BIL just bought a GDI!

[K20FA5]

He was looking for a new car and asked me my opinion. I told him to avoid GDI engines from everything I've read here (intake valve coking and fuel dilution in the oil). He didn't listen and got one anyway.

It's a new Chevy Traverse with the 3.6L direct injection engine. Is there anything special he should do now as far as OCI or just start saving up some extra cash for the 30K-50K valve cleaning?

Thanks!

BTW - His wife uses Firestone to change the oil, so I know they are using the Kendal Semi-Syn stuff when they change it. I need to let them know about the Dexos stuff though now. Not sure if the Kendal stuff meets that or not?

 

[spasm3]

I bought the Hyundai elantra because it was mpfi, not direct injection.

 

[SrDriver]

The Chevy Traverse will require Dexos1 5W30 Oil. Any other oil will void the warranty I understand.

 

[volk06]

Newer DI engines haven't shown to be a big problem and don't require the valve cleaning. The only problem is that they are hard on oil. Fuel dilution is high but it hasn't had any negative side effects yet, meaning wear metals have been good. Of course I have more knowledge on the ecoboost line but I know the first 3.6l DI from Chevy really chews up oil. The synblend Kendall is not dexos approved but the full syn exceeds dexos requirements. I think the fuel dilution problem has been blown out of proportion, keep the OCi of 6k max and you'll be just fine. Dexos oil is not required but recommend according to the owners manual.

http://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/Che...k12traverse.pdf

Go to 11-12. Dexos or an equivalent oil.

 

[sciphi]

Follow the OLM religiously on that SUV. He's going to be spending $30-50 every 4-5k miles changing the oil on it.

 

[johnachak]

The cleaning shouldn't be that bad. My Cadillac Dealership (We all know how expensive they are) gets $240

 

[johnachak]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Follow the OLM religiously on that SUV. He's going to be spending $30-50 every 4-5k miles changing the oil on it.


Why would that be? My OLM was reprogrammed by the dealer (Much shorter interval) and it still averages around 7,000-7,500 miles or so. Once a year is required though.

 

[dparm]

There are plenty of direct-inject motors with no carbon buildup problems. I would not avoid all DI engines.

 

[chiks]

Originally Posted By: K20FA5
He was looking for a new car and asked me my opinion. I told him to avoid GDI engines from everything I've read here (intake valve coking and fuel dilution in the oil). He didn't listen and got one anyway.

It's a new Chevy Traverse with the 3.6L direct injection engine. Is there anything special he should do now as far as OCI or just start saving up some extra cash for the 30K-50K valve cleaning?

Thanks!

BTW - His wife uses Firestone to change the oil, so I know they are using the Kendal Semi-Syn stuff when they change it. I need to let them know about the Dexos stuff though now. Not sure if the Kendal stuff meets that or not?


Jut go for the BG Fuel/Air Induction service. Cost is not through the roof (<$200) and get the job done.

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: johnachak
Originally Posted By: sciphi
Follow the OLM religiously on that SUV. He's going to be spending $30-50 every 4-5k miles changing the oil on it.


Why would that be? My OLM was reprogrammed by the dealer (Much shorter interval) and it still averages around 7,000-7,500 miles or so. Once a year is required though.


I thought that UOA's had shown that the DI 3.6's were ripping through oil in 5k miles. I could be mistaken, though.

 

[johnachak]

Quote:

I thought that UOA's had shown that the DI 3.6's were ripping through oil in 5k miles. I could be mistaken, though.


Not that I've seen, but I could be wrong. I have to admit, I never go past 4,000 miles anyway, since that is close to a years worth of driving in that car. In fact, since the dealer wants 6 month changes, and lets me bring in my own oil and filters, I usually comply. The warranry requires at least yearly changes. The car has been in service since June 2008, and has only 21,000 miles.

 

[Gwhaley262]

Originally Posted By: SrDriver
The Chevy Traverse will require Dexos1 5W30 Oil. Any other oil will void the warranty I understand.


Non Dexos1 5w30 will NOT void the warranty. I believe the magnuson moss warranty act prevents that. The only thing that is mandatory is that the oil be API certified 5w30. GM just strongly recommends Dexos1 but they cant void your warranty if you don't use it.

 

[jjcom]

I think the catch here is, the oil has to be at least as good as a Dexos1 oil. Thats my understanding of it at any rate. I don't think any API oil will meet the cut. Dexos1 is at a minimum a synthetic blend oil, so dumping in plain PYB or VWB I think would violate the warranty. Now if you can prove you're using an oil that's as good or better than a Dexos oil, you should be ok. But it'd be a matter of proving that.

 

[Garak]

It's certainly true that the oil cannot void the warranty on its own, simply by using the wrong spec or the wrong grade. Something has to happen to the engine first, of course.

Then, GM is going to complain you didn't use a dexos1 oil (regardless of the MM Act; it hasn't stopped MB or VW or Ford or anyone else from listing their own specs). They'll say to pay it yourself or to talk to the oil company for them to cover it. The oil company is going to say that the manual called for dexos1, and you used a non-certified product.

You certainly could win. The oil could be at least as good as dexos1. Or it could be ruled that the dexos spec is unacceptable from a legal standpoint. Either way, one should pick one's fights carefully, and this wouldn't be one I'd want to undertake.

If Bill Gates or someone that wealthy wants to buy a new GM and run non-dexos licensed oil in it and happens to have a failure and wants to fight the good fight, fine.

 

[johnachak]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Follow the OLM religiously on that SUV. He's going to be spending $30-50 every 4-5k miles changing the oil on it.


Nowadays PP and Mobil 1 run ~$24-25 per 5 qt. jug , Kendall Syn at $4.25 a qt. Any quality filter runs $5+.
How much did you expect an oil change to cost and why 4-5000 miles?Will it be used to tow?

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: johnachak
Originally Posted By: sciphi
Follow the OLM religiously on that SUV. He's going to be spending $30-50 every 4-5k miles changing the oil on it.


Nowadays PP and Mobil 1 run ~$24-25 per 5 qt. jug , Kendall Syn at $4.25 a qt. Any quality filter runs $5+.
How much did you expect an oil change to cost and why 4-5000 miles?Will it be used to tow?


That's $30 right there. If it needs a change at the dealer, that's closer to $50, at least around me.

I'd heard that the 3.6 in the Equinox/Terrain needed the oil changed every 4-5k miles based on the OLM. Again, I could be totally wrong on their change interval.

EDIT: Whups, saw it was a Traverse. Those might have a different engine map on the computer that is friendlier on the oil.

 

[lexus114]

I remember seeing that VWB did excellent in that particular motor.