GMC L87 Engine Recall Oil & Maintenance Guide (2025)

Overview of the L87 Recall

The GMC and Chevy 6.2L L87 V8 has experienced widespread reports of lifter collapse, oil thinning, ticking, and excessive heat-related wear. These issues have prompted multiple service bulletins and recall actions.

Common Symptoms

• Lifter noise or ticking
• Oil consumption
• Low oil pressure when hot
• Rough idle
• Heat soak instability

Why Viscosity Matters More for the L87

The L87 runs hot, uses GDI injection, and sees high loads in towing scenarios. Light oils such as 0W-20 often shear down quickly, leading to metal-to-metal contact.

Recommended Oils for the L87

• Best for severe duty: 0W-40 (Mobil 1 0W-40 Supercar)
• Daily driven: 5W-30
• Light use: 0W-20 (factory spec)

Why 0W-40 Protects Better

• Higher HTHS stability
• Less viscosity loss under heat
• Better wear resistance
• More robust under towing and payload stress

Maintenance Intervals

• Severe duty: every 3,000–4,000 miles
• Mixed driving: 5,000–6,000 miles
• Light duty: per factory spec

Internal Link: For a full breakdown of why 0W-40 is now preferred, read Why Mobil 1 0W-40 Supercar Is in High Demand.