In 2005, Chevrolet took its first crack at the compact SUV market, which had been dominated by the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V for nearly a decade, with its new Equinox. Unlike its main competitors, the Equinox came with only a V-6 engine option, giving it a slight disadvantage in fuel economy. Chevrolet had very specific oil recommendations for the 2005 Equinox's 3.4-liter V-6.
For your 2005 Equinox, General Motors recommends using 5W-30 engine oil that meets GM Standard "GM6094M" in all temperatures above -20 degrees F. If 5W-30 is not available, you can switch to 10W-30, given temperatures do not fall below 0 degrees F. If you are in an area that falls below -20 degrees F, GM recommends 0W-30 or synthetic 5W-30.
