For years now according to posts on this forum called cadillacforums.com, there has been an issue with Escalade motors needing to be replaced. Some with under 30,000 miles, some over 100,000, primarily 2007-2008 model years, but now we are seeing later years pop up. Seems to be an issue with the camshaft failing causing low oil pressure.

Sooooo I reluctantly took the EXT to the dealer. My mechanic told me of this tech that he was referred to by a friend that worked at the dealer that was extremely knowledgeable of these issues that almost everyone on this forum is having. I requested that he look at my truck and this is the skinny on this mess. He hooked it up to the Tech II and found as expected the oil pressure was low...4psi... should be around 25psi. He said the oil pressure sensor was not working and since it's not your oil, light will not come on nor your display will not let you know that the pressure is low. He replaced it and what do you know...the display lit up like a Christmas tree saying 'oil pressure is low, cut the engine off!!!!' and the oil light was on. Don't know how long I have been driving this truck like this but again, if that sensor is bad, you will not know...UNTIL...that traction control/stabilitrak light come on. This is the first indication that something is wrong, then that check engine light comes on, then all hell breaks loose.

In my case once all this started then came the rough idle, hesitation and the so-called piston slap.!!! Well the noise you are hearing is not piston slap, that's the camshaft actuator being starved of oil due to low oil pressure, that is caused by the camshaft and bearings being bad. Since this is causing the camshaft actuator to malfunction this will cause a VVT issue as well, which in turn will cause your truck to run like sh**..!!! And if you continue to drive it like that the computer will sometimes put the truck in limp mode and shut off!!! This also is the reason why my oil pump failed because the oil pressure had been low for so long. He said the reason why the truck will eventually run OK when I get on the highway sometimes is because the oil pressure will build up just enough for the camshaft actuator to function properly and set the VVT but the minute you turn off the truck and start it back up the problem will reoccur due to low oil pressure and sure enough...it did.

They still don't know why the stabilitrak and traction control light comes on when this happens but more than likely it's nothing wrong with them but the low oil pressure is caused by the camshaft. It makes sense but why do these camshafts fail?!!!! A friend of mines has a 2007 ESV with only 80K miles and his is doing the same thing!!!!! GM needs to be ashamed of themselves and truly needs to address this!!! Is the camshafts that they put in the 6.2's faulty, is it an oil issue..what..!!!!!! Now since I don't know how long the pressure has been low and I have been driving it since all my problems started a couple of months ago, he recommended I to put a new motor in it. This is some BULL but I might have to do that but GM hasn't heard the last of anything from me!!!

Oh, check this out..he said he has been noticing more issues like this coming into the dealership. GM has to know something but they are keeping it hush hush until...someone dies..!!