5.3 oil consumption

[seagravedriver]

I am looking at having to add a quart of oil about every 1,400 miles or so. While the Yukon rides and drivers great, I have never had a vehicle drink so much oil. I have not kept a real close record, but I am going to start. We took a 3k mile trip, started with a fresh oil change, and added a quart at 1,400 mile increments. If it is doing this with around 50k on the engine, what does my future look like. While it is my first non Ford vehicle I have ever owned, this is a bummer. BUT, we like it so much, we probably would buy another.

 

[2 E L O]

Mine takes a quart about every 4k miles....Right now I'm at 75k on the odometer. The oil consumption started with around 65k or so on the clock.

This is a very common issue that I've never heard a good explanation for. Apparently GM just says that amount of oil consumption is "within spec" for these engines.

 

[Modded]

If GM claims nothing is wrong with it then just take it to a mechanic and see what is said about it.

---------- Post added at 03:34 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:30 PM ----------

BTW I bet you have a bad oil level sensor. They are not expensive to replace!

 

[ezdaar]

Is inside of your intake all oily?
Have oil on Any plug?


My buds Ls1 drank oil bad, we found out it was the SUPER bad design of the PCV system.
After rerouting, addinga good checkvalve and a home made Catch can stopped ALL his oil consumption along with stopping all oil from entering intake...

 

[seagravedriver]

My local GM/Chev dealer said that is WAAAAY to much oil use, (duh, but good to hear anyway). It goes in for a leak check that should take about 30 minutes, and then back to dealer every 500 miles. Service writer says there is a baffle plate that needs to be updated. I will keep you updated.

 

[InTruckDesign]

I have heard about the need for a baffle to be replaced, also the PCV valve may need to be updated as well. I believe around the 06-07 model years GM switched from a variable orifice valve to a fixed orifice, the latter was said to correct some oil consumption issues. And GM does run the PCV right back into the intake manifold, I'm running a catch can from Elite Engineering and typically empty it every 2k miles or so and usually have less than a cup of oil to drain.

 

[blueflamed03]

mine can go 4000 miles without adding anything....1 qt every 1400, forget that!

 

[Crunch]

I am looking at having to add a quart of oil about every 1,400 miles or so. While the Yukon rides and drivers great, I have never had a vehicle drink so much oil. I have not kept a real close record, but I am going to start. We took a 3k mile trip, started with a fresh oil change, and added a quart at 1,400 mile increments. If it is doing this with around 50k on the engine, what does my future look like. While it is my first non Ford vehicle I have ever owned, this is a bummer. BUT, we like it so much, we probably would buy another.

Seagravedriver - I had the same problem with my 2007 Tahoe and took it in to the dealer. I explained to the tech what I was seeing with the oil level and he knew exactly what I was talking about. He said I needed to have an oil consumption test done. I changed the oil and after 1900 miles I lost about 2 quarts. I call the dealer and explained to the tech what took place. He stated the valve seals are probably leaking oil into the cylinder. To correct this they will replace them free of charge since I have under 100K on the engine. I take it in on Friday to have the problem corrected. If this does not correct the problem, they will replace the O-rings next.
Hope this helped many Chevy fans out there. Feel free to email me if you need more details.

Crunch.

 

[taylorjm]

I read that unless it uses more than 1 qt every 2000 miles, then it's within gm specs and they won't do anything about it.

 

[Dave_2003_TRZ06]

A good oil catch can between the PCV Port and intake should knock the consumption down some. I have had to use them on my F-bodies and Z06. I bet if you pull the throttle body and shine a flash light into intake you will see the intake floor coated in oil. Ford apparently makes a one-way pcv valve that fits in the stock location, could try that as well, although I haven't tracked down a part number.

 

[GM Customer Service]

Crunch,

Please let me know how your visit was at the dealership. Also let me know if you still find your vehicle consuming excessive amounts of oil.

Seagravedriver,

What was your outcome at the dealership?

Thank you,

Elizabeth, GM Customer Service

 

[Zed 71]

Just a question for those with the oil consumption issues, what oil are you using?

 

[Crunch]

I am looking at having to add a quart of oil about every 1,400 miles or so. While the Yukon rides and drivers great, I have never had a vehicle drink so much oil. I have not kept a real close record, but I am going to start. We took a 3k mile trip, started with a fresh oil change, and added a quart at 1,400 mile increments. If it is doing this with around 50k on the engine, what does my future look like. While it is my first non Ford vehicle I have ever owned, this is a bummer. BUT, we like it so much, we probably would buy another.

I had the same probem with my 07 Tahoe. Took it in to the dealership and at first they said the valve seals were leaking oil into the cylinder which is why oil was being consumed. After they looked at it they found the O'rings were seized and they replaced them all on all 8 pistions. Hope this helps.

---------- Post added at 03:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:37 AM ----------

Crunch,

Please let me know how your visit was at the dealership. Also let me know if you still find your vehicle consuming excessive amounts of oil.

Seagravedriver,

What was your outcome at the dealership?

Thank you,

Elizabeth, GM Customer Service

Great help.. they found the problem and corrected it. Seized O'rings was the problem.

---------- Post added at 03:47 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:38 AM ----------

The 2007 tahoe 5.3 engine has a problem with the valve seals and/or O'rings. I had the same problem like many owners but got it solved with the help of a good guy at GM. The problem with mine was seized O'rings causing oil to get into the cylinders. The cat. converter burned off the excess so I was not seeing any black smoke from the tail pipe. Long story short.. the dealership replaced free of charge the o'rings and valve seals... PROBLEM SOLVED!
Email me at [email protected] if you need more details so you can get your problems solved. Please put Oil consumption or soemthing I would recognize if the email goes to junk folder.

Crunch

 

[Zed 71]

^ which oil were you using?

 

[GM Customer Service]

crunch,

I’m glad to hear that you got everything taken care of. If you have any other questions or concerns, just let me know!

Thank you,

Elizabeth, GM Customer Service

 

[JDGnut]

I've been reading about this issue on a few different forums..

This actuallys is the first I have read about the valve seals.. On the other forums they have talked about the adding the baffle in the oil pan.. and then replacing pistons and rings... The issue also seems to be the greatest in the 07's with the AFM...

I am having the same issue.. the last three oil changes.. we have had the low oil light come on with about 12-20% left on the oil indicator. I changed oil this weekend and it was at 14% and the low oil light had just come on.. the oil level was not even on the stick..

My issue is that we just turned 100K... and its basically my fault for not getting it to the dealer to start the process of having them monitor the oil for consumption..

I really just want to know what the issue is.. so it can be monitor closer, and fix..
We bought the 07 Tahoe new, first oil change got Castrol dino oil.. from then on it has always had a full Synthenic oil.. Mobil 1.. until the past oil change I went to Castrol Syntech.. hoping for a different result, and it was the same.. always changed using the oil change indicator..

I always wanted to make the AFM work better (go into V4 mod more).. but if its part of the cause of my problems.. I'll get it turned off..

Sorry for the long post.. and little of a rant.. but we like the Tahoe, and bought it to keep for a long time.. but we are really starting to see lots of little issues.. (or maybe big issues..

Bryan

 

[Faceplant]

My brother in law (mechanic) called me right AFTER I bought the Tahoe to tell me that the 5.3 motors have serious oil consumption issues. I will be keeping an eye on this.....

 

[protonvx]

My 07 uses at least a quart of oil in between oil changes. I don't like it, but it runs good otherwise. I am only at 83k miles.

 

[edgaranah1]

Just changed oil on my 07 about 2 weeks ago. Hadn't really noticed the oil consumption til I drained it and only got 3 quarts. I'm like WTF. I always put 6 quarts so basically burns half of the oil I put on. That doesn't seem right. I bought the truck new and like stated above hadn't really paid much attention to it til my last oil change.


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[Assman]

I have a 2010 and it doesn't go through any oil, i've put about 4k on this oil so far and it's still at the top notch of the dipstick. It must be isolated to the 07's, but how can you guys go thousands of miles without checking the oil? Maybe i'm just neurotic...