5.3 vortech oil consumption

[John Ellison]

I just bought a 2001 Silverado with the 5.3 L . I have taken it on a couple of road trips lately and the oil consumption seems quite high for a truck with only 17K mi. I asked a local dealership about it and they say a quart every 1000 mi is normal. Is this true or should I be seeking repair or replacment while still under waranty ?

[bowtie_guy]

Sounds like they are hoping you just add oil and then after the warrenty when it's real bad it ain't there problem. I don't care who makes it nothing that new should burn oil.

My 98 K-1500 with 350 goes between oil changes, min 5000 km and doesn't burn any.

[NatvTxn]

John,

I'd have to agree with bowtie on this one. That's way too much oil for 1k mi. I run 3k between oil changes and am never more that a quart low. You chould get a second opinion. Ford are notorious for oil consumption by design and don't use that much.

Good Luck,
Kman

[bim]

The most probable reason for the oil consumption on that new a truck is a leaking valve stem seal. Whether it was defective from the factory or broken in improperly there is no way a 17k truck should burn a quart of oil every 1k miles.

Does it blow blue smoke when you start it or rev the engine?

If you get a puff of blue smoke when you start it, that usually points to the valve stem seal.

If it happens only when cold have a leakdown test taken, it could be a bad or improperly seated piston ring.

[Clevj001]

take it back dude and make them fix it until you dont need to add oil
it will benifit you later just make them fix it its under warranty
justin

[kingbpg]

a lady i knew had a 2001 Z71 suburban with 5.3... her oil consumption was out of control like that... they did some kind of drilling on the heads and something else... They did the work in Odessa,TX... there is only one dealership there and they acted like they had see it quite a bit. It was my dads ex-g/f so i am not exactly sure about the particulars on the work they did... sorry.... but i do know hers was do the same thing

[ynot2160]

GM has a tech bulleton out for oil consumption. Replace the PCV valve to a fixed orfice style.

[AtleyJackson]

My 2001 with 5.3 has 140K miles on it and it usses just as mutch oil as when it was new. 1 qt every 3k miles. Nothing to worry about.

[GMMerlin]

The accepted rate of oil consumption for engines used in the vehicles referenced is 0.946 liter (1 qt) in 3200 km (2000 mi). This rate only applies to personal use vehicles, under warranty, maintained in accordance with the appropriate maintenance schedule, with less than 58,000 km (36,000 mi), or 80,450 km (50,000 mi) for Cadillac, driven at legal speeds in an unloaded (for trucks) condition.

Many factors can affect an owner's concern with oil consumption. Driving habits and vehicle maintenance vary from owner to owner. Thoroughly evaluate each case before deciding whether the vehicle in question has abnormal engine oil consumption.

Gasket and External Leaks
Inspect the oil pan and engine covers for leakage due to over-tightened, damaged, or out of place gaskets. Inspect oil lines and fittings for signs of leakage.

Improper Reading of the Oil Level Indicator (Dipstick)
Verify that the dipstick tube is fully seated in the block. When checking the oil level, make sure the dipstick is wiped clean before taking an oil level reading and fully depress the dipstick until the shoulder bottoms out on the dipstick tube. The dipstick should be the proper part number for the engine/vehicle that is being checked.

Not Waiting Long Enough After Running Engine to Check Oil Level
The vehicle should be allowed to sit for at least 5 minutes (20 minutes for the 3.4 L LQ1), after the engine has been shut off, before taking an oil level reading to assure the oil has had enough time to drain back into the crankcase. In order to ensure accurate results, the temperature of the oil should be close to the same temperature as the last time the oil level was checked.

Improper Oil Fill After an Oil Change
Following an oil change, verify that the proper amount and type of oil was put in the engine and that the oil level on the dipstick is not above the full mark or below the add marks. Refer to the Owner's Manual or Service Manual for information on recommended oil quantity, viscosity, and quality.

High Speed or High RPM Driving
Continuous driving at high speeds/high RPMs may increase oil consumption. Because this may not always be an everyday occurrence, it is hard to determine exactly how much the oil economy will be affected.

Towing or Heavy Usage
Towing a trailer will increase oil consumption and may cause oil consumption to fall below the normal accepted rate referenced in this bulletin for an unloaded vehicle in a personal use application. Large frontal area trailers will further increase the work required from the engine, especially at highway speeds, and thus increases the rate of oil consumption.

Crankcase Ventilation System
Verify that the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system is operating properly. Incorrect PCV valves, blockages, restrictions, or damage to the PCV system can result in increased oil use.

Oil Dilution (Fuel and Water)
On vehicles that are usually driven short distances, less than 8 km (5 mi), especially in colder weather, unburned fuel and condensation generated from cold engine operation may not get hot enough to evaporate out of the oil. When this occurs, the dipstick may indicate that the oil level is over-full. Subsequent driving on a trip of sufficient length to enable normal engine operating temperature for 30 minutes or more, in order to vaporize excess moisture and fuel, may give the customer the impression of excessive oil consumption.

Engine Temperature
If an engine is run at overheated temperatures (see Owner's Manual or Service Manual) for more than brief periods, oil will oxidize at a faster than normal rate. In addition, gaskets may distort, piston rings may stick, and excessive wear may result. Verify that all cooling system components are in proper working order.

[pull]

,theres is realy something wrong there, i toke a trip in july from texas to california a 1700 mile trip one way ,gt there with same oil level,2 week later turned around whent back home with maybe 1/4 of a quart,maybe little less give or take,my truck is a 1999 silverado 4x4 with 80000 miles on it,i would look into that,,

[GMMerlin]

Originally Posted by pull

,theres is realy something wrong there, i toke a trip in july from texas to california a 1700 mile trip one way ,gt there with same oil level,2 week later turned around whent back home with maybe 1/4 of a quart,maybe little less give or take,my truck is a 1999 silverado 4x4 with 80000 miles on it,i would look into that,,

If I read your post correctly, you used 1/4 of a quart in 3400 miles..if so you do not have an oil consumption problem.