# GM "Customer Satisfaction Program" Recall of 3.6L V6 Engine **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** cts, timing-belts, cadillac\ **Created:** [March 20, 2011, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806 "2011-03-20T16:11:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2019, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/41 "2019-09-22T23:25:32Z")
> [@Scrapyard\_John](#): > > I wasn’t aware the GM 3.6 had timing chain issues. We owned one in an 08 Malibu from 18k miles to 108k miles and didn’t have any problems. May be a good thing that we got rid of it if they’re problematic. Some of the 3.6 engines had timing chain issues that were found to be caused by the crankshaft sprocket wearing prematurely. There was a software update for those cars that altered the oil life monitor to call for more frequent oil changes to improve the life of the timing components. The sprocket materials were improved in subsequent years. I have enough faith in the redesign that we own a 2018 GM product with the 3.6 and I expect no engine issues. ---
**Author:** ![asemaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@asemaster](https://community.cartalk.com/u/asemaster)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/42 "2019-09-22T23:29:33Z")
> [@rknopik\_156609](#): > > DOHC,single OHC, when Chain driven will not last over 150000 miles. ??? One of the reasons that the Ford Crown Vic and Lincoln Town Car was a favorite of fleets everywhere was that the OHC 4.6 would regularly go 300,000+ miles with no mechanical issues. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 12:30am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/43 "2019-09-23T00:30:22Z")
> [@Scrapyard\_John](#): > > In fairness, timing chain issues aren’t a rare issue with Ford (5.4 3 valve, first gen ecoboost). Not sure if the issue is the chain stretching because of the length, the design of the variable timing system (cam phasers, etc), or what. You said it . . . cam phasers It’s not uncommon for them to fail > [@Scrapyard\_John](#): > > I wasn’t aware the GM 3.6 had timing chain issues It’s a very well known problem 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 2:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/44 "2019-09-23T02:13:57Z")
I’ve heard of problems with everything from the phasers, guides, and tensioner. I was always unsure what the root of the problem actually was. The first gen ecoboost motors had tsb’s out for “cold start rattle”. If I understand correctly, the noise is due to a loose timing chain rubbing somewhere it’s not supposed to rub. The repair is to replace the chain, tensioner, phasers, - the whole shebang, basically. Do you have ecoboost engines in the fleet you service? Curious how they are faring. I’ll have to buy a new(er) truck some day, after all. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/45 "2019-09-23T02:58:18Z")
> [@Scrapyard\_John](#): > > Do you have ecoboost engines in the fleet you service? Haven’t seen any yet . . . probably just a matter of time ☹ simpler is better, as far as I’m concerned bigger displacement over gasoline direct injection and turbo . . . that’s how I would decide but I don’t call the shots . . . ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 3:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/46 "2019-09-23T03:06:30Z")
If you buy a new half ton, both GM and Ford have direct injection across the board, I think. GM and Ram have cylinder deactivation. So…there really is no simple anymore. Let’s not even mention the 8 and 10 speed transmissions. Oh yeah, autostop / start too for all F150’s. Not sure about GM and Ram. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 3:13am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/47 "2019-09-23T03:13:13Z")
> [@Scrapyard\_John](#): > > So…there really is no simple anymore. I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it . . . ---
**Author:** ![Scrapyard-John](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@Scrapyard-John](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Scrapyard-John)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2019, 3:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/48 "2019-09-23T03:15:05Z")
I see your bridge in the distance! Look away! 😬 ---
**Author:** ![Pat.carlson\_192850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dfb087/32.png) [@Pat.carlson\_192850](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Pat.carlson_192850)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 4:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/49 "2025-02-13T16:43:18Z")
3,000 miles if using the proper weight full synthetic is just a waste of resources, 5k is the low 7.5k is what I’d go for on the max, many of these have you going over 10k, my wife’s Explorer has 40% life at 7,500 but i change it at 7,500 since that usually around 7 ot 8 months so i don’t even change it twice a year since we put on at most 11k miles a year, my 2011 CTS I’ve owned for about 3 months and have under 1,000 miles on it ---
**Author:** ![Pat.carlson\_192850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dfb087/32.png) [@Pat.carlson\_192850](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Pat.carlson_192850)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 4:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/50 "2025-02-13T16:48:28Z")
Auto start stop is on all new cars as California has made it mandatory on cars and SUV, as they aren’t for gas mileage but emission reasons, but first thing I do when I get in my 2021 Explorer is turn that off, only some newer GM have the cylinder deactivation system, but it can be easily defeated by a OBDII device, which I’d definitely get if I had this ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/48514_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/51 "2025-02-13T17:00:26Z")
The two people to whom you’re responding haven’t been active in this forum for several years. Scrappy has been gone for ~2 years, and Caddyman seems to have disappeared about 7 years ago. This is an old thread. ---
**Author:** ![Pat.carlson\_192850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dfb087/32.png) [@Pat.carlson\_192850](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Pat.carlson_192850)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 5:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/52 "2025-02-13T17:11:20Z")
That post is just ignorant of OHC systems, and it seems he’s implying that a timing belt is more durable than a timing chain, which is completely wrong, as you mentioned if it’s well maintained a timing chain can last well over 300k, a timing belt no matter the manufacture is going to need to be changed at 100k or 10 years no matter how well you maintain your engine The biggest issue with the 3.6 timing chains falling is two well 3 things, 1 the 2012 and earlier had a designed flaw with the PCV valve causing to much oil consumption which can be fixed with a valve cover gasket, 2 is the oil level sensor was poor designed and wouldn’t go off till you were 2 to 3 quarts down, though even with this flaw the owner bares some of the responsibility as they really should check there oil level at every fill up ot at least every other fill up, 3 was the system did over estimate oil life, and the low oil is what would cause the timing chain and more importantly the tensioner to be properly lubricated ---
**Author:** ![Pat.carlson\_192850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dfb087/32.png) [@Pat.carlson\_192850](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Pat.carlson_192850)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 5:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/53 "2025-02-13T17:27:57Z")
The biggest problems with the early ecoboost was in order to keep the turbo lag all but unnoticeable was to cast the exhaust manifolds with the block, but in doing so they ended up with extremely close quarters between the cooing ports which didn’t give enough surface to form a proper seal and coolant would begin to leak into the cylinders and into the oil causing catastrophic results, they have addressed that, but the more recent ecoboost issue was caused by engine intake valves that fractured and fell into the combustion chamber. It was revealed that the material the valve supplier used was not up to specification, but they claim this issue has been addressed ---
**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2025, 6:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/54 "2025-02-13T18:36:10Z")
On the I3 and I4 Ecboosts. the the manifold in built into the block. However on the V6 Ecoboosts, the manifolds are not built into the block. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806/55 "2025-02-14T20:04:23Z")
You are correct…“there is no replacement for displacement” “440 or bust”. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gm-customer-satisfaction-program-recall-of-3-6l-v6-engine/62806.md?page=2)