Oil Level -- can't get good reading

[the blur]

Sometimes, I can't get an accurate oil level reading. Either it's all the way up the dip stick, 1/2 way up the dip stick. I wipe it off, and same problem.
and I know I had 6 qts in there perfectly a month ago when I changed the oil.

2013 Burb 120,000 miles.

What causes this ?

 

[j91z28d1]

flat ground.. let it set for a good 5mins or so. pull stick and read the lowest reading. meaning the lowest spot that doesn't have oil. front or back, sometimes sticks go in engines at odd angles and you'll see oil on half the stick high and dry spots lower.

you can also make twist it 180 and try that way. seems odd but I've had some go in and out easier turned just right

 

[donjetman]

On level ground let it sit overnite and check it in the morning.
What was a month ago may not be the case today.
There are many reasons it may consume oil.

 

[homesick]

JIC, don't have it running; then, as said- flat ground, check both sides of the stick, and make sure you're pushing the stick all the way in.

joe

 

[OR VietVet]

The fresher and cleaner the oil, the harder it can be to see. Engine off for at least 3-5 minutes, level ground, pull stick out and wipe clean, insert and pull back out and look for solid wet across the stick. Do not care about what is sticking to side edge of the stick, just what is making wet completely across the flat portion of stick.

 

[homesick]

Damn we're good.

joe

 

[the blur]

Here's the answer: Truck must sit overnight to get an accurate reading. Otherwise, the dipstick tube is loaded with oil, preventing an accurate reading. The dip tube is pretty much to the top with oil.
Why, because of blow by. Oil is blowing up the tube from blow by, or bad PCV. 125,000 miles, uses a qt of oil per 1,000 miles. Not sure 1,000 miles per qt is acceptable or not, but it is what it is....

 

[Dustin Jackson]

@the blur I wonder if popping the oil fill cap will help relieve crankcase pressure allowing the oil to properly settle into the oil pan instead of sticking in the dipstick tube

 

[donjetman]

Why, because of blow by. Oil is blowing up the tube from blow by, or bad PCV. 125,000 miles, uses a qt of oil per 1,000 miles. Not sure 1,000 miles per qt is acceptable or not, but it is what it is....

Piston rings are probaly stuck because of poor valve cover/pvc design. Install a catch can ($40): https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/get-a-catch-can-before-any-mods.49716/page-53#post-1288561
This will indicate if the pvc/valve cover is the cause of the oil consumption.


Read and perform this GM technical service bulletin: https://f01.justanswer.com/ebrock63...il+Consumption,+MIL+ON,+Engine+Runs+Rough.pdf

 

[the blur]

I'm reading that TSB. I have a 2013, so I should have the good valve covers.
The piston ring replacement, nah. I'll keep buying oil.

 

[donjetman]

I'm reading that TSB. I have a 2013, so I should have the good valve covers.
The piston ring replacement, nah. I'll keep buying oil.

Only 1 valve cover is problematic, the driver side.
Install the catch can. It will tell the tale. Mine was catching 1+ oz of oil per 100 miles. That's what stuck my piston rings

And like the TSB says: do a piston combustion chamber soak/flush to free up your piston rings. I did it almost 6 yrs and 67k miles ago when the engine had 130k miles. It immediately stopped consuming oil and to this day doesn't.

I still have the catch can installed. Since the valve cover, piston soak/flush work in 2018 it only collects 1-2 oz/5k miles. If it ever starts collecting a lot again I'll know something is amiss.

 

[the blur]

Let's say it catches alot of oil... what exactly does that tell me ??

 

[donjetman]

Let's say it catches alot of oil... what exactly does that tell me ??

the valve cover with its built in pcv (positive crankcase ventilation) system isn't doing its job.

 

[the blur]

Mighty Mouse sells a "hybrid can" setup with a breather. This is getting too complex. It's a closed system, why would I need a breather ?

 

[j91z28d1]

Mighty Mouse sells a "hybrid can" setup with a breather. This is getting too complex. It's a closed system, why would I need a breather ?

who here said anything about a vented can?


the can everyone uses is 35$ on Amazon and like 15mins to install. do that and see what happens and go from there.

 

[the blur]

who here said anything about a vented can?

I called mighty mouse, and that's the can they recommended. Vented... I figured they are the experts.

 

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[donjetman]

I called mighty mouse, and that's the can they recommended. Vented... I figured they are the experts.

https://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/threads/get-a-catch-can-before-any-mods.49716/page-53#post-1288561

 

[j91z28d1]

I called mighty mouse, and that's the can they recommended. Vented... I figured they are the experts.

what's mighty mouse and why would they be an expert at old worn out stock engines?

 

[the blur]

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