Chevy Equinox Engine Problems

in Problems
Blue Chevy Equinox

Chevy Equinox by Kevauto - CC-BY-SA-4.0

The Chevrolet Equinox is easily one of the most popular SUVs, packed with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder and V6 engine. Despite these excellent components added to the machine, several issues still appear in these components. You might wonder - what are the most prominent Chevy Equinox engine problems in your car’s system?

If you’re interested in learning more about the engine problems in the Chevy Equinox, you’re in the right place. The more you know about potential issues in this car’s system, the more prepared you will be to care for them as they appear. Read on to learn about four of the most common engine troubles in the Chevy Equinox.

The Most Common Chevy Equinox Engine Problems:

  • Excessive Oil Consumption. Cost to fix: $1,000
  • Blown Head Gasket. Cost to fix: $1,000
  • Lack of Piston Seal. Cost to fix: $500
  • Clattering Noises When Starting Car. Cost to fix: $2,000

Excessive Oil Consumption

Problem:

One of the most common complaints in the Chevy Equinox engine is excessive oil consumption. In fact, according to carbrain.com, some drivers report their Chevy Equinox engine uses nearly a quart of oil per 1,000 miles. This number is much faster than usual and could lead to engine damage and expensive oil changes more often than usual.

Excessive oil consumption is one of the number one causes of a blown engine in a vehicle. It’s at the top of the pile for the Chevy Equinox engine, so it’s critical to address this issue in the Chevy Equinox engine if you see it, rather than letting it float by.

Cost:

To deal with the first of the Chevy Equinox engine problems, will cost around $1,000. Dealing with this misfortune isn’t as simple as it seems - most of the time, you must repair and replace the piston rings, which can quickly drive the cost up far higher than most owners were prepared to go when they first brought their vehicle in for a fix. 

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Blown Head Gasket

Problem:

Another common trouble in the heavy Equinox engine is in the head gasket arena. In an engine, a head gasket typically blows after it overheats. However, it’s also possible to run into this trouble if your head gasket wasn’t sealed correctly by the manufacturer or you are having trouble with your cooling system. 

In the Chevy Equinox, it’s critical to manage your car’s system to ensure it doesn’t overheat. It’s also valuable to know the system ahead of time to see if it was installed incorrectly or if there are any further measures necessary.

Cost:

A blown head gasket can be a more expensive item to handle in the Chevy Equinox engine. According to jdpower.com, most of this cost comes from labor. Although you could cut down on the price point significantly, the work required for a blown head gasket is too intricate and isn’t worth attempting to complete yourself.

Lack of Piston Seal

Problem:

In the four-cylinder engine version for the Chevy Equinox, there were many instances where the piston rings did not seal properly against the walls of the cylinder. Thus, various engine issues occurred as the oil was pushed into the combustion chamber and burned out the tailpipe. The lack of a seal led to insecurity in the overall design.

This loss of an oil seal has led to several lawsuits and partial lawsuits from drivers, anticipating they would be able to make money off of the trouble in the Chevrolet Equinox’s engine. However, most of these cases were dismissed over the years as they came to a settlement.

Many also report their piston seal shattering when the weather gets colder outside. This repair can be a pain and can be costly in specific circumstances.

Cost:

It costs around $150 for a piston seal, but the process of adding it to a car can range from $500-$1,000. It isn’t a cheap endeavor, and the cost will depend on the person you hire and the intricacies of the job. Also, the final price point for your Chevy Equinox repair depends on how many pistons are broken and the degree of damage within each seal.

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Clattering Noises When Starting Car

Problem:

Finally, many drivers reported strange clattering noises when starting the car. Although this noise can be a pain, it’s also a potential sign of a fault within the Chevy Equinox engine system. There are many different reasons for this sound, but it’s not uncommon with a Chevy Equinox engine.

Some report the rattling coming from a break in the exhaust manifold. The system tears and continues to make sounds whenever someone kicks the car to life. Small cracks would make more and more noise as the vehicle continues to heat up.

Another cause of the rattling could be issues with the front accessory drive area. There could be blockages or breaks, leading to the unfortunate noise when trying to see what the culprit for the sound is.

Cost:

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all deal with the Chevy Equinox engine repair cost for a rattling engine. In the worst cases, it could be around $2,000 to deal with the noise. It could be nothing, but it could be indicative of some serious harm in the system.

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Avoiding the Chevy Equinox Engine Problems

Although not apparent to the untrained eye and ear, someone with car experience should be able to catch these Chevy Equinox engine problems before they spiral out of control. If you have spent a significant amount of time around your Chevy, watch for symptoms of distress within your engine’s system. The sooner you can care for them, the better your car will fare.

If you don’t have too much experience, you can always go the route of the mechanic. Most professionals offer an inspection for vehicles, which typically completes a full diagnostic and a visual inspection of the car. From this examination, they might be able to act on engine troubles before they spiral into something terrible for your Chevy Equinox.

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