Inheriting low miles 2010 3.0

[Maloburro]

Hi all. I’m likely inheriting a 2010 equinox 3.0 fwd from my mom with 74000 miles on it. She has owned it since new. Not sure what maintenance has been done since my stepdad took care of it for her. I will do my searching to determine things that should be addressed. I’ll be taking it from Southern California to Sacramento tomorrow. It’s a nice vehicle even though I prefer truck based SUVs. Cheers.

Ryan

 

[CocoaJeff]

Hi, Ryan... welcome to the forum, and good luck with your new (to you) 'Nox!

 

[sdhow]

Check to see if the oil has been changed with high quality synthetic and changed often. These engines do not tolerate long change intervals, need to be changed every 3-4k miles.

The direct injection creates intake carboning and, at 70k miles (about 5k per year), probably needs to be addressed with an intake cleaning.

Any noises from front end of engine could indicate timing chain issues. I know a shop in Rancho Cordova that knows these engines...he's had mine apart TWICE.

Keep in mind, this is a CAR, not a truck.

 

[Maloburro]

Thanks SD.

So far so good. I’m going to do an oil change today or tomorrow and probably a transmission fluid splash and fill. I got the Valvoline restore and protect. I had a 2017 Pathfinder, which had the same direct injection issues with carbon buildup and from what I’ve read that oil is supposed to help the engine out. I would get timing chain rattle on the Pathfinder for a split second at startup, but I haven’t heard it on the equinox.

 

[Maloburro]

Thanks SD.

So far so good. I’m going to do an oil change today or tomorrow and probably a transmission fluid splash and fill. I got the Valvoline restore and protect. I had a 2017 Pathfinder, which had the same direct injection issues with carbon buildup and from what I’ve read that oil is supposed to help the engine out. I would get timing chain rattle on the Pathfinder for a split second at startup, but I haven’t heard it on the equinox.

Check to see if the oil has been changed with high quality synthetic and changed often. These engines do not tolerate long change intervals, need to be changed every 3-4k miles.

The direct injection creates intake carboning and, at 70k miles (about 5k per year), probably needs to be addressed with an intake cleaning.

Any noises from front end of engine could indicate timing chain issues. I know a shop in Rancho Cordova that knows these engines...he's had mine apart TWICE.

Keep in mind, this is a CAR, not a truck.

Sorry, I meant for my last post to be a reply for yours. Anyway, I will keep the oil change interval at about 3000 as long as I’ve got it. That’s what I had done for the Pathfinder as the oil would get dirty very quick. I did a BGEPR flesh on the Pathfinder and that seemed to help a lot so I may do that on this one next time.

 

[sdhow]

Thanks SD.

So far so good. I’m going to do an oil change today or tomorrow and probably a transmission fluid splash and fill. I got the Valvoline restore and protect. I had a 2017 Pathfinder, which had the same direct injection issues with carbon buildup and from what I’ve read that oil is supposed to help the engine out. I would get timing chain rattle on the Pathfinder for a split second at startup, but I haven’t heard it on the equinox.

Valvoline Restore and Protect will do nothing for carbon build up on the intake side. Oil doesn't come in contact with the intake runners. Unlike with port injection, fuel cleaners do not spray in the intake with direct injection. Fuel sprays DIRECTLY into the combustion chamber. Carbon builds up before the combustion chamber.

It's not the timing chain per se, it's the tensioners and the guides that crap out. If you don't address this on the GM V6 IMMEDIATELY when they start to go (about 90-120k miles), it's a throw away car. That's why you see so many undamaged Equinoxes, Terrains and SRXs in the junk yards.

How do I know this? I bought my 2010 LTZ with what I thought was a bad camshaft sensor or, worst case, a timing chain. $4,500 later and a new timing set, it still had an intermittent misfire in cylinder #4. A complete teardown revealed more damage when the timing chain went. $7,500 more and it's a completely new engine. $12,000 may seem like a lot, but the only model that still has the V6 is the 2025 Blazer, and it's $50,000+.

 

[Maloburro]

Oh wow. I didn’t realize it was that bad. And I thought the vq35dd was a timebomb. That’s good to know. So do you change the tensioners preventatively?

 

[sdhow]

No, you have to remove the timing cover to access the tensioners and the timing chain guides. So...you might as well do the whole thing. Timing chain, guides, tensioners, water pump, belt, pulley and belt tensioner, etc. Cloyes aftermarket kits are about $900 and GM parts off of RockAuto are about $1,350. The expensive part is labor; about $1,500-1800. Another $1,000 if you have the heads gone over and new valve seals installed.

 

[sdhow]

Oh...and if you have the heads off, flow test the injectors and install new seals. The injector rails are a b**** to get back in there unless the heads are removed.

 

[Maloburro]

Great. So this isn’t a simple DIY. Might have to rethink hanging on to this then.

 

[Maloburro]

Oh...and if you have the heads off, flow test the injectors and install new seals. The injector rails are a b**** to get back in there unless the heads are removed.

One more question. If I do remote start and listen to the front, can you hear a timing chain rattle?

 

[sdhow]

Definitely not a DIY for the average guy. If you search on YouTube, there are a number of videos showing the process. Maybe a weekend job, but you have to be very careful in placement of the timing chain, gears, etc.

One tooth off and you have to take it all apart again. Very tight quarters. Most professionals just pull the engine.

 

[sdhow]

One more question. If I do remote start and listen to the front, can you hear a timing chain rattle?

You should be able to hear the clatter of a loose timing chain. It will be apparent. Just be aware and if you have any odd clatter, have it inspected, don't just keep driving it. It will start throwing CEL codes for the camshaft sensors, too.

 

[Maloburro]

You should be able to hear the clatter of a loose timing chain. It will be apparent. Just be aware and if you have any odd clatter, have it inspected, don't just keep driving it. It will start throwing CEL codes for the camshaft sensors, too.

OK, thank you. Sounds very similar to the issues the VQ 35DD has. Probably best to move this along and find something that’s not direct injection then.

 

[Maloburro]

OK, thank you. Sounds very similar to the issues the VQ 35DD has. Probably best to move this along and find something that’s not direct injection then.

It’s only worth about 6000 as it sits and probably not worth putting another 5 to 6 into it or more

 

[sdhow]

OK, thank you. Sounds very similar to the issues the VQ 35DD has. Probably best to move this along and find something that’s not direct injection then.

Good luck. Most engines these days are direct injection. Unless you find a 2000's Toyota 4Runner. And those are either thrashed...or big money .

 

[Maloburro]

Good luck. Most engines these days are direct injection. Unless you find a 2000's Toyota 4Runner. And those are either thrashed...or big money .

Very true. Well, the irony is that everyone with the direct injection 3.5 motor in the pathfinder is up in arms over them crapping out because of timing chain issues and mainly the guides at 100,000.

Part of that may be due to a crummy PVC system because there haven’t been reports on the latest Pathfinder having the same issue despite having the same motor. But they’re trying to create a class action lawsuit against Nissan. I’m surprised that hasn’t happened with the 3 L since they put that in a lot of vehicles

 

[sdhow]

And the 3.6. Same motor...still making it. Once it's out of warranty, it's on you.

And this motor has the same issue with the crankcase vent. Check it out on YouTube.

 

[Maloburro]

Oh geez. I thought the 3.6 was supposed to be a good motor with longevity.

 

[sdhow]

Nope, same issues. It's not a bad engine if you know how to baby it from the jump. Good oil, 3-4k miles between changes. It's when you go by the oil service message that you have problems. 7.5-8k miles. If it's in good shape and you got it for free, it may be worth the $3-4,000 to do the timing chain set at 100-120k miles. It'll be good for at least another 100k miles.

The beauty is...a 2010 looks like a 2017. They've aged well.