03 Impala LS 3800 V6 - Excessive Oil Consumption
fishr81
02-15-2010, 08:28 PM
Got a problem with my 03 Impala (108K miles) where it consumes about 1 qt of oil every 2k miles. Oil is not leaking. I do not see excessive exhaust smoke either. The car has been using oil for awhile now (since 60k). During the course of this oil consumption problem, I have witnessed several other problems which I think might be related. They are as follows:
1.) Last year the catalytic converter got plugged up and the car had no guts at all when accelerating. Engine RPM's couldn't get up and tranny wasn't shifting properly. I replaced the catalytic converter and it seemed to solve the performance problem.
2.) Next, I noticed oil seeping out from around the valve covers gaskets and pooling on top of the engine. I found that the PCV valve was full of oil and replaced it. Since this I have not seen oil leakage around the valve covers any more.
3.) Next, I noticed that the check engine light came on at about 100k intermittently and now stays on all the time. I checked the codes and it said that my emissions efficiency was below the threshold. I don't recall the actual code number at the moment, but this code popped up intermittently before the last time when my catalytic converter got plugged so I am concerned that I am going to have a repeat of past problems.
My question is if anyone knows what it causing the oil consumption problem? I would like to solve it! Is it the exhaust valve stem seals? Does anyone know if there is a GM service bulletin on this type of a problem? I don't know where to look up GM service bulletins...
1.) Last year the catalytic converter got plugged up and the car had no guts at all when accelerating. Engine RPM's couldn't get up and tranny wasn't shifting properly. I replaced the catalytic converter and it seemed to solve the performance problem.
2.) Next, I noticed oil seeping out from around the valve covers gaskets and pooling on top of the engine. I found that the PCV valve was full of oil and replaced it. Since this I have not seen oil leakage around the valve covers any more.
3.) Next, I noticed that the check engine light came on at about 100k intermittently and now stays on all the time. I checked the codes and it said that my emissions efficiency was below the threshold. I don't recall the actual code number at the moment, but this code popped up intermittently before the last time when my catalytic converter got plugged so I am concerned that I am going to have a repeat of past problems.
My question is if anyone knows what it causing the oil consumption problem? I would like to solve it! Is it the exhaust valve stem seals? Does anyone know if there is a GM service bulletin on this type of a problem? I don't know where to look up GM service bulletins...
maxwedge
02-16-2010, 10:42 AM
Oil consumption can be valve seals, oil control rings, leaks of course, wrong pcv, on several 3800's I have found the lower intake manifold inner corner bolts loose and not sealed allowing oil to migrate into the lower intake. Cat efficiency is usually caused by a bad cat, I believe these cars had issue with that and there was an extended warranty for this.
troy1
02-17-2010, 10:52 PM
My Impala has the same oil consumption problem never looked into it much. I have had the car sense 28K used now it has 85K.
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