I FIXED The UNFIXABLE Chevy Equinox *You'll Never Guess The Problem* 

Remind me again why I stick to filling up at Costco. Top Tier gas at a reasonable price, and the gas in the underground tanks is constantly refreshed, sometimes daily, based on the sales volume.

She's getting something better back. That walnut blast should help a ton.

I’m stunned at how good that walnut blasting worked and just how quick it was! Cheers Pat 🇦🇺

Had a bunch of Harleys stop running outside my work one year ( I’m a motorcycle mechanic ) . Turned out they were filling up at garage down the road and unknown to anyone at that stage the tanker driver had filled up the premium petrol bowser with diesel . Took all morning to figure out the common denominator, but someone probably got their hand smacked 😂 .

She said it quit after she got gas. The FBI would call that a clue

At least his sister got clean valves and a thorough check of the engine out of all this. She should be happy.

E85 is mostly clear. I used to run E85 on my mustang for 5 years. How you test the ethanol content is you put it into a tube, fill water to a fill line, the rest with e85 and shake it. After it settles in 5 minutes you can gauge how much ethanol content is in the gas by how much separates and suspends at the top of the solution

These mystery vids are the best. Now I can go and start breakfast. I didn't even think about breakfast while I was watching. AND the perfect omp reading makes me rethink Equinox. Great stuff!!!!!!

Back in the '80s a high school buddy of mine had a '76 Nova. Was leaving my house one evening, and it would start for a second, then die, over and over. After taking loose the fuel line and pumping some into a glass jar, we saw that it was about a quarter water. Turns out, the old man that owned the car before had solved water leaking into the trunk by drilling drain holes in the trunk floor. Right into the fuel tank.

And Eric's sister even gave you the clue / hint. Good job figuring it out and doing a solid for the family.

after telling us fixing junk is killing your soul you continue to fix junk. feels like a metaphor for life.

We had the same problem with a Ford Countour. It would not run after we put ARCO gas in it. We drained all the gas out and freezed a 5 gallon can full. The next morning half of the can was ice. Try freezing the gas that you take out and see if it turns to ice.

i’m a believer in batches of bad gas ever since i went through a whole saga just like this. garbage gas was throwing misfire codes, choking idle. stopped somewhere else someday when i was finally out, and it was like a new car. i thought it was a myth until it was me. but hey! valve cleaning for better mpgs! she’s mint for another 60k!

i love BG. used them at my dealership and i had a 09 pontiac torrent GXP with the notorious 3.6L. i bought it super cheap because it needed timing chains, but the motor was also super slugged with oil. Used the BG engine flush and dude it was like a brand new motor inside!!! i was highly impressed, and will back BG products.

I can honestly say I learned a lot watching the series on this car.

About two months ago there was a gas station in my area in New Jersey that caused this same issue with a bunch of cars. The car owners sued the gas station for the repairs and they shut down for months before reopening for fuel service again. What a nightmare! I’m glad I stopped using this gas station before all that took place. Glad you finally solved it. Water can get into a fuel storage tank from rain runoff if the tank seals fail. Sounds like what you experienced here.

Love it! Great to see a team with that much ability miss a simple problem. At least now you have the most dependable Equinox in the USA!!

Glad you figured this out and it wasn't too expensive. I was tied in through the other videos, makes sense the troubleshooting steps given the engine. nice to see I am not the only one that has chased false flags while diagnosing :) have to feel like a major victory now that its done

Crazy. Great saga, I actually enjoyed watching it unfold.

I am sorry to see your troubles. I have 260K miles on my 2.4L | 2015 Chevy Equinox. I had the upper portion rebuilt (long block) rebuilt at 160K and trans rebuilt at 200K. Keeping up with Oil changes and Maintenance is the key. I will never sale it. My kids all want it.

I guess you've never pumped a tank full of water from a station that got flooded. Side of the road and pulling the carb apart to get the water out of it. Lesson learned, you got too deep before considering all the clues. Good on you for finding the problem.

Great work guys, that Chevy looks easy to work on. Sister will be happy. Big up!

After the deep freeze in Texas 3 years ago, I got bad gas at a nearby 76 station. I had very similar results but at least the car ran long enough to make it onto the tow truck ramp. Kia dealer had to completely flush fuel system on my Kia Sportage Turbo SX, with only 4200 miles. 76 paid the $600 bill, thank goodness. What a nightmare!

she is going to be so happy to have her car fixed .you guys are the best thanks

The diagnosis was awesome to watch. Congrats and Good Job. 🙂

There's 2 things if it doesn't run after a fill up... 1) Bad fuel pump 2) Bad gas

I get I lot of tips and ideas from your trouble shooting, great video, thanks guys!

I enjoyed the Equinox saga. I suspect most of us who work on our cars have a simular experence we could share at least once in our lifetime.

Hi JR. 👋 I can't believe it's just the gas. Well done, guys. I'm not sure about your Gas as I'm in Ireland. Great job on getting it running. Respect. 👋👍🇨🇮

At least you didn't have to replace the engine, but that engine really needed that cleaning, because that was nasty. To bad you didn't think about the gas being bad earlier. You and Eric crack me up, glad you helped his sister out. With the walnut job, she should be good for another 100,000 miles. I have never seen gas like that, or even e85, hope she gets a gas refund lol. G-d bless.

I really enjoyed seeing you figure this out!

@25:13 “can’t put diesel in it” …unless the gas station accidentally swapped the filler nozzle. My wife got diesel in her (not-diesel) Focus and when we went back to the station, found that the nozzles had been physically switched and you could indeed put the “diesel” nozzle in a gasoline car. They got an earful for that.

Harbor Freight has a $14 pump you run with a drill that runs 750gph Easy way to drain a tank

90 % of the time it is usually the simplest thing….at least for me. I am always over thinking problems only to find the 1 loose wire…😜🤔😄👍👍

Loved that you did a longer episode!!!!!!!! Good job finding that bad gas

I did ask previously if it had been mis-fuelled. Glad it's fixed.

That cleaned those valves right up 😲🤘🏽🔥

Glad I watched the whole thing... Basically to answer the Question raised about fueling up at a QuikTrip/QT. Being from Wisconsin I heard it as Kwik Trip (KT) otherwise called Kwik Star in States where QT has been operating... As the "new" Owner (bought from family, so I know its "Good" Service History, done some of it myself before buying it like 6 months ago) of a 2014 Ecotec GMC Terrain AWD... I'm concerned about the various "Problems" I'm now trying to Avoid (Fingers Crossed). Depending how I read my VIN it "might" be Flex Fuel capable... But the Manual/Fuel Cap/etc. doesn't agree. Might have to talk with my GMC Dealership. Now... Basically since a "Bad Gasoline" issue (from various Stations/Brands, affecting mostly GM Injectors from the late 90's...) in the Milwaukee,WI Regional Market over 20 years ago I've been a BIG fan of using Top Tier Detergent Gasolines since that Standard came out (although in the last few years several Retailers have "dropped" carrying the TT standard... KT being one of them). I've tried since that incident to ALWAYS use Fuel from a Station/Chain that Guarantees its Fuel. Which KT still does at least... Like with the Top Tier Standard I suppose I really should double check the current Guarantee "policy" of my frequent Brands just so I'm ready... With that previous Milwaukee Incident being so spread out and not seem to strike equally/instantly all vehicles... PLUS the repair response from Mechanics/Stations/GM all seemed to point at different issues/concerns (3 Blind Men Describe an Elephant...). Its a nice reminder to be informed and ready to consider/rule out "Bad Gas" and based on the Horror Story News Reports at the time of some people "needing" new Fuel Injectors (which GM later tested/claimed wasn't necessary if switched to "clean" fuel) and others didn't... Questioning how detailed the various Shops and/or Drivers were at addressing the issue. Since it was so wide spread, yet "Random"... There must have been some people that wanted the cheap and/or quick fix (leaving "Bad Fuel" behind to "kill" the Injectors again... Insidiously not right away and early on at least nobody was certain what Stations/Brands were "safe". CITGO (which put its "Guarantee" at the time at the discretion of individual Stations) and Mobil were often cited but again not immediate problems so a larger supply chain issue... All coming down to A LOT of Drivers got burned by this not to mention Stations/Chains, and probably a few Mechanics/Shops too when the Dust Settled...

JR! You did a video a couple of years ago. Basically pouring Berryman’s in a vacuum port on the intake. I used Gum Out but I did it on my 2007 Mazda 3. The smoke cloud was epic - bigger than a barn. My neighbor’s house completely disappeared! I decided to jump in it and drive it down the road. Big mistake. I change out the EGR also. Pulled the intake and throttle body - raw oil. But the Gum Out treatment cleaned that head and valves. It’s run like a top ever since.

Awesome troubleshooting! Glad you found the problem. Plus she got a valve cleaning out of it as well. These engines are fairly fragile to a lack of maintenance but if properly maintained, they do okay. Just make sure she's pretty religious about changing her oil with a good Dexos rated full synthetic at 5k miles and it should last her the lifetime of the car.

Im guessing she feels a huge sense of relief! Awesome!

My 2019 Equinox runs on regular but premium is recommended. Sound weird but DEF fluid is clear. Can cause similar problems. Worth looking into.

Congrats on the fix! I always seem to expect/ diagnose the worst when trying to fix my cars. Love REAL mechanics: they follow their knowledge and training to diagnose problems. Start simple and go from there. Problem started AFTER fueling up. Seems so easy but it's easy to jump the gun and overthink it and expect the worst. Guess we should take a page from Karl in Slingblade: check the gas! LOL Congrats again on the fix

But I so appreciate lessons I've learned from you guys THANK YOU ❤❤❤

Great Video!! Love this Content!! I know his Sister, is going to be so Happy 😄

John love your content always something new and different and you get the job down better Than most lazy youtuber

Whoa I wonder if dry ice would work to clean valves 🤔❄️🤘🏽

good to try alternative blasting media on this one - good to see a tough case fix once in a while - simple ain't easy

That was a great series. There must be a fair few locals all experiencing simar issues? At least you finally solved the puzzle and she got a bit of a tune up along the way 👌

It ain't got no gas in it! Spent a lot of time for a simple fix on this one, but it left better than it came in! Really needed that walnut blast too.

I've come across this problem 16 years ago my friends grandpa had a 87 vette he filled up with premium at Walmart drive the car home and that's where it never ran again he took it to 4 shops before he met me they did timing chains and tune up new distributor fuel filter head gaskets they never thought to check the fuel and even though that gas station wasn't more than 8 months old he bought a tank of almost pure water that man was so happy that I came to his house and found the problem in less than 30 min

I would have never thought that in 2024 a gas station would be pumping out bad gas. I’ve only run into bad gas when a car has sat for a long long time. I laughed really hard at “if you wanted me to put gas in it just say so”

When teaching motorcycle lessons I always tell the riders to try fill your tank at the same gas station wherever possible. This is why.

Fuel turning white means there is water in it.

Been there with a DI VW. The ethanol levels were stupid high in their premium gas. The gas station’s insurance paid for the tow, draining the tank, and an oil change.

So glad my 2018 focus ST has the intake manifold on the front of the engine. I’ve clean the intake valves and it’s super simple to do.

Possibly your best video ever

Here in Europe, E85 is Crystal clear (compatible with the LC9 of my Chevy Avalanche 😀)

I wonder if you read the 91 octane requirement in the owners manual for the equinox with the 2L turbo. That requires premium, the 1.5T regular gas.

Learned a bunch and laughed my butt off - nice job guys!

my wifes buick encore done the same thing back over summer .... after replacing 5 sensors and many many hrs of cussing it ... we figured out bad gas got us .. finally got the tank drained and filled it up with fresh gas its ran better then it did when we bought it new !

I love your determination! Good job!

Call the weights and measures guys. The ones who check the pumps in your state. They can check the gas for quality. They will sample the gas at the station.

one of the BEST finale's ever

I was not expecting this outcome either! Holy crap! Glad you got it going anyways. Great story and video n

You’d be surprised how many people manage to put diesel in a gasoline car. The gas stations near the dealer I used to work at the nozzles were the same size as gas and on the same bank of pumps. About once a month or so we would get a car towed in for a crank no start. I’d walk out to get the vin and mileage. Turn the key to get the mileage and see the fuel gauge pegged on full. Walk to the fuel fill, remove cap, swipe my finger and yup. Full of diesel. Not sure what got put in that equinox but glad u were able to figure it out finally.

The hazy gas is just the water mixing with the fuel. Put it in a clean water bottle and let it sit for a few hours and the gas will settle to the bottom. Ive seen this quite a few times over the years and its always the same story: crank no start with full gas gauge. First thing i do is take a fuel sample

I would still BG44K this thing and run multiple bottles of Heet through it. I'm guessing she either put E85 in it or the gas station screwed up, if there's multiple reports in your area then it's the gas station's fault. Glad you got this going without a full blown engine swap.

"It's a terrible idea but you know it'll work". absolute gold quote right there. :D

We had a local gas station accidentally put diesel in the gasoline holding tank. We went to a local auto parts store complaining about engine misfires and stumbling, thinking it needed new plugs/wires. They immediately asked where we lived and got gas. We told them and they told us about the diesel in the gas at that station and told us to run fuel treatment and fill the car with premium. We followed their advice and the car runs fine now.

That "fuel" looks like kerosene not gasoline!!!!!!! Wow!!! Something was disarray at the Circle K Gas station!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great fix on the valves!!!!! I need to do that on my 1989 F150!!! Great troubleshooting skills on figuring out the "what the hell is in the fuel tank" !!!

I’d call that gas station, they owe you lol.

It just doesn't seem like bad gas would happen but it does! Happened to my Acura one time and ran so rough but used HEET and cleaned an EGR valve and then ran perfect.

Cool vid. I've actually never used Royal purple oil before

When I lived in Derby we had all kinds of fuel contami action problems. At that time I worked in service at a Ford dealership. That was back in 1978.

Great work guys!

Very interesting episode, well done!

Today's special at JR's Garage: free walnut blasting with fuel system purge

I'd be shocked if anyone with an Equinox is putting premium fuel in it 😂

A win is a win! Great work!

I had the same issue, but it was the timing chain guides eventually. 2006 nissan maxima with almost 230,000 miles. Gtg now.

Love that you found it

you know you become a certain higher end youtube chan when no one makes a "DEZZZ NUTSSS" comment! JR thanks for uploading, I do look forward to seeing what you have in store.

One more video upcoming in this series - Replacing the starter on the Chevy Equinox.

bad gas.....WHO WOULD'VE THUNK IT???? That's nuts

We are in the same situation right now with an equinox. The shop quoted $4900 to flush system replace fuel pumps and injectors!

The walnut blaster you have needs extremely fine media. I had no problems with mine until I put slightly less fine shells in it, then I had constant clogging issues. As soon as I went back to the ultrafine shells, it flowed perfectly.

First time I have had RU-vid suggest this channel. An interesting problem and my first guess, after the compression issue was fixed, was that someone screwed with the fuel. Cool. Now, let me tell you one I learned 20 years ago while in a sponsored auto repair school. The victim was a mid-80's T-bird. (I may have the wrong year as I have not worked on cars since a bad accident). The engine balked and misfired and just would not run. Timing appeared right on, spark was fine, good fuel delivery. The car had been to four shops and they had not found out the problem. A mystery! We were the woman's last chance and auto STUDENTS may not always be the best but, sometimes, ignorance takes you down paths otherwise unknown. We confirmed what other shops told us. Checked everything. We were stumped. I had been around when she told us how she got the car. It had been her husband's, and she got it in the divorce settlement. It did not run when she went to get it from him and she towed it to a shop. My instructor asked what he did for a living. He fixed cars........ Oh, no. What did he do? We put it on the engine analyzer and saw it had really nice spark traces. OK....., that was not the problem. A guy that was not working on the car walked by, looked at the traces, and asked if this was the supercharged V-6. No, it that 5.0 liter V8. No, he said, it was a V6. WE pointed to the distributor cap and 8 wires. He pointed to the scope. Six races.......... Oh, now, what did he do? We had it from there. The distributor timing had an optical sensor in it. The sensor had six slots for he six cylinder, and 8 for the eight. And BOTH fit into the asme distributor housing. He had changed out the 8 cylinder sensor, and put in a 6 cylinder sensor. How devious can you get? It worked perfectly after we put the right sensor wheel in it. But he had to pay for the repairs, after she filed suit and won.

When it showed 210 on compression I said that's a fuel issue. I was thinking fuel pump but That wasn't it. Now I would recommend having them keep an eye on that. "IF" it was pumping water and as long as it was sitting in it it may have started a little bit of corrosion inside the pump.

Did you guys jack your Jawas for 8min. at the end of the program wow epic !!😂 lol 😆

in Project Farm's video about e85 it looks very clear with a slight tinge of yellow

Check a wiring diagram. At the fuel pump fuse you might be able to just pull the fuse and hook a jumper wire from the battery to the side of the fuse socket that feeds power to the pump. Works on every vehicle I've tried it on.

If you guys figured out the gas problem in the beginning, you would never have done the walnut blasting because you probably wouldn’t have looked that deep into the engine, so this turned out to be the best case scenario for this job, in my opinion.

Shout out Eric's Pella hat. I'm with them in Alberta Canada. Good troubleshooting guys. I'm sure sister will be ecstatic..

Yup theres a ton of them around. GM has an assembly plant just down the road that used to build these. They recently stopped making them to switch over to electric vehicles.

Back in the 80’s my dad would drive across town to avoid “bad gas”. Just normally seems like it’s not an issue anymore.

That whole time I thought Eric was putting together a harbor freight oil drain in the background 😂

Great video. Do not forget about sticking a hose in the tank and syphoning the old school method. Saves the fuel pump.

I'm glad the outcome turned out to be bad gasoline and not an engine. However, with all the cranking the starter went through it might be the next thing that might fail especially if this vehicle has auto stop.

If the valves are leaking, pull the heads and clean / grind seats and valves.