When to retire my 2013 Equinox?

[eqn2013fr]

My equinox 2013 2LT (2.4, FWD) manufacturer date is Aug 2013, was bought on April 2014 as a new car in Texas. Now its mileage is 140k, and in recent 3 months the oil consumption problem occurred, around 1 quart every 3k miles.

I did all maintainance by myself after warranty. It has no major problem, just the AC was replaced in 2025.

ChatGPT (AI) suggests to trading in this car ASAP, said a lot of issues caused by oil consumption may happen, also the timing chain, and expensive repair may happen after 150K mileage.

My previous plan was to keep it until 2027 end and reach 160k. It has a lot of good features. I do like driving this car.

What's your opinion? When do you plan to retire your 2nd generation Equinox?

 

[Fitter30]

Have 13 with the i4 engine 148k . Around 100k took it in the oil consumption test 1qt in a 1k they wouldn't do anything. Have always used synthetic oil 3-5 k changes. Tried using a breather with a check valve some different cleaners didn't change a thing then it got better. Would go down one mark around 1 k. Have to ask since in 47 years of driving never had a vehicle that had to check oil level after car sat for 8 +hours. Do a oil change myself dump in 5 qts and filter. Start it pull it off rhe ramps pull it back into the garage wait 20 minutes one level, wait hour another another level, after 4 hours another level, 8 hours same as mourning.

 

[Juan A. Learn]

The 2013 is notorious for using oil; I drive it with plenty of extra quarts in the trunk and check the dipstick level every couple hundred miles. Our '13 has 178K miles on it, and runs great!

 

[PoManNox]

On a rust free Texas car that just had expensive A/C repairs done, I'd keep running it. You can always have the cam cover removed/replaced for a PCV port inspection and cleaning. This could be the cause of the oil consumption if it's not piston/rings causing it.

 

[59Squire]

My equinox 2013 2LT (2.4, FWD) manufacturer date is Aug 2013, was bought on April 2014 as a new car in Texas. Now its mileage is 140k, and in recent 3 months the oil consumption problem occurred, around 1 quart every 3k miles.

I did all maintainance by myself after warranty. It has no major problem, just the AC was replaced in 2025.

ChatGPT (AI) suggests to trading in this car ASAP, said a lot of issues caused by oil consumption may happen, also the timing chain, and expensive repair may happen after 150K mileage.

My previous plan was to keep it until 2027 end and reach 160k. It has a lot of good features. I do like driving this car.

What's your opinion? When do you plan to retire your 2nd generation Equinox?

I have a 2012 built in June 2011. I bought it with 80,000 miles on it in 2017. Right away I took it to the Chevy dealer and had the coolant and transmission service done, even though the service manager said I didn't have to until 150,000 miles. I do this every three years and oil changes every three to four months, never going below 40% on the computer. We now have 201,000 miles on it with no engine or transmission problems. I do add oil every few weeks as it leaks and probably does use some, even thought I see no blue smoke. It runs as goof as the day we bought it. That's a lot cheaper than getting another car, even a used one. I'll run it as long as I can.

 

[eqn2013fr]

I have a 2012 built in June 2011. I bought it with 80,000 miles on it in 2017. Right away I took it to the Chevy dealer and had the coolant and transmission service done, even though the service manager said I didn't have to until 150,000 miles. I do this every three years and oil changes every three to four months, never going below 40% on the computer. We now have 201,000 miles on it with no engine or transmission problems. I do add oil every few weeks as it leaks and probably does use some, even thought I see no blue smoke. It runs as goof as the day we bought it. That's a lot cheaper than getting another car, even a used one. I'll run it as long as I can.

Thanks for sharing your story! This really inspires me. I also change oil every 3-4 k miles via cheap Costco Kirkland engine oil and transmission fluid every 2 years. Also always use top tier gas . It stated to burn oil from around 140k mileage, I should be able to keep it until 2027 end.

 

[eqn2013fr]

On a rust free Texas car that just had expensive A/C repairs done, I'd keep running it. You can always have the cam cover removed/replaced for a PCV port inspection and cleaning. This could be the cause of the oil consumption if it's not piston/rings causing it.

Thanks for the advice! The PCV works fine, the piston ring may get worn.

 

[ricklack]

My 2013 Nox had 350,000km (@ 210,000 miles) when I traded it in on my 2022. But I had the V6 AWD, I was super happy that when I bought it used @ 75,000 km that I got the V6, as I had not heard about the 2.4 oil mess. It was a great car, and I was planning to keep it another few years until the front differential went bad. I had just replaced the AC compressor and transfer case, so the front differential was the last straw. My prev car was a 2009 impala which I drove to the scrap yard with 430,000kms (258,000 miles)

 

[Chevy Ecotec]

Keep oil in it, and you won't have to worry about your timing chain assembly coming apart. There is no low oil level sensor on this vehicle. The main cause of engine failure is running them low on oil.

The 2.4 in my 2012 was still running great at over 220,000 miles with the original rings and one timing chain assembly replaced at 140,000 miles. It started using about a quart per month when the oil rings began to fail. Soaking the pistons overnight before an oil change in the morning would reduce oil usage for a while.

It's a shame, really. I like this generation Equinox.

Good luck!

 

[wilamowski3]

My equinox 2013 2LT (2.4, FWD) manufacturer date is Aug 2013, was bought on April 2014 as a new car in Texas. Now its mileage is 140k, and in recent 3 months the oil consumption problem occurred, around 1 quart every 3k miles.

I did all maintainance by myself after warranty. It has no major problem, just the AC was replaced in 2025.

ChatGPT (AI) suggests to trading in this car ASAP, said a lot of issues caused by oil consumption may happen, also the timing chain, and expensive repair may happen after 150K mileage.

My previous plan was to keep it until 2027 end and reach 160k. It has a lot of good features. I do like driving this car.

What's your opinion? When do you plan to retire your 2nd generation Equinox?

There was a service bulletin for oil burning that covered the L4 through 2012 model years with up to 120,000 miles. GM covered fixing them by replacing pistons with teflon coated rings. Mine is a 2013 so technically not covered. But, after forcing the issue through GM channels they paid for an oil consumption test. Mine failed the test and they replaced the pistons. In the process of repairing it they found a cracked exhaust manifold. I authorized replacing it but went back to GM. (Dealer said they would never, ever pay for it). I explained to GM that what I believe was happening is the oil that was burning was going through the engine and into the exhaust manifold resulting in excessive temps leading to the cracking. Manifold was covered by GM. Your problem getting covered is 2013 is beyond the bulletin and GM will not accept records for work done by you (even if you have them) and you're beyond the 120,000 mile point.

 

[59Squire]

My equinox 2013 2LT (2.4, FWD) manufacturer date is Aug 2013, was bought on April 2014 as a new car in Texas. Now its mileage is 140k, and in recent 3 months the oil consumption problem occurred, around 1 quart every 3k miles.

I did all maintainance by myself after warranty. It has no major problem, just the AC was replaced in 2025.

ChatGPT (AI) suggests to trading in this car ASAP, said a lot of issues caused by oil consumption may happen, also the timing chain, and expensive repair may happen after 150K mileage.

My previous plan was to keep it until 2027 end and reach 160k. It has a lot of good features. I do like driving this car.

What's your opinion? When do you plan to retire your 2nd generation Equinox?

My 2012 was built in June 2011. We bought it in 2017 with 80,000 miles on it. It now has 205,000, same 2.4 engine. I check the oil often, add some every couple of weeks. It does leak a bit, but there is no blue smoke so I'm not sure if it is burning any. But it runs and looks good and with the price of even a good used vehicle I'll gladly put a quart of oil in it every few weeks.

 

[Autoworker 74]

My equinox 2013 2LT (2.4, FWD) manufacturer date is Aug 2013, was bought on April 2014 as a new car in Texas. Now its mileage is 140k, and in recent 3 months the oil consumption problem occurred, around 1 quart every 3k miles.

I did all maintainance by myself after warranty. It has no major problem, just the AC was replaced in 2025.

ChatGPT (AI) suggests to trading in this car ASAP, said a lot of issues caused by oil consumption may happen, also the timing chain, and expensive repair may happen after 150K mileage.

My previous plan was to keep it until 2027 end and reach 160k. It has a lot of good features. I do like driving this car.

What's your opinion? When do you plan to retire your 2nd generation Equinox?

2027 is only 7 months away. Set up a schedule for checking the oil and buy a couple of gallons to replace whatever burns away. Or see what you can get for the vehicle and if your happy with the offer than thank the vehicle for its service and wave bye-bye. There aren't many options even if you are waiting until the end of 2027