2013 Chevrolet Equinox (2nd gen) · Known Issue
2013 Chevrolet Equinox Excessive Oil Consumption (2.4 Ecotec): What It Really Costs to Fix
Quick answer: 2013 Chevrolet Equinox excessive oil consumption (2.4 ecotec) typically costs $2,500 to $4,200 at an independent shop, depending on which component failed.
Applies to: 2.4L 4-cylinder only. Other versions of the 2013 Chevrolet Equinox do not have this problem.
What the Issue Is
The 2.4-liter Ecotec four in 2010 to 2013 Equinoxes is a documented oil burner. GM's repair bulletin for it, 13-06-01-003 (revised through 2019), covers 2010 to 2013 Equinox and GMC Terrain models with the 2.4, along with Buick LaCrosse and Regal versions of the engine. The routine is set out in the bulletin: the owner reports adding oil between changes, the dealer runs an oil consumption test, and if the engine uses more than a quart every 2,000 miles the repair is new pistons and rings. GM ties the consumption to piston ring wear.
GM went further for the earliest cars. Special coverage 14159 extended the piston-and-ring repair on 2010 Equinox and Terrain 2.4s to 10 years or 120,000 miles from the original sale, and its 2017 revision added emphasis on a PCV orifice step in the repair. GM's extended coverage was issued by model year, and we found none for the 2013. A class action over these engines, Berman v. General Motors, was settled with final approval in November 2019; the settlement did not include 2014 to 2017 models. On a 2013 today, the piston-and-ring repair is out of pocket.
So the used market prices these engines on evidence: oil-change records, the dipstick, startup smoke, chain rattle, and the owner's answer to the question that matters most, how much oil does it use between changes? An engine that burns oil and runs low between changes is also the one that goes on to wear its timing chain or its bearings.
Symptoms to Watch For
- 1.Adding a quart or more every 2,000 miles between changes
- 2.Blue-gray smoke at startup or under hard acceleration
- 3.Low-oil warnings on the dash, or an oil pressure warning at idle
- 4.Cold-start rattle from the timing chain area
- 5.Check-engine light with cam/crank correlation codes
Real Repair Costs
Pistons and rings with updated parts is GM's bulletin repair, now out of pocket on a 2013. A timing chain stretched by low-oil running can be a companion bill. A used engine can compete with the repair on price.
| Repair | Typical Cost (installed) |
|---|---|
| Piston/ring replacement, updated parts | $2,500-$4,200 |
| Timing chain kit (if stretched from low oil) | $900-$1,500 |
| Used engine, installedoften the value play | $2,200-$3,500 |
Major issue: budget for it. Ranges are US independent-shop estimates with quality parts. Use them as negotiation grounding, not a quote.
Mechanic's Tip: Spot It Before You Buy
The dipstick opens and closes this investigation: pull it cold, read the level against a claimed recent oil change, and smell for fuel or a burnt odor. Cold-start the engine yourself, listening for a couple of seconds of chain rattle and watching the tailpipe for blue smoke; either alone is a finding, both together is the full syndrome. Ask for oil receipts and top-off habits, and scan for correlation codes even without a light. On this engine a seller's vagueness about oil is not small talk, it is the difference between a sound car and a repair bill.
The Bigger Ownership Picture
Beyond this specific issue, budget roughly $900-$1,400 per year for scheduled maintenance and repairs on a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox. That is a typical US range from Avturo's ownership-cost table, an estimate rather than a quote, and it excludes insurance, fuel, and financing.
Own a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox? Keep an eye on it for free.
Add it to your Avturo garage and you get recall alerts for this exact car, an estimate of what it is worth, and a mechanic you can ask about excessive oil consumption (2.4 ecotec) at any hour.
Free to start. Takes a minute.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Equinox engines burn oil?▼
GM's piston-and-ring bulletin covers the 2.4-liter Ecotec four in 2010 to 2013 Equinoxes and Terrains, with an oil consumption test and new pistons and rings when the engine uses more than a quart every 2,000 miles. The 3.0 and 3.6 V6 versions are not part of it. GM's special coverage 14159 extended the repair on 2010 models to 10 years or 120,000 miles, and that window has closed.
Is my 2013 Equinox covered for oil consumption?▼
Not today. GM's bulletin 13-06-01-003 lists the 2013, so the piston-and-ring repair was covered while the regular 5-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty lasted, and that has long ended. We found no special coverage that extended the repair for 2013 models, so budget for it yourself or buy a car that does not need it.
What does the oil-consumption fix cost now?▼
Updated pistons and rings run $2,500 to $4,200 at independent shops, mostly labor for inexpensive parts. A stretched timing chain, the classic companion casualty of low-oil running, adds $900 to $1,500. Used engines at $2,200 to $3,500 installed frequently beat the repair on value, mileage depending.
Can I live with the consumption instead?▼
Many owners do: a quart every 1,000 miles or more, managed with regular level checks, is survivable. The dangerous version is unmanaged, the engine that runs three quarts low between changes is the one that stretches chains and spins bearings. If you are not a check-the-oil person, this is not your engine.
Sources
The facts on this page were last checked against these documents on October 10, 2026. Programs and their coverage end; check the car's VIN with a dealer for what still applies.
- Service bulletin: GM bulletin 13-06-01-003I, excessive oil consumption on 2010-2013 2.4L engines (June 2019, NHTSA copy) (static.nhtsa.gov)
- Warranty program: GM Special Coverage Adjustment 14159, 2010 Equinox and Terrain 2.4L oil consumption (August 2014, NHTSA copy) (static.nhtsa.gov)
- Warranty program: GM Special Coverage 14159D revision (April 2017, NHTSA copy) (static.nhtsa.gov)
- Court or settlement record: Public Citizen: Berman v. General Motors (Equinox and Terrain 2.4L settlement) (citizen.org)
More 2013 Chevrolet Equinox Known Issues
The Same Problem on Other Cars
Comparing candidates? These models have documented oil consumption problems too:
More Chevrolet Problems
Researching other vehicles? Browse known problems and repair costs for 59 popular models
Checking out a listing for a Chevrolet Equinox?
Run it through Avturo. It compares the asking price with similar listings, matches the car to documented problems like excessive oil consumption (2.4 ecotec), and flags the red flags in the ad before you drive out to see it.
Free to start. We keep your listing while you create your account.