The recently announced recall impacting Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV models equipped with the 6.2L V8 gasoline engine (production code L87) has left some owners feeling a bit antsy, even those whose vehicles weren’t included in the recall itself. In fact, some owners are wondering if they, too, should make the change to the new motor oil spec mentioned in the recall documentation. However, Cadillac is cautioning against doing this, since this will void the vehicle’s powertrain warranty.
Although some Cadillac Escalade units affected by the recall will need to get an entire engine replacement – which may take up to 20 hours in some cases, others will simply need to switch to a heavier 0W-40 oil rather than the 0W-20 spec shown on the factory oil cap.
We reached out to Cadillac’s parent, General Motors, to ask whether Escalades that are not within the recall window and that call for the lighter 0W-20 oil should switch to the heavier 0W-40 oil. Here’s the statement we received in return:
“GM full-size trucks and SUVs with 6.2L L87 engines that are NOT affected by this recall should continue to use 0W-20 oil as designated on the oil fill cap and in the owner’s manual for these vehicles.”
To reiterate, the switch from the 0W-20 oil to 0W-40 is only intended to address certain internal engine issues for specific vehicles impacted by the recall. The recall states that affected units of the Cadillac Escalade may have quality and contamination defects impacting certain components in the engine’s rotating assembly, specifically the connecting rod and/or crankshaft. As such, affected engines may exhibit power loss and ultimately lead to engine failure, which increases the risk of an accident.
For reference, 126,000 units of Escalade and Escalade ESV SUVs built for the 2021 to 2024 model years are affected.
If your Escalade is included in the recall, then it will need to be inspected by a certified Cadillac technician. If it does not pass inspection, then it will receive the aforementioned engine replacement. However, if it passes the inspection, then it will receive an engine oil and filter change, this time using higher-viscosity 0W-40 Mobil 1 Supercar oil. The oil fill cap will also be replaced to reflect the new oil type, and this will be the oil to use moving forward.
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