Equinox factory fill

[NHHEMI]

Your vehicle so use whatever makes you happy. If that is Dexos use it. Just be aware you are perfectly safe using an API Starburst certified oil as well. Both mechanically in the vehicle and legality wise with your warranty. I base that on YEARS of experience with this stuff( I worked dealer service among other jobs in the auto field and have dealt with this stuff a lot ). If the owner's manual says you can use API Starburst in place of Dexos, and you do and have an engine issue, GM can NOT say you used the wrong oil to get out of it. Now, they may TRY but no way they win and I doubt they even try based JUST on not using the Dexos.

Unless they can show they added an addendum to the manual striking that API Staruburst clause and they can also show you received it they have no leg to stand on regardless of how much a Judge does or does not know about oil. You were given an owner's manual with the vehicle by the car mfg when purchased that tells you what is and is not allowed. It is what they have told you to do. It doesn't matter what the cap says if the manual allows for something else to be used. It is similar to the fuel recommendations for my truck in the owner's manual. 89 octane is preferred but 87 octane is acceptable. It isn't exactly the same thing but it is close enough to use as an example.

If your wife is any kind of lawyer at all( that is not meant offensive - just a comment )she would easily win such a case if it ever came up. I seriously doubt it would. She can justify the use of API Starburst oil by the car mfg's own words in the owner's manual saying it is ok to use. She can also bring up the fact that the 2010 Equinox with the same Ecotec 4cyl was spec'd for API Starburst oil as Dexos was not out. The ONLY change to that engine in the Equinox from 2010 to 2011 was the oil spec. No mechanical changes requiring the change just a new spec from the mfg being used.

GM would have absolutely nothing to win on. Now, I am not trying to talk you out of or into using anything. Just want you to be aware of what you can do. You seem to feel you are forced to use Dexos and you are not. You acknowledge the owner's manual info but seem to think it means nothing. I don't get it?

If GM was going to hassle people on warranty claims for using API Starburst oil they would not say in the manual it can be used as needed. If it would hurt anything they would put comments in there about change the oil as soon as you can get some Dexos or if using API Starburst oil in place of Dexos reduce your OCI. No such warnings are there because NOTHING is going to happen using either oil type.

Best of luck with whatever oil you go with.

 

[crazyoildude]

i would be cautious never the less because if a problem does exist it will just be another step you have to go through to win your case...
I have been rebuilding engines for over 21 years and i have been called to be an expert witness 9 times during those years and 4 of them did go to trial and if you have any court experience at all you will know they try to twist things around and use everything to win their case.. (my wife does not do lemon law but another Lawyer she knows does and she thinks the same way as i do...( i asked her when she called here to talk to my wife last night)
Always better to be safe than sorry in my book although im pretty sure the regular api sm oil would be fine...
At the next engine rebuilders meeting i will bring this issue up and see what everyone says we usually get around 30 people attending.. I will also talk to the shop manager at our local Chevrolet dealer when he picks up the heads we have for his sons car and see what he says...Like said its your vehicle use what you want..
I would use the dexos just to be on the safe side if it were me on the other hand in all those cases they never pulled an oil sample that i can remember..

 

[NHHEMI]

Yes, I have been to court when I worked dealer service on warranty denials based on maintenance issues. The owner's manual is sort of like a binding document. GM says use Dexos BUT you may also use API Starburst as needed. No legal grounds to get out of it and nothing to twist. Their own words are your defense.

 

[gizzsdad]

Originally Posted By: ems1
I have a 2010 Equinox and have been using PP 5w30. I'm wondering if GM is specifying Dexos to prevent deposits in the intake of the DI engines.
I've seen a few threads with photos of really bad deposits. I think they were mostly VW DI engines. I was concerned with this happening in my 2.4.
If this is the case, I can understand the warrantee issues.


I can't help but wonder how any oil could make much difference in terms of intake/valve deposits.

BTW, I have seen enough pics of intake valve deposits on GM 3.6 DI engines to avoid DI engines until carmakers convince me they have successfully dealt with the issue.

 

[21Rouge]

Originally Posted By: gizzsdad
BTW, I have seen enough pics of intake valve deposits on GM 3.6 DI engines


I don't recall seeing any pictures of the insides of these engines on BITOG. Can you provide any web references for such pictures?

 

[crazyoildude]

i am not going to argue with you i stated my beliefs and all i can say is do whatever you want...Like you said the owners manual as you put it in your own words and i quote: The owner's manual is sort of like a binding document. So it may be ok sort of..
Again i agree i see nothing wrong not using dexos engine wise..

 

[hardcore302]

I just bought a 2008 Saturn vue 3.6 AND WILL be using a conventional oil such as gtx or pyb.

 

[GMorg]

Throughout the entire warranty period of my GM, I used GCgreen which is not an SM oil which is "required" in the manual. So I clearly don't mind using oil that is not in my owners manual. However, it seems that some people are grasping to the second half of a sentence and ignoring the first half. Second half: "...you may use substitute engine oil displaying the API Starburst symbol and of SAE 5w30 viscosity grade." First half: "In the event that dexos approved engine oil is not available at an oil change or for maintaining proper oil level..."

The manual clearly presents a conditional statement. This sentence does not say that non-Dexos can be used just because you feel like using it.

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
wow!! Suprising you could not get a good answer from gm...
But even if they did answer your question i would have to double check their answer.
I believe gm uses mobil products mobil 1 is a good choice for that engine. Mobil makes a good quality oil



In this case,"GM" is not General Motors the automaker - but rather the dealership, which is not owned by GM. So, I am not surprised, either, that the dealership/stealership doesn't know what they're talking about.

You make a good recommendation, I agree and I would use Mobil 1 just because I like it. But any other good oil like Pennzoil, will fit the bill. The factory fill oil for the Equinox is very similiar to Mobil clean 5000. It is not synthetic.

 

[Papa Bear]

The 2.4 was built in Tonawanda or Spring Hill but the vehicle was built at the CAMI Plant in Ingersoll, ON, Canada. Would a Mobil product be used at that plant or did the engines keep their "factory fill" from the US engine plant?
I bet that SL Craig or some of the Ontario members know CAMI employees, perhaps they could investigate for us...

 

[NHHEMI]

Originally Posted By: GMorg
Throughout the entire warranty period of my GM, I used GCgreen which is not an SM oil which is "required" in the manual. So I clearly don't mind using oil that is not in my owners manual. However, it seems that some people are grasping to the second half of a sentence and ignoring the first half. Second half: "...you may use substitute engine oil displaying the API Starburst symbol and of SAE 5w30 viscosity grade." First half: "In the event that dexos approved engine oil is not available at an oil change or for maintaining proper oil level..."

The manual clearly presents a conditional statement. This sentence does not say that non-Dexos can be used just because you feel like using it.


I actually covered your point already. If it was an issue using the API Starburst oil in place of Dexos along with saying you can use it when no Dexos is available, or to top off, they would also tell you that if you do that you need to change the oil as soon as you can get Dexos or they would have you reduce the OCI. I have seen that type of situation before. None of that is there. Just says when Dexos is not available API Starburst my be used in place of it.

With no restrictions placed on the use of API Starburst oil other than using it when Dexos is not available they have left it open for you to use it in place of Dexos. They can not prove that Dexos was or was not available when you bought the oil. The fact the same vehicle with the same engine from the previous year( no changes at all )called for API Starburst also helps you out.

This is just a technical point and not something that should really need such arguments. I feel very strongly about following the mfg's maintennance requirements as closely as you can. My hostory here shows I advocate that. I would not hesitate for a second to use API Starburst oil in the OP's 2011 Equinox instead of Dexos oil. Not going to hurt a thing mechanically nor will it put the warranty at risk.

Don't forget many oil mfg's have said no to Dexos as well so you have grounds to say none was available when I got my oil. Might even be true.

 

[vwalburn]

My thought about the factory fill is that GM Customer Service told me that it was a dexos1 oil in the car. At the time, the only dexos1 oils out there was Pennzoil Platinum, QS UD and Mobil1; all synthetics. Is the oil in the car a synthetic then? I'm not awhere of any conventional dexos1 oils and only resently did AC DELCO come out with their syn. blend. Also, all dexos oils will also be GF-5 certified, but all GF-5 oils won't be dexos. Won't that make all dexos oils a much higher standard than just a GF-5 oil? Which ever standard is higher; a dexos oil would have to meet that standard but a GF-5 oil would not have to meet any standards that are higher for dexos certification? I'll get off my soapbox now

 

[GMBoy]

Originally Posted By: Papa Bear
The 2.4 was built in Tonawanda or Spring Hill but the vehicle was built at the CAMI Plant in Ingersoll, ON, Canada. Would a Mobil product be used at that plant or did the engines keep their "factory fill" from the US engine plant?
I bet that SL Craig or some of the Ontario members know CAMI employees, perhaps they could investigate for us...

Engines come to us already filled with oil. The assembly plant does not add oil nor even check it.