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Imagine taking delivery of your first-ever brand-new 2025 Chevy Silverado Duramax at age 63, only to have the engine begin to self-destruct before its first real milestone. You’re told that disappearing coolant is "normal" while being handed jugs of antifreeze like a consolation prize, all while the dealership hides a growing oil consumption crisis.
This is the reality for one HVAC professional who found that while his $70,000 Chevrolet truck was on national back order for parts, his hefty monthly payments certainly weren't.
Patrick Schoeffler on the 2019 - 2026 Chevy Silverado & GMC Sierra Owners Facebook page says:
“Here is what it looks like when your new 2025 Chevy Silverado 3.0 Duramax craps and is on national back order, except your payments aren’t on back order.”
“My problems began at the 5,000-mile mark. We noticed the dealership was adding coolant. After the 3rd time, I pitched a bitch. That's when I found out it was a cooling line on the turbo, and it’s on national back order. The dealer said, ‘Here’s a gallon of antifreeze…keep her topped off.’ That was Jim Glover Chevrolet.”
“Then, the oil consumption started. By the 3rd oil change, we were burning over two quarts between oil changes. Glover told me that it was quite normal. I then asked about the blow-by. Pull the dipstick and blasts of blow by like an air gun. I then popped the oil filler cap, and it was pumping blow-by as I’ve never seen. They tell me it’s normal.”
“Then they wanted to perform an “oil consumption test”, meaning we pop in for a check between oil changes. I took it in because it was showing around a quart low.”
“They take it to the back, and a half hour later, it comes pulling up. They said it wasn’t low. Nothing wrong, except topping off the antifreeze and handing me another gallon, to keep her topped off. Before leaving, I checked the oil and VOLO! It was now magically overfilled!”
“I went back in, confronted the service writer about whether they added oil. He assured me they hadn’t. It was a bald-faced lie, and I called him out on it. I’ll NEVER do business with Glover again.”
“I then took the truck to Southpoint Chevy. They diagnosed the cooling line (on back order) and, with a borescope, found #2 cylinder is toast.”
“So. I’m waiting on a new engine, new turbo, and potentially a new CAT, presuming how much antifreeze has been through it.”
“Bottom line? First new vehicle I’ve ever purchased, and I’m 63. I could have paid off my home for what this $70,000 nightmare cost. I’ve been Chevy all my life. I went with the improved 3.0 Duramax for fuel mileage. Now, I hear the 2026 Silverado will be available with a 6.2 gas engine WITHOUT all that cylinder kill garbage that fails every time. Give me an LS that fires on all eight all the time, and you’ve got an easy 300,000-mile vehicle.”
“It wasn’t until I hired a lemon law attorney who served GM itself that wheels started turning. Not sure where we go from here. This truck was my state-to-state truck, and I’ve had to purchase a late-model used rig to perform my job. (HVAC Tech) They offered an economy car as a loaner. I almost took them up on it and removed the back glass so my ladder would fit.”
The 2025 Chevy Silverado 3.0L Duramax Reliability Crisis:
As a senior reporter with three decades in the automotive industry, I have seen engines come and go, but the current state of the 2025 Chevy Silverado 3.0L Duramax reliability is deeply concerning. When a lifelong Chevrolet loyalist like Patrick Schoeffler spends $70,000 on his first-ever new vehicle, only to have it sit in a service bay with a "toasted" cylinder and a back-ordered turbo cooling line, it points to a systemic failure in quality control.
The 3.0L LZ0 Duramax was supposed to be the refined, efficient "Safe Haven" for truck buyers fleeing the well-documented lifter and bearing failures of the 6.2L V8. However, as I noted in my previous report, Escaping GM's 6.2L Nightmare: Is the 3.0L Duramax a Safe Haven or an Oil-Thirsty Trap?, many owners are finding that they may have simply traded one catastrophic engine defect for another.
The "Normal" Oil Consumption Myth
Patrick’s story highlights a growing trend I’ve investigated: dealerships dismissing significant oil loss as "normal." In the diesel world, a small amount of consumption can occur during break-in, but losing over two quarts between oil changes at the 5,000-mile mark is a red flag for internal mechanical failure. When a technician sees "blasts of blow-by" from the oil filler cap, that indicates combustion gases are leaking past the piston rings into the crankcase.
In another recent investigation, I Paid Cash For Two GMC Sierra Trucks, Both Failed: Owner Exposes GM's 3.0L Duramax Disaster, I detailed how TSB 25-NA-307 specifically addresses crankshaft end play and thrust bearing wear in the 2025 models. If those bearings fail, the engine internals are effectively shredded. This matches Patrick’s diagnosis of a ruined #2 cylinder.
Dealing With the Dealership "Shell Game"
The most egregious part of Patrick’s experience wasn't just the mechanical failure but also the deceptive service practices. Attempting to hide oil consumption by overfilling the crankcase during a "test" violates the trust no customer should endure. For a professional HVAC tech whose livelihood depends on his rig, being offered an economy car as a loaner is insulting.
If you are currently experiencing 2025 Silverado 3.0 Duramax engine issues, you must document every interaction. Do not accept "it's normal" as an answer if your dipstick is showing significant loss. I’ve seen far too many cases where a truck sits for 60+ days. As I discussed in my article, I Had Nothing But Issue After Issue With My 2023 Chevy Silverado ZL1, so I Traded It For a 2025 ZR2, and 9K In, got a Check Engine Light For the Infamous DEF System.
Key Takeaways for Owners
- Monitor Your Fluids Daily: Do not wait for the dashboard light. Check your oil and coolant levels every 1,000 miles.
- Document Everything: Keep a log of every gallon of antifreeze added and every quart of oil consumed.
- The 30-Day Rule: Most state Lemon Laws trigger after 30 cumulative days out of service. Consult an attorney early if parts are on "national back order."
- Force a Borescope Inspection: If you have excessive blow-by or unexplained coolant loss, demand that the dealer check the cylinders for scoring or damage.
What Silverado Owners Are Saying
The frustration is boiling over on platforms like Reddit, where owners share similar horror stories of early failures.
"My 2025 Silverado (5900 miles) left me stranded 3 weeks ago with a 'OIL PRESSURE LOW TURN VEHICLE OFF' warning. Took them 2 weeks to tell me I need a new engine, which is on back order." Reddit User No_Profession_4684
"Less than 5k miles when it goes into limp mode... they are telling me it needs a new engine (found metal in oil & filter). This is clearly a defective vehicle that cost me over $90k in March." Reddit User Enough-Dot-2080
"The dealer said the coolant control valve was on backorder. It could take anywhere from a week to a month. I'm a GM parts guy. That engine is hot garbage." Reddit User LowImprovement7823
Is There a Solution?
For those seeking solutions to the 2025 Chevy Silverado 3.0 Duramax engine failure, the unfortunate reality is that if the block is compromised, replacement is the only option. However, Patrick’s point about the 2026 model year is poignant. GM seems to be acknowledging that their complex cylinder-deactivation systems (DFM/AFM) and highly stressed small-displacement diesels are hitting a reliability wall. The return to a simpler 6.2L gas engine without "cylinder kill garbage" might be the admission of guilt many of us have been waiting for.
In The End
The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado 3.0L Duramax remains a great engine on paper, offering class-leading torque and fuel economy. However, a truck that cannot stay on the road is a liability, not an asset. Patrick Schoeffler's experience serves as a stark warning: the modern truck market is currently a "pick your poison" scenario between complex diesel emissions systems and fragile gasoline V8 internals. If you are a buyer, demand transparency from your dealer and never hesitate to involve a lemon law specialist if the "national back order" starts stretching into months.
What Would You Do?
Have you experienced excessive oil consumption or back-ordered parts with your 2025 Silverado or Sierra? Is GM losing your loyalty over these engine issues? Click the red link below to write your comment and join the community in sharing experiences.
Next Up: 2026 Silverado ZR1 Defects: A New Warning. If you thought the mechanical issues were limited to the Duramax, wait until you hear about the quality-control problems affecting the flagship 2026 models. I Just Bought a 2026 Chevy Silverado ZR1, and the Rear Bumper Is Crooked, making me Wonder What Else Is Wrong With It.
With over 30 years of industry experience, Denis Flierl brings an insider’s perspective to Torque News, where he has been a Senior Reporter since 2012. Before picking up the pen, Denis consulted for the automotive industry's biggest brands and honed his skills as a test driver. He cuts through the noise to deliver the latest auto news, compelling owner stories, and the expert analysis necessary to navigate today's changing automotive market.
Have a tip or question? Follow me on X @DenisFlierl and @WorldsCoolestRides, or connect with me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Photo credit: Denis Flierl
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