2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade 6.2L V8 Engine (L87 EcoTec3): Problems, Longevity, and Specs

The new Cadillac Escalade was offered in 2021. Now it's one of the biggest luxury SUVs you can get on the market. Although Cadillac loses its position on the market, the new Escalade became a hot offer and it sold more SUVs in 2021 and 2022 than ever in history - over 40,000 cars a year.

Today, I will tell you about the base 6.2L V8 engine (L87 EcoTec3) in the Cadillac Escalade and cover its problems, advantages, and some features you may want to know. I've already told you a lot about the 3.0L Diesel engine in the Escalade. So, it's time to move on and look at the most popular engine option in this vehicle.

Key facts and my opinion about the engine

• Production years: 2020-now
• Average lifespan of L87 EcoTec3: 200,000-220,000 miles
• Fuel supply type: direct injection
• Power range: 420 hp
• Fuel efficiency: bad
• Engine block material: aluminum
• Engine reliability score: medium
• The most common problems: lifters clogging, valve coils can break, cooling system issues, oil leaks.

What should you know about the base engine in the Escalade?

So, the 6.2L L87 EcoTec3 engine is the base option for all versions of the Escalade but the Escalade V. The latter is equipped with a 6.2L supercharged engine that I will try to cover in one of my next articles. The engine belongs to LS or small-block engine family and is pretty reliable and long-lasting.

This engine powers the biggest GM vehicles like the Chevy Suburban, GMC Yukon, Chevy Tahoe, GMC Sierra, and Escalade. The current version of the engine was introduced in 2019 but we know enough about it now to make some conclusions. A lot of important changes were made in comparison with the L86 engine.

Here are some important facts you will want to know:

• this is the V8 engine with a displacement of 6.2 liters and it offers 420 hp of power and 460 lb-ft of torque;
• the engine is naturally aspirated, so there is no turbocharger, it's quite simple in terms of design;
• instead of the AFM system, it uses DFM - Dynamic Fuel Management, it offers 17 different patterns of firing order, not just the switch between V4 and V8;
• as far as I know, this engine is fitted with the timing chain which is said to live about 200,000 miles, but it should be replaced earlier than that;
• the engine offers direct injection which makes it more powerful and economical but this also adds some problems with high mileage;
• the engine offers a start-stop system for fuel economy but the good news is that you can deactivate the feature easily;
• the 6.2L V8 engine comes equipped with the only option of the transmission - the 10-speed automatic transmission (HydraMatic 10L80);
• the engine offers 14 MPG in the city and up to 19 MPG on highways, but for me, these figures are too optimistic.

If you ask me about this engine, I will say it's really good for a truck with a lot of torque and great durability. But when it comes to the Escalade, it's hard to see this as an ideal engine for this car. The 6.2L Supercharged version seems like a more decent option for this vehicle. The L87 engine is primarily made for trucks and it feels much better in the Silverado than in the Escalade.

But overall, the engine is great. It offers enough power and torque for active driving, ensures more or less optimal fuel efficiency, and also provides you with a lot of miles of driving. The durability of this engine is its most important advantage.

How many miles will the 6.2L V8 last in the Escalade?

Now we come to the most important advantage of the engine - its longevity. In my opinion, the 6.2L V8 Escalade engine is good to go more than 300,000 miles without any serious repairs. This is one of the most durable engines I reviewed in my life. Also, it's one of the most durable engines on the US market currently.

Also, I want to say that the transmission is going to work quite long. Well, I don't think you will be able to drive 300K miles without repairing it, but anyway, it's a durable and simple transmission that's not going to cost a lot in repair and maintenance.

The overall durability of the powerplant is just insane. But of course, you will need to maintain it well in order to get optimal longevity and problem-free use.

Even though this engine is almost perfect, it has common problems that may make it a non-perfect choice for you. I want to openly say now about all the weak points in this engine so that you could make a proper choice.

What are the common issues with the 6.2 V8 base engine?

The base engine in the Escalade is not really problematic. At least, for now, I don't see a lot of reports about common issues. Of course, when these engines get more than 200K miles on them, the number of reports will inevitably grow.

But let's see what the weak points of the L87 EcoTec3 engine are. Here are the most common and commonly expected problems:

1. Valve contamination

Intake valves are going to get some carbon buildup. Approximately after 50K miles, you will have to take the vehicle in for repairs because it will lose power, may stall at intersections, and will work harshly. The most common reason for this is the direct injection. With such type of injection, intake valves get contaminated pretty quickly. The carbon buildup then stops them from normal work.

Of course, this is a common problem for all engines with direct injection. But still, it's important to remember this.

2. DFM - potential issues are still there

GM changed the AFM system (active fuel management) with DFM (dynamic fuel management). While AFM could only switch between V4 and V8 by turning off or on 4 cylinders out of 8, the DFM has 17 different scenarios. Sorry to say that but I believe DFM will cause even more problems than the faulty AFM.

The problem is that the system uses quite tender mechanisms and units to change between the programmed scenarios. One day, the system will glitch and you will have to pay hundreds to have it repaired. Also, its glitches will bother you much when driving.

3. Timing chain lifespan

The chain is said to live about 200,000 miles but it will most likely stretch earlier. The reasons for this are overloading and aggressive driving. While overloading is more possible with trucks, I'm pretty sure you will drive your Cadillac Escalade aggressively at times. This engine allows you to accelerate pretty quickly, so you will use this.

The timing chain may stretch because of such actions. I believe at 120,000 miles or so you will have to replace the chain because it will start rattling. If you ignore this, the chain will jump and the engine will require very serious and expensive repairs.

4. HPFP problems

The high-pressure fuel pump is a common issue in all direct-injection GM engines. It's going to fail at about 100K miles or a little later. The actual problem with this pump is that it costs like an aircraft engine. Also, you will not be able to drive the vehicle if the HPFH is faulty. In most cases, you will need to have your car towed to the dealership and then you will have to pay a huge amount of money for repairs.

5. Fluid leaks

The engine is very fresh but the technologies used in it are pretty old. It means that some gaskets or seals will inevitably leak. I see some of the first reports about faulty intake manifold gasket, head gasket, some strange oil leaks from the engine, etc. But with high mileage, the problem will only develop and grow.

How can you prolong the life of the 6.2L V8 engine in the Escalade?

To let your Escalade drive more miles and years, you should remember several important rules and recommendations.

Here they are:

• always follow the recommended maintenance routine;
• never ignore any error messages or warning lights;
• replace the timing chain kit every 120,000 miles;
• have the intakes valves and injectors cleaned every 30-50 thousand miles;
• avoid aggressive driving;
• warm up the engine for about 1 minute before you start driving in the morning;
• use high-quality (better OEM) parts and fluids for maintenance and repair;
• avoid modifying your engine or adding any additional equipment to the vehicle.

By following these simple tips, you will be able to drive the Escalade much longer and invest less money in its repairs.

Final thoughts

The 6.2L V8 non-turbo engine in the Cadillac Escalade now doesn't seem bad. It's durable, powerful, gives you a lot of torque, and offers quite decent gas mileage for such a displacement. This engine is almost bulletproof and it only has several common issues that are important to know about.

I can totally recommend the Cadillac powered with this engine. But you should also look at its downsides to understand what exactly you can encounter.