I recently read a report of a guy who had his oil analyzed after an oil change on his direct injection engine, which I believe this one is, and found out that is was considerably thinned as a direct injection engine shoots gas directly into the cylinder unlike conventional injection, which injects the gas into the intake manifold, where it is mixed with air before injecting it into the cylinder. I think he found out that to prevent this from happening, he needed to change the oil at about 3000 miles, which hardly anybody does anymore. Anyone have this engine, and how often do you change yours? I had been waiting until the warning popped up telling me it needed changing. How does the car know when the oil needs to be changed? I don't believe it's based on mileage. Why is this engine no longer available for the Equinox?
Oil Change Recommendations for 2020 Equinox with Ecotec 2.0L turbo
- Thread starter tonymnace
- Start date
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PoManNox
Active member
Direct injection really does a number on the engine oil for most engines these days. Throw a turbo into the mix, that pushes the engine harder and requires clean oil for it's bearings and seals only makes it worse.
Like you'll see from videos like the above, following the oil life monitor will likely get you past the manufacturer's warranty period just fine, but you still have to watch the oil level between oil changes. 3-5K mile engine oil changes are expensive if you have to pay to get them done, but that's vehicle ownership.
I'm older and less agile, but I still don't mind doing my own oil changes and thankfully I still can. I mail order my filters and often times, the oil too. It probably costs me $25 per oil change. I do them every ~4K miles on the vehicles in my sig.
Like you'll see from videos like the above, following the oil life monitor will likely get you past the manufacturer's warranty period just fine, but you still have to watch the oil level between oil changes. 3-5K mile engine oil changes are expensive if you have to pay to get them done, but that's vehicle ownership.
I'm older and less agile, but I still don't mind doing my own oil changes and thankfully I still can. I mail order my filters and often times, the oil too. It probably costs me $25 per oil change. I do them every ~4K miles on the vehicles in my sig.
PoManNox
Active member
35-40% life remaining is probably a safe bet for most owners.
I know with my particular usage, my 2021 Equinox with the 1.5T, 40% life remaining is about 4500 miles. I'm assuming taking it down to zero life remaining would be ~7500 miles, which is taking it too far IMO.
Same for me.
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