Check engine oil level message 02 Tahoe

[02ncHoe]

My check engine oil level message came on in my 02 Tahoe with 131,800 miles tonight. After letting the engine cool the dipstick reads add. I'm 3800 miles into my oil change. Going to have my oil changed tomorrow since my change engine oil message hasn't come on yet. I usually go 5k between changes. My first question is should I stick to every 3000 miles or wait for the computer to calculate the change? Second, is it safe to assume that the engine is using a quart of oil between changes which is in specs with GM? According to my research the difference between add and full on the dipstick is one quart. Does anyone else's burn oil between changes and if so how much?

 

[gitrduun]

It never hurts to change your oil. Hell, you could do it every day if you wanted I got the same thing with my old sierra but it only happened once, so I just put oil in, so I think these engines do consume a bit, im not sure how much is realistic though.

 

[04SS99Denali]

how much oil did you loose? and i go by 5000 the computer usually tells me to change it right around then anyway

 

[02ncHoe]

I'm not real sure. The dipstick reads add after the light came on. I've been told that means its a quart low. I think I'll add a quart and see what it reads after and let it go until the computer tells me it's time for an oil change. Definitely going to monitor from now on.

 

[Rivieraracing]

I'm not real sure. The dipstick reads add after the light came on. I've been told that means its a quart low. I think I'll add a quart and see what it reads after and let it go until the computer tells me it's time for an oil change. Definitely going to monitor from now on.

Yeah, if my light comes on that usually means I'm a quart low on oil as well!! I burn some oil in my truck, but about the time I need to add some, shortly after the light comes on to change it!!

 

[afpj]

you may want to try one the high mileage motor oils if you aren't already doing so. Most use Valvoline Maxlife based on what i've read on this forum, but other brands are also mentioned in threads. Has it burned this much oil in the past?

 

[Vinniety]

If you want top it off and wait till the oil needs to be changed. I dont see anything wrong with what your doing. At least your not low 3-4 quarts and after you top it off feel that its good enough and consider it an oil change, hahah. Some people do.

Are you using synthetic oil? I know synthetic is thinner and will burn quicker or slip through gaskets more easier.

 

[02ncHoe]

I've only owned the truck 4 months. This is my first oil change cycle so not much to go by. My mechanic suggested an oil change with high mileage oil and pcv valve replacement. Will monitor the next cycle closer and hope this remedies the problem.

 

[afpj]

if you're replacing the PCV valve, go with the updated one with a smaller orifice and no moveable valve inside....there's a thread about that on this forum somewhere, but the mechanic should know. It was updated specifically for the oil consumption problem.

 

[Bedore]

My engine has been consuming oil as well, and I have seen that message many times. It's a 2001 Tahoe 5.3. When I first got the truck over a year ago, it wasn't bad but lately it's been consuming a quart every 1500-2000 miles or so. I am going to change the PCV valve and hope that takes care of the excessive consumption. I have never had a vehicle that uses oil like this truck.

 

[02ncHoe]

Replaced pcv valve with the new updated one. My mechanic is 95% sure this will take care of the problem. No hidden leaks or other issues. We will see.

 

[LinuxMint]

Been running synthetic in our 05 Denali for coming on 300,000 miles, and it still doesn't consume any oil that I can tell. I think synthetic is supposed to help with the leaky seals. Everyone should run synthetic anyways... so

 

[ccapehartusarmyINF.(ret)]

okay my check engine oil level light just came on but ive checked several times to be sure and my oil levels good hasnt burned a drop also my oil pressures good while its running

 

[rob3827]

I see that this is an old thread........ however I was loosing a quart of oil every 2k miles. I do not know if the truck was burning it or it was seeping out some where. I switch from Valvoline conventional to Valvoline max life 5w30 and I have not lost any oil. I have a 2001 Suburban LT with 186k

 

[Fred martini]

I have been getting this message recently in the onboard computer message system. Yet when I check the oil level while engine is cold there is no loss. When it first started happening I added 2 quarts per what the dipstick read at gas station that I stopped it when it came on. Then I noticed the oil pressure running higher than 60 pounds and when I check the dipstick after engine has been shut off it showed I was 2 quarts over full line. Is it a computer issue or where is the oil hiding in the motor?

 

[southboundchicken]

I wouldnt and do not rely on the computer to tell me when to change oil i simply go every 5000 miles and usually every 4000 miles it takes about a quart im gonna try the new style pcv valve