Do Thin Oils Destroy Engines? Lessons From GM’s Massive Recall

Video Description

After 28,000 engine failures, GM is recommending thicker oil. Will it work? Do Thin Oils Damage Engines - https://youtu.be/IKdhgKUZhPA Subscribe to Engineering Explained for more videos! - https://goo.gl/VZstk7 After over 28,000 reported engine failures, GM is recommending thicker oil as a potential solution — but is that really the answer? In this video, we take a deep dive into why so many GM 6.2L V8 (L87) engines are failing, what the actual root causes are, and why a simple oil change is being offered as a fix in some cases. We’ll explore: 1. The manufacturing flaws behind these widespread failures. 2. How oil viscosity and the Stribeck Curve relate to engine wear. 3. Whether thinner oils are causing damage in modern engines. 4. If switching to a thicker oil could actually help protect your engine. This isn’t just opinion — we’re digging into the data, published research, and real-world test results to understand the logic behind GM’s service bulletins and what it means for both affected vehicles and the broader debate around oil viscosity. If you’re curious about the science behind engine lubrication, the role of modern manufacturing, or just want to understand what oil you should be using, this video is for you. Related Videos: Do Thin Oils Damage Engines - https://youtu.be/IKdhgKUZhPA GM Engine Recall Motor Oil Geek - https://youtu.be/pbEdr6Q6cKw References: NHTSA Recall Report - https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCLRPT-25V274-1598.PDF GM Recall Details - https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCRIT-25V274-6343.pdf GM Recall Details 2 - https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2025/RCRIT-25V274-5347.pdf Honda Oil Study (1999) - https://doi.org/10.4271/1999-01-3468 Honda Oil Study (2011) - https://doi.org/10.4271/2011-01-1247 Toyota Oil Study (2020) - https://doi.org/10.4271/2020-01-1425 Low Viscosity No Fuel Econ Improvement - https://doi.org/10.4271/2019-01-2241 Corvette Track Prep - https://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/chevrolet/na/us/english/index/vehicles/2020/performance/corvette-experience/02-pdf/02-pdf/2023%20Corvette%20Track%20Preparation%20Form_081722_v5.pdf Stribeck Curve - https://profile.iitd.ac.in/~hirani/lec13.pdf Silverado Most Dependable - https://www.chevrolet.com/trucks/previous-year/silverado/1500 JD Power Awards - https://www.jdpower.com/business/awards Engineering Explained is a participant in the Amazon Influencer Program. Recommended Books & Car Products - http://amzn.to/2BrekJm Don't forget to check out my other pages below! Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/engineeringexplained Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/engineeringexplained EE Extra: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsrY4q8xGPJQbQ8HPQZn6iA