The point could be made that there is blame to be spread around; the OP for not checking the oil level and relying too heavily on the OLM, the fast lube for making an equally bad oil change interval recommendation, and GM for stressing the OLM so much.
When the smoke clears (figuratively speaking), and considering this problem is the result of sludge and not running the motor out of oil, then it seems to me GM should step up and perform a Good Will warranty.
Just curious, but has the service manager provided any details to you about why they will not do this?
(Something to keep in mind is that dealer warranty repair info is tracked and if car makers are spending too much on this or that then what often happens is that things are made more difficult to do at the dealer level so to speak.)
You reference being in North Carolina. That is a high humidity area and this means oil changes should be performed more frequently. Sometimes these things snowball. A little sludge can affect the crankcase ventilation system which makes the sludge problem become even more prevalent which then makes the crankcase vent. system go downhill even faster which…you get the point.
The service mrg is saying GM is going to help out on this through good will and excellent repeat customer loyalty as our family has bought over 13 cars from this dealership.- how much has not even been determined. Or if it has, I have not been brought into the loop until all the facts are obtained. That is understandable.We are waiting on Citgo to advise and then we will put this to GM again in its entirety. Like I said, I will keep you all advised. Thanks.
Saw them anne. Was not impressed with the degree of sludge. Sorry but yes I can be snarky. I did not read each post. It is just I would never trust this OLM to begin with. I build systems and work on various bits of engineering. I would never trust a manual written by the marketing people. I would just change the oil like a normal engine.
Anne; my admiration for your handling of such a complex issue with such a logical and cool head! You were caught in the web of imperfect technology, unreliable service providers, and a lot of political BS.
You did all the things GM expected of you, so the ball is in their court and I expect them to provide you with a new or remanufactured engine.
Your responsibility as a car owner is not to have to second guess the GM technology and instructions or the performance of lube shops.
However, from now on I’m sure you will double check and second guess these things.
I am the tech manager at Fram Oil filters. I just checked the factory service manual for the 2009 Traverse, it does tell consumers to follow the oil monitor, it also lists oil change intervals of 6k miles for severe service (lots of stop and go, short trip driving) and 7500k miles for mormal service oil changes. Oil sludging is indicitive of lots of short trip, engine not fully warmed up trips. Those kinds of users require more frequent oil chnages.
Hello motor king. Thank you for your reply. Techs and service mgrs and GM describe the oil lite monitoring as a mechanism that will determine the kind of driving the OP is doing and tells the the life monitoring system when the car needs a change based on the type of driving. So even if it a lot of starts and stops, the OLM is adjusting to reduce the life of the oil and thus alert the driver by OLM. That the short version.
Bladecutter, It has been a week since I started this post. Interesting comments. Action has been taken and the ball is rolling. I should have my car up and running by the mid or end of next week. What I do on the “new” or “keep-the-car” side of this situation is still out for jury. However, instead of the saga continuum, I will just come back and post the results when I get the facts. Over the past weekend when everything was still so “exploded” on the service floor at the dealsership with a lot of oohing and awwwing going on and nobody really knowing what to do until tests and facts were collected, this was a fascinating forum to learn some of the ins and outs of day t day car mechanic’s view points. Now we all have had a chance to delve into the facts and issues and get receipts and so forth and it is a matter now of just waiting until everybody to do the adminstration and assemblage and getting the car back in operating condition. So I will respond at a later date. Thanks for your comments. Thanks to all of you for all your comments. Hopefully this post has helped clarify what we do and do not know and what we need to research more.
The factory service manual says that in it?
Well, just out of curiosity, how many of the 90k+ owners of '09 Traverse’s do you think actually own the GM Service Manual for that car.
The actual Owners Manual says something completely different.
No!! Keep it going. I check for updates every day! I want to know how the saga ends. It’s like a soap opera. The title could be “As the Wheels Turn.” (or maybe As the Wheels Don’t Turn).
my2cents- You are so right. I have become addicted myself. I am carrying on my life but I am so looking for the truth in this thing that I run upstairs to see what people have written. Who knew I would be a closet car addict. I am an artist, speaker, designer. This all brings back memories of holding the wrench for my father squatting on my little fanny no taller than the wheels when I was a toddler watching him changed out shocks, change oil, whatever. I was truly daddy’s little girl and he took me to all the dealerships when he worked for GMAC. He passed away 5 years ago. I think he is having a good time with this post. I hope he is. He loved cars and loved to talk about them. It may be his spirit that is keeping this alive. God rest his soul. He never gave up a cause. I guess I get a little bit of that from him.
OH AND BY THE WAY- I picked up my car today yes I am driving the Traverse. I have signed up for the monthly ONSTAR diagnostics to be sent to my email. I am giving the car 3,000 miles and then taking it back to make sure my new engine is doing fine. I felt like I was taking someone home from the hospital today and having to check in with the doctor for a well visit in 6 weeks (my 3,000 schedule.) Citgo confirmed the receipt of the samples and is proceeding on testing. Will advise. Happy Valentines Day you guys. Talk to you next week. Have a good weekend.
While the car was being repaired in the dealership, three more cars came in for timing chain problems being sretched or worn too soon. I also saw online that there were several posts where at 19K miles the timing chains were becoming a problem. Well, a few days ago, GM put out a notice (I think it will develop into a recall) that there is a timing chain premature wearing problem. So the saga just continues to take twists and turns along life’s merry way. My timing chain was worn extensively but it is a situation with mine as too what came first since everything was so bad and what caused what is hard to tell.