Why This Cadillac Escalade Engine Failed After Just 9,000 Miles

It is a nightmare scenario for any car buyer: dropping nearly $100,000 on a top-tier luxury SUV, only to have the engine suffer a major failure before the odometer even hits 10,000 miles. The team at Dave’s Auto Center recently tore down a Cadillac Escalade ESV Platinum to find out exactly why its L87 V8 engine experienced a head gasket failure with only 9,000 miles on the odometer. The teardown revealed the anatomy of what the mechanic calls General Motors’ “billion-dollar boondoggle”.What Failed, and Why?This is not a new issue, and General Motors is very aware of it. While the immediate symptom was a leaking head gasket, the deeper, systemic issue with the L87 engine lies deep wi …