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3.6 V6 in 2012 and up

22K views 60 replies 15 participants last post by  DMKPIT401 
#1 ·
Hi. I'm looking to get a perhaps 2014 or 2015 Equinox with a 3.6 motor and was wondering if this is the same 3.6 used in the 2012 Impala and up. I have a 2013 Impala with this motor with 180K on it bought it with 170K on it.

It still runs great but I'm starting to need something I don't have to crawl out of lol. I like the Equinox and have read about the 2.4 issues and want to avoid that motor. If it were the same reliable 3.6 in the Impala I might be sold.

Thanks, also any other issue I should look for?
 
#2 ·
The 3.6 has been a very good engine. It is a little thirsty for gas than the 2.4, but also much thirstier for oil. You are making a good choice. The engine is a little different from your Impala in that it is GDI, Gas Direct Injection. You may want to do a bit of research on that BEFORE your purchase.
 
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#6 ·
I would not have any issues in getting a 3.6 'nox. My '16 has not had any issues other than getting a center stack (radio/display) update done shortly after purchase. At 60k miles now and just normal maintenance. And yes I'm a gearhead and did a ton of research before buying it. 2.4 'nox, slow turds and only if free.
 
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#15 ·
According to Fuelly.com - and independent source of real world gas mileage from many drivers, and over many different conditions, the 2.4 averages about 23 MPG, and the 3.6 averages about 20 MPG. Not sure why your 2.4L MPG is so low. Possibly you have a heavy foot, and try to get the similar performance out of your 2.4L as your 3.6L, so you are into the higher RPMs of the 2.4 ? When I owned a 2.4L, I averaged about 25-27 MPG with it, but i have a light foot, and most of my driving is highway/interstate. My heavy-foot days were with SS396s and GTOs - a long time ago !
 
#22 ·
All my vehicles get WFO testing on a regular basis. I'm a 25 yr old in a ''seasoned citizen'' container. LOL . I've had several Chevelles and a 68 GTO back in the day.
Back to a 4 cyl. 'nox, test drove a AWD '16 2.4 in the summer with the a/c on. Stepping on the gas and looking at the speedo was a exercise in slow motion, not fun on a rush hour on ramp around here. If worried about mileage you need a eco car not a SUV, 2-3 mpg is no big deal IMO.
 
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#23 ·
All my vehicles get WFO testing on a regular basis. I'm a 25 yr old in a ''seasoned citizen'' container. LOL . I've had several Chevelles and a 68 GTO back in the day.

Back to a 4 cyl. 'nox, test drove a AWD '16 2.4 in the summer with the a/c on. Stepping on the gas and looking at the speedo was a exercise in slow motion, not fun on a rush hour on ramp around here. If worried about mileage you need a eco car not a SUV, 2-3 mpg is no big deal IMO.
Good point. I'm a little worried about milage but also need something I don't have to get a crane to get myself out of it lol. Guess more money in the tank is going to be what it takes.
 
#26 ·
Love my 2016 3.6 V-6. Came close to trading her but traded my Colorado for a full size F-150 Super Cab instead. Kept the Equinox for parallel parking and such. Over at ColoradoFans, the 3.6 LFX engine was used in the majority of the Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon truck owners. Very few problems over there but many of them complain about the throttle pedal which appears to be blamed on GM's software and not the engine itself. The newer 3.6 that came out in 2017 trucks that I had, was completely redesigned with cylinder deactivation. It is known for noisy startups after sitting for a while with the cams rephasing. There is also an issue with the oil pump in frigid weather building too much pressure. GM changed the pump design midstream in 2019 and redid the earlier engines in Canada, but not the U.S. One reason why I dumped my 2017 3.6 Colorado. The 8 Speed transmission also has s design issue. The LFX in the Equinox and the Terrain with the 6 speed transmission are outdated by today's technology but were rock solid in my mind. I had a 2014 Equinox with the 2.4 and thought I was safe but I wasn't. Should have gotten the 3.6 that year as I took a big hit on trade value. My dealer really wanted my Equinox instead of my Colorado when I traded for a full size truck. The Equinox would have been a quick money maker for him.
 
#28 ·
I'm not a fan of 8 or 10 speed trans. . Every time the trans shifts it is wear on the clutches. All those multi speed trans up/down shift like crazy, especially with small turbo engines. Less speeds, less shifting so gears are held longer but mileage may suffer minutely. Until I see some 200k units problem free I'm staying with a max. of 6 speeds and even they shift too much.
 
#30 · (Edited)
Sad to say . . . and hate to be negative about this. But today's vehicles have placed more pressure on MPG attainment and less on how that is going to be accomplished reliably in the long term.
Eight, nine, ten speed transmissions, smaller turbo engines working at higher limits with more parts, cylinder deactivation, Start/Stop.
All those things and more, along with the glitzy superficial technology "toys" people are gah-gah over do little for vehicle longevity let alone, problem free performance.

Remember when "Maintenance Free" became an advertising and selling point back in the '70s? No tune ups for 100K miles, long lasting maintenance free batteries and more.
Even the batteries today have shrunk in size with thinner lead plates packed tighter together in order to save some weight. But I read of many early battery failures . . . although sometimes due to faulty electrical vehicle systems that go wrong. I recently read of a "battery draining issue" where an owner was plagued for months of the battery draining in 24 to 36 hours due to a shorted A/C pressure sensor. It was only found by a tech who had a wiring diagram and started disconnecting all kinds of unrelated circuits until the short revealed itself.

Even the 6 speed transmissions that finally became pretty decent now have "TCC" which is a combination of the old lock up torque converter along with a kind of flimsy clutch surface that will likely not go much over 100K miles if that.

The 6 speed transmission in the 2010 to 2017 Equinox, Terrain, Traverse, and GM cars is not the same as the 6 speed transmissions GM has today. They do not shift as smoothly and as predictably as the older units. Those older units had the "wave plate" issues that eventually were mostly resolved. Today's 6 speeds. . . who knows.


Ok. . . so much for the cheer. But after reading across half a dozen GM vehicle forums for several years now. . . . that is how it seems to shape up.


The cost of MPG attainment and technology? If anything spurs on EV it will be the break downs of the current ICE drive trains and poor durability. Maybe that's the plan? Throw a battery and electric motor(s) in a vehicle. . . . less mechanical to go wrong and big government credits.
 
#37 ·
Oh, good! One less member posting here about noisy startups and missing oil (with that 2.4L engine).

Was this purchased at a dealer or elsewhere?

Longevity-wise, I’ve got 143,000+ so far on my 2011 V6 (3.0, but no problems, and planning to take it over 200k miles - as I do with every new vehicle purchase), so you should be good for a while with that 3.6L. I change my oil every 5K with full synthetic, and I’ve replaced the transmission fluid 3 times so far.

Good luck!
 
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#40 ·
Is it AWD, if so don't forget to service the transfer case fluid.
Stick to the severe service schedule in the manual and synthetic fluids for the maximum amount of ''happy motoring''.
 
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#46 ·
Two questions or maybe I should start another thread.

1 I can hear a ticking inside the car from the front with everything shut off and the motor running. Normal?

2 I hear what is probably transmission whine inside also. Normal?

Asking because same motor and trans in my Impala, I can't hear in there.
 
#47 ·
Two questions or maybe I should start another thread.

1 I can hear a ticking inside the car from the front with everything shut off and the motor running. Normal?

2 I hear what is probably transmission whine inside also. Normal?

Asking because same motor and trans in my Impala, I can't hear in there.

Ticking is normal and probably the fuel injectors. They do seem to sound louder at times then others or for some owners.


Transmission "whine" is normal for the 6L70. Do the fluid swap drain/fill 3 times and it may quiet down some.
 
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#52 ·
2013 3.6 here.
Yes, the High pressure fuel pump makes a tick. especially at idle.
But inside the cabin I sometimes also hear a tick- that disappears. Comes and goes. Has done it since new...


also same thing on a distinct whine. Done it since new


Which is interesting because I cant hear a whine on my traverse. or the distinct tick at the firewall. (I do have the tick at idle).


Ive seen post from others-- so Id say the 2 items above are 'normal' for the 3.6 Nox.
 
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#54 ·
When in park, and you idle up to about 1650 rpm, do you get a weird engine vibration? Mine always has, and I saw one other poster on here who did as well, but I'm wondering if it's some weird fluke with these engines. Figured this might be a good place to ask since quite a few responding have the same engine.
 
#55 ·
When in park, and you idle up to about 1650 rpm, do you get a weird engine vibration? Mine always has, and I saw one other poster on here who did as well, but I'm wondering if it's some weird fluke with these engines.
No vibration on mine.
I can hear a ticking like fuel pump or injector, always had that from new.
Inside the cabin you can't hear it, outside you can.

Is your tach changing when you get your vibration?
If so you might be getting misfires.
A good scanner will tell you, you should be able to map it.
 
#57 ·
If this was mine and I was going to take a shot in the dark to fix it, I would replace the Crank Position Sensor.
They can be a little fussy sometimes.
Easy and cheap enough.

Remember if you remove OR replace the CPS, you will have to sync it to the ECM.
An upper level scanner can do it, not necessary to go to the dealer.
Good Luck
 
#59 ·
Thanks all for the education. I'm just settling in to my '17 3.6L AWD and this type of thread is the reason I joined the forum. I aim to get at least 200k miles out of my vehicles, so I'll take all the advice you'll give.
 
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