so what are your options.
If you have a mechanic that you feel is professional and you trust, that is step one.

1. Find, or have your mechanic, locate a used engine and have it installed.
2. Sell your non-driveable Nox to a junk yard, or at an auto auction
3. Give your mechanic the go ahead to pull the head and the front timing cover to determine the extent of the damage. If the block can be used you probably will need a head, timing chains, pistons and rings etc etc.

I would pick number 3, either way it's going to cost you some $$.
 
#8 ·
Looking back on this, the vehicle should not have been driven.
It went from "drove normally while in transit" to "led to a valve issue".
Pointing fingers isn't going to help so what are your options.
If you have a mechanic that you feel is professional and you trust, that is step one.

1. Find, or have your mechanic, locate a used engine and have it installed.
2. Sell your non-driveable Nox to a junk yard, or at an auto auction
3. Give your mechanic the go ahead to pull the head and the front timing cover to determine the extent of the damage. If the block can be used you probably will need a head, timing chains, pistons and rings etc etc.

I would pick number 3, either way it's going to cost you some $$.

The point of the post was to determine if this is a frequent issue with the 2015 and this engine. If this is a common issue a new or working on this engine is of little interest to me at 115k miles.
 
#4 ·
Or just by a new one and maybe it won't happen next time..... maybe. I keep asking myself why I continue to buy GM vehicles after the problems I've had but then I suppose they all have issues. That being said, GM needs to step up to the plate and fix all these engines instead of making owners jump through hoops.
 
#12 ·
I believe his engine problem for a 2015 may be real.
But as indicated. . . . we don't know if oil change miles and intervals (and oil level checks at least twice a month) were accomplished.


The reason for this is that we also have seen here in this forum several with 2010 to 2013 Equinox 2.4L owners who have had good service with little issues or excessive oil consumption in even 150,000 miles or more.


Not saying it couldn't happen. . . but all too many times someone is quick to hop on the "look it happened to me too" wagon when there may have been other contributing ownership causes.
 
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#13 ·
Amigos3me

All gdi engines will eventually burn oil, hondas, toyotas , bmws... even V6 equinox (and traverse) engines,,,
all gasoline direct Injection engines will eventually burn oil
because of
carbon build up on intake valves
and then LSPI ( low speed pre ignition).
That is why the German manufacturers require walnut blasting to remove carbon build up from intake valves.
( never use crc or BG , or any running engine intake valve cleaners)

Most folks with GDI engines
don't realize they should be checking oil levels at least at every 1000 miles, and then more frequently when oil consumption is detected.
Unfortunately you drove with low oil, 2 quarts low, and then the timing chain system was damaged.....and more....

"What happens under this low speed, high load situation
is you get bits of carbon and soot that break off from the valves (and fall into combustion chamber)
and in the combustion chamber ( the carbon) makes its way to the cylinder walls where it sticks to the oil and the fuel that’s on the cylinder walls.
When the piston moves up it loads the crevice clearance with carbon, and those little groupings of carbon and soot get diluted with fuel and oil which then smolder and act like a glow plug or a wick to cause pre-ignition"

https://www.enginebuildermag.com/20...e-direct-injection-issues-facts-fictions-gdi/

The equinox being a heavy 3800 lb SUV with a small 2.4 liter engine, so for example, on cruise control at 60 mph, (and worse in ECO mode) and going up small inclines like over pass bridges, as the equinox tries to maintain speed
equinox is more likely to have LSPI , and knock carbon off the intake valves
and then over time, the result of LSPI is oil consumption.

New "remanufactured engines" like one from jasper are $4300 plus install. Jasper has "piston design improvements to increases oil return by 300% through the use of additional oil drain back holes, and incorporates an accumulator groove that decreases the pressure between the first and second ring,”

https://www.jasperengines.com/blog/jasper®-offers-remanufactured-gm-24l-ecotec-ohc-engine
 
#17 ·
Amigos3me

All gdi engines will eventually burn oil, hondas, toyotas , bmws... even V6 equinox (and traverse) engines,,,
all gasoline direct Injection engines will eventually burn oil
because of
carbon build up on intake valves
and then LSPI ( low speed pre ignition).
That is why the German manufacturers require walnut blasting to remove carbon build up from intake valves.
( never use crc or BG , or any running engine intake valve cleaners)

Most folks with GDI engines
don't realize they should be checking oil levels at least at every 1000 miles, and then more frequently when oil consumption is detected.
Unfortunately you drove with low oil, 2 quarts low, and then the timing chain system was damaged.....and more....

"What happens under this low speed, high load situation
is you get bits of carbon and soot that break off from the valves (and fall into combustion chamber)
and in the combustion chamber ( the carbon) makes its way to the cylinder walls where it sticks to the oil and the fuel that’s on the cylinder walls.
When the piston moves up it loads the crevice clearance with carbon, and those little groupings of carbon and soot get diluted with fuel and oil which then smolder and act like a glow plug or a wick to cause pre-ignition"

https://www.enginebuildermag.com/20...e-direct-injection-issues-facts-fictions-gdi/

The equinox being a heavy 3800 lb SUV with a small 2.4 liter engine, so for example, on cruise control at 60 mph, (and worse in ECO mode) and going up small inclines like over pass bridges, as the equinox tries to maintain speed
equinox is more likely to have LSPI , and knock carbon off the intake valves
and then over time, the result of LSPI is oil consumption.

New "remanufactured engines" like one from jasper are $4300 plus install. Jasper has "piston design improvements to increases oil return by 300% through the use of additional oil drain back holes, and incorporates an accumulator groove that decreases the pressure between the first and second ring,”

https://www.jasperengines.com/blog/jasper®️-offers-remanufactured-gm-24l-ecotec-ohc-engine

This makes a ton of sense and I wish I would have remembered to keep an eye on it. It became apparent an issue was arising at the last oil change at 112k miles my main mechanic did this change and said I was a half a qt low and to watch it. Other than that I have had no negative reports from changes
 
#18 · (Edited)
LOL! I don't OWN one of these engines, and I'm not an employee of General Motors or any of their subsidiaries who might be privy to any "inside" information. I'm also not compiling any statistics regarding failure of these engines. All I know is what I've read on this Forum (real or not), and what I've learned following the Oil Consumption Class Action Lawsuit (which only covers 2010 through partial-year 2013 models).

So, how would *I*, or anyone else like me, be aware of this problem in 2014 through 2017 model year 2.4L engines? And when we use the term "problem" here, we're implying that it's a "widespread" problem and NOT an isolated one (caused by improper maintenance, for example).

The answer is: WE WOULDN'T BE.

I can tell you this much, though: I see TONS of these Gen-2 Equinoxes on the highway and city streets every day. I notice every one of them because it's the same vehicle I drive.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD WITH A 2.4L ENGINE (spotting a V6 is extremely rare). So they can't ALL be bad!

I've even talked to people in parking lots and gas stations who have these 2.4L engines to ask them how they're holding up. I've NEVER heard a bad word.

So - I really do NOT believe they're ALL eating oil.

What percentage are eating oil?? Only GM could possibly know the answer to that question. My guess is 1 or 2 % (STILL a boatload of units), but that's just a wild guess.
 
#15 ·
Unfortunately yes as a federal contractor I am tasked to drive multiple miles a day and year. Most of these miles are highway miles. 80 miles round trip almost daily or 4/5 times a week. So if you do the math 5 days a week x 4 weeks gives you 20. 20 times 80 equals 1,600 miles monthly. Possibly more on the days i need to be in Chicago, Indianapolis, Memphis, or Little Rock. So yes she is used a lot.

My last oil change at 112k miles the mechanic stated the engine was about a qt low. Which I didn’t necessarily seem alarming and I was going to keep an eye on it and simply forgot. Up and to that post by this has been a fabulous car.

The car was idling rough and drove “normali-ish” when fuel was applied to the engine.
 
#19 ·
2014 and newer 2.4 owners here have been quiet. I had a 2014 2.4 that was dumping fuel into the oil at about 14,000 which should not have been happening. I would question Amigos3me if he noticed the oil level actually going up on the dipstick which would be gas getting into the oil, which would dilute the oil. Just a thought. How about the coolant? Have you been having to add coolant?
 
#20 ·
No other fluid issues to note. And the oil was low on the dipstick in relation to the amount down. So I don’t suspect any fuel or other fluid in with the oil.

And prior to this issue I would have raved about the 2.4 as well as I have had ZERO problems with this car until I did.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Interesting info on the Jasper rebuilt engine. They do not say if the cylinders were bored and a larger piston was used or not. I would guess they would have to rebore the cylinders for their new style pistons? GM was honing the cylinders for their updated pistons for the 2010 - 2013 2.4 engines. If I had an Equinox that is only 4-5 years old and the rest of it was top notch, I think I would consider a reman engine from Jasper rather than cross my fingers on a junk yard engine.

When I visited the Jasper website, I was somewhat alarmed that they have GM 3.6 rebuilt engines with the same if not more improvements. For an engine rebuilder to be able to offer rebuilt engines, they need cores (bad engines) to work with. From our experience with the 2.4 engines, we know there are many failed engines that would be possible rebuilds. We have not seen much if anything on the 3.6 on here but a couple, and very little issues with the 3.6 over on the Chevy Colorado/GMC Canyon forum. There has been a few 3.6 LGZ failures (completely different V6 than the Equinox/Terrain vehicles) due to an oil pump issue in frigid weather conditons. Interesting.
 
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