OIL COOLER LINES - Check yours now! Urgent 2019 owners

[romeactual]

I posted about this previously and had a decent outcome with reimbursement, wanted to share all the info I can. Looking through the forums, it appears its continuing to happen to more people! I would advise 2019 guys to check your oil cooler lines IMMEDIATELY! Mine is a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500 SLT

 

I noticed a small leak in driveway after some real cold temps in Michigan. Took skid plates off and noticed the oil cooler lines were leaking on all four connections between the rubber hoses and metal crimps. It appears cold weather exaggerates this issue.

 

Worst case scenario is those crimps fail, and you lose all of your oil while on the road. Catch it before that happens, and out of warranty or maybe even in warranty, you're stuck with a ~$750 to $1,200 service fee at a STEALERSHIP, just to replace the oil cooler lines (a ~$150 part). It's not an easy DIY job, hence why I paid.

 

I got quotes at different dealerships for this service. First one was over $1200 at an actual GMC dealership, second one was around $750. I went with the cheaper which was solely a Chevy dealer.

Of course, there is no warranty for this and although their is a TSB for this issue, its only applicable as of now to about 500 trucks. If your truck is in that group, this procedure would be completely FREE. GMC TSB N192220080 - Please reads this through and you will see that GM is acknowledging this is an issue, but for select trucks only.

 

WE NEED THEM TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO WAY MORE TRUCKS.

 

I called GM customer service to set up a "case" with them, and have been waiting the last few weeks on cash reimbursement. They have already given me $500 worth in GM rewards to use at a dealership, and they are currently in process of reimbursing me cash for the service. I have an email which states they are reimbursing half the amount for parts and labor.  This situation may be unique for others, but get a claim established AFTER paying for the service. You might just get a refund! You cannot setup a claim before the service.

 

Customer Care:

1 (800) 462-8782

[email protected]

 

 

[Transient]

How is this not covered under the powertrain warranty, which iirc is 5 year/60,000 miles?  Is the powertrain warranty the reason you're obtaining financial reimbursement?

 

 

 

[richard wysong]

This has been a problem as long as they have been using oil cooler lines with the crimped hoses. The chances that the hoses can become detached from the metal lines is almost non-existent except maybe in those 500 trucks. My 98 is on its third set so the replacements are not any better than the originals. A more permanent solution may be to cut the crimps off and double clamp the hoses or have a hydraulics shop make some up for you

Edited March 2, 2023 by richard wysong

[romeactual]

4 hours ago, richard wysong said:

This has been a problem as long as they have been using oil cooler lines with the crimped hoses. The chances that the hoses can become detached from the metal lines is almost non-existent except maybe in those 500 trucks. My 98 is on its third set so the replacements are not any better than the originals. A more permanent solution may be to cut the crimps off and double clamp the hoses or have a hydraulics shop make some up for you

Reading around and talking to the service dept, there are def some stories of them becoming completely detached. That is why I am trying to bring awareness to this situation. Based on all 4 connections leaking at the same time on mine, I would assume it would be more likely to detach. Both dealerships recommended I don't drive the truck at all until it was fixed due to possibility of them failing. Yes, you could be right about them not failing, but this isn't something I would risk if they are leaking, get them replaced or as you said, cut the crimp and double clamp the hoses.

[romeactual]

5 hours ago, Transient said:

How is this not covered under the powertrain warranty, which iirc is 5 year/60,000 miles?  Is the powertrain warranty the reason you're obtaining financial reimbursement?

 

 

 

I'm at 70k miles but also hoses (oil cooler lines) are not covered under power train. Chances of getting a "Good Will" repair are higher if you are in the power train warranty though. My biggest gripe is that this shouldn't be a wear item at this mileage, it is a commonly known defect on a part that goes bad prematurely. It has happened on trucks that are half the miles. It needs to be revamped, the design is flawed.

[Gangly]

Oil Cooler lines are covered under powertrain warranty, specifically so if I remember correctly.

[JeffH]

Yep, my 2019 Trail boss leaked during some single digit temps and I really freaked out. Local dealer fixed under warranty no problems other than having to drive a Toyota Corolla for three days.. they even replaced the Oil Cooler for some reason. 

[relevante]

Just to remind everyone. Check this. Pull the skid plates and look.

 

I hadn't been in there for a long time but I just decided to commit to keeping the truck long term, so I tore into a bunch of preventive maintenance and took the covers off, and sure enough, the lines are leaking. And, conveniently for GM, the truck has 67,000 miles on it. I called and referenced that TSB and they basically politely told me to go **** myself. They said it was "possible" that there would be some cost offset for the repair at a dealership, and when I pressed them on how much that might be, she said generally 10-30%, but it would have to be taken in for diagnosis first. I already had the truck on the lift and a bunch of stuff taken apart so I'm just adding that to the list, but it is super annoying knowing that had I just looked 7,001 miles ago, this would be their problem, not mine. This is the kind of ****** I would expect to deal with if 4 years ago I'd bought a used BMW with 150k miles on it, not a brand new $60k truck.

Edited November 9, 2023 by relevante

[Ckitch]

Having the same issue on my 2019 Chevy Trail Boss with 80,000. My wife was driving to a doctors appointment , low oil light came on, shortly after that the message about pulling over. She pulled over at the first safe spot. Oil was all over the side of the truck and front of engine. Engine was blown. We had it towed to Shelor Motor Mile in Christiansburg Virginia. It took a week to have it looked at and have to be told that the extended warranty covered the oil cooler hose but have to tear the engine apart to see if the engine blew do to lack of oil for the oil cooler hose blowing. After a few more days Shelor called and said that the engine blowing was due to lack of oil but the only way the warranty place would fix it is if we had the receipts to all of our oil changes. I change my own oil most of the time and have no idea how to retrieve them from my bank statements. We called the warranty place (Costgaurd). They seemed great and said “No problem” they were going to send out their own inspector. A week later we get a call saying that they engine blew do to no oil in the engine and driving with no oil , along with poor maintenance. This is a total joke. Right now still fighting with GM, Shelor and the Costgaurd, trying to find a reasonable person to put 2 and 2 together. Plus Joe ( our representative from Shelor) is a horrible. It sometimes takes days to get back with us. He called my wife today and said it will cost another $1500 to move the truck out of the bay until we if out what we want to do, with addition to the $10028 to replace the engine. This has been going on 34 days. I am trying to reach upper management from Shelor and waiting on GM to get back with us. So far it looks like we have to buy a new engine. Looks like the next truck will not be a Gm or anything from Shelor. They sold us the warranty too. Is it worth going to small claims court? I apologize for the bad grammar. I am a little angry. Any helpful suggestions will be appreciated. I usually would not call out companies or employee’s name but this is completely ridiculous .Having the same issue on my 2019 Chevy Trail Boss with 80,000. My wife was driving to a doctors appointment , low oil light came on, shortly after that the message about pulling over. She pulled over at the first safe spot. Oil was all over the side of the truck and front of engine. Engine was blown. We had it towed to Shelor Motor Mile in Christiansburg Virginia. It took a week to have it looked at and have to be told that the extended warranty covered the oil cooler hose but have to tear the engine apart to see if the engine blew do to lack of oil for the oil cooler hose blowing. After a few more days Shelor called and said that the engine blowing was due to lack of oil but the only way the warranty place would fix it is if we had the receipts to all of our oil changes. I change my own oil most of the time and have no idea how to retrieve them from my bank statements. We called the warranty place (Costgaurd). They seemed great and said “No problem” they were going to send out their own inspector. A week later we get a call saying that they engine blew do to no oil in the engine and driving with no oil , along with poor maintenance. This is a total joke. Right now still fighting with GM, Shelor and the Costgaurd, trying to find a reasonable person to put 2 and 2 together. Plus Joe ( our representative from Shelor) is a horrible. It sometimes takes days to get back with us. He called my wife today and said it will cost another $1500 to move the truck out of the bay until we if out what we want to do, with addition to the $10028 to replace the engine. This has been going on 34 days. I am trying to reach upper management from Shelor and waiting on GM to get back with us. So far it looks like we have to buy a new engine. Looks like the next truck will not be a Gm or anything from Shelor. They sold us the warranty too. Is it worth going to small claims court? I apologize for the bad grammar. I am a little angry. Any helpful suggestions will be appreciated. I usually would not call out companies or employee’s name but this is completely ridiculous .

[19 Denali ultimate]

I got lucky about 2 or 3 years back and they found my lines were leaking during a routine oil change inspection.  The tech said it was actually leaking quite bad but must have just started recently as I was not seeing any oil on the ground or in the garage where I park.  He said the skid plate was almost full with oil.  They were replaced under my warranty

[19 Denali ultimate]

bb

 

Edited April 3 by 19 Denali ultimate

[relevante]

27 minutes ago, 19 Denali ultimate said:

I got lucky about 2 or 3 years back and they found my lines were leaking during a routine oil change inspection.  The tech said it was actually leaking quite bad but must have just started recently as I was not seeing any oil on the ground or in the garage where I park.  He said the skid plate was almost full with oil.  They were replaced under my warranty

 

Skid plate is carefully engineered to hold just enough oil to get you out of the warranty period before dripping. Tech screwed it all up by actually removing it for the inspection.

[19 Denali ultimate]

I know you're joking, BUT.

[relevante]

On 3/26/2024 at 5:13 PM, Ckitch said:

Having the same issue on my 2019 Chevy Trail Boss with 80,000. My wife was driving to a doctors appointment , low oil light came on, shortly after that the message about pulling over. She pulled over at the first safe spot. Oil was all over the side of the truck and front of engine. Engine was blown. We had it towed to Shelor Motor Mile in Christiansburg Virginia. It took a week to have it looked at and have to be told that the extended warranty covered the oil cooler hose but have to tear the engine apart to see if the engine blew do to lack of oil for the oil cooler hose blowing. After a few more days Shelor called and said that the engine blowing was due to lack of oil but the only way the warranty place would fix it is if we had the receipts to all of our oil changes. I change my own oil most of the time and have no idea how to retrieve them from my bank statements. We called the warranty place (Costgaurd). They seemed great and said “No problem” they were going to send out their own inspector. A week later we get a call saying that they engine blew do to no oil in the engine and driving with no oil , along with poor maintenance. This is a total joke. Right now still fighting with GM, Shelor and the Costgaurd, trying to find a reasonable person to put 2 and 2 together. Plus Joe ( our representative from Shelor) is a horrible. It sometimes takes days to get back with us. He called my wife today and said it will cost another $1500 to move the truck out of the bay until we if out what we want to do, with addition to the $10028 to replace the engine. This has been going on 34 days. I am trying to reach upper management from Shelor and waiting on GM to get back with us. So far it looks like we have to buy a new engine. Looks like the next truck will not be a Gm or anything from Shelor. They sold us the warranty too. Is it worth going to small claims court? I apologize for the bad grammar. I am a little angry. Any helpful suggestions will be appreciated. I usually would not call out companies or employee’s name but this is completely ridiculous .Having the same issue on my 2019 Chevy Trail Boss with 80,000. My wife was driving to a doctors appointment , low oil light came on, shortly after that the message about pulling over. She pulled over at the first safe spot. Oil was all over the side of the truck and front of engine. Engine was blown. We had it towed to Shelor Motor Mile in Christiansburg Virginia. It took a week to have it looked at and have to be told that the extended warranty covered the oil cooler hose but have to tear the engine apart to see if the engine blew do to lack of oil for the oil cooler hose blowing. After a few more days Shelor called and said that the engine blowing was due to lack of oil but the only way the warranty place would fix it is if we had the receipts to all of our oil changes. I change my own oil most of the time and have no idea how to retrieve them from my bank statements. We called the warranty place (Costgaurd). They seemed great and said “No problem” they were going to send out their own inspector. A week later we get a call saying that they engine blew do to no oil in the engine and driving with no oil , along with poor maintenance. This is a total joke. Right now still fighting with GM, Shelor and the Costgaurd, trying to find a reasonable person to put 2 and 2 together. Plus Joe ( our representative from Shelor) is a horrible. It sometimes takes days to get back with us. He called my wife today and said it will cost another $1500 to move the truck out of the bay until we if out what we want to do, with addition to the $10028 to replace the engine. This has been going on 34 days. I am trying to reach upper management from Shelor and waiting on GM to get back with us. So far it looks like we have to buy a new engine. Looks like the next truck will not be a Gm or anything from Shelor. They sold us the warranty too. Is it worth going to small claims court? I apologize for the bad grammar. I am a little angry. Any helpful suggestions will be appreciated. I usually would not call out companies or employee’s name but this is completely ridiculous .

 

That’s awful. My first line of reasoning with them would be “How did the oil cooler line blow off if there was no oil?” No oil would mean no pressure which would mean no blown oil line. Of course they know this, but they’re just hoping you don’t or that you’ll give up.

 

I will say, the closest I’ve ever had to an issue like this was with a very expensive plasma TV I bought back in the day. It came with a stuck bright green pixel. The disclaimer in the manual said something to the effect of “defects not visible from more than 8’ away are considered normal.” This bright green dot was visible from anywhere in the room. I went around and around with the dealer and with Pioneer customer service for literally months. Eventually someone on a forum suggested I contact BBB. I figured it was a waste but was pretty much out of ideas, so I did. And within a few days I got a phone call from some VP of customer relations or something like that at Pioneer, and a couple days later two guys came with a brand new TV, set it up and hauled mine out in the same box. So maybe that’s worth a shot? Wouldn’t count on it working but can’t hurt.

[HondaHawkGT]

Toyota has had this exact same issue for years. It's hit or miss when getting them to cover repairs. I hate that manufacturers use these cheap crimped rubber oil lines.