5.3 oil consumption

[JDGnut]

For me.. yea.. I should be better at checking the oil level.. (especially what I do for a living.. haha..) but vehicle we bought new.. never a drop of oil.. never any smoke.. not even the small valve seal start up.. I have always changed the oil, and go over it when I change the oil.. Just a lot of little things with the Tahoe I'm not happy with.. most of the issues on this site.. we have or have had.. but we still like it for what is...
Tonight the wife called and said it won't start with the remote.. it just makes a grinding sound.. (what ever that is.. haha..)

 

[BAMA_LTZ_HOE]

First oil change (Standard Castrol GTX) after purchasing our 2007 LTZ with 75,000 miles I had 80% oil life and my "add engine oil" light came on on the Info Center. Freaked me out a bit and got to looking and saw that it was pretty common. I kept an eye on it and added oil a couple of more times before the next oil change. The next oil change I switched to Castol GTX for high mileage engines just to see if it would help. I really wasn't expecting it to. The next time I had to add oil was when my oil life was at 20%. I'm going to continue to monitor to make sure it wasn't a fluke. I can live with adding oil at 20% oil life, but not 80%.

 

[dz2a8r]

I deal with these on a daily basis, and have never had a problem with the valve seals, The fix is adding a deflector shield insde the oil pan, and decarbing the pistons really really good. The dirvers side valve cover is another issue as well. If it is not taken care of in a timely manner we have to go to more invasive repairs that involve replacing the pistons and all rings. GM says no more than a quart every 2k miles, anyhting more is unacceptable

 

[06whitess]

"J" code (Flex Fuel) motors have a TSB out to install a baffle to reduce oil consumption. My service manager at the dealer I go to was telling me when I lost oil pressure one random afternoon. Ended up being low oil level, with no sensor catching it. I do not have the TSB number on hand, though I could get it easily if someone needs it.

 

[DTAILS]

120k and I've only added a quart every 7500-8k miles.

Royal Purple 5w/40 with the K&N filter

 

[04SS99Denali]

i usually add a quart every 2 - 2500 miles to my yukon. keep in mind shes got 121k but runs great and strong and i dont baby it. my silverado SS has 61k and it doesnt drink a drop and its been under 9 PSI of boost for about 20k now. probably 100 1/4 mile passes so its safe to say it gets driven hard. at 50k you shouldnt have that bad of oil consumption IMO

 

[domin8]

Looks like I now belong to this expansive group. Truck just turned 76k miles. Since I got her I have used Valvoline full synthetic oil and Wix oil filter. I just got my first "Engine Oil Level Low" message last night night. Oil life was at 50%.

 

[seagravedriver]

Bringing back an old thread! I mentioned a while ago that the dealership said our Yukon was in spec. We brought it in every 500 miles for a while and they checked it, after 2k miles, it had not used any, and they said it was good, as any oil needed after that would be in spec. I did not go 10 miles before the light came on, and it needed a quart per the dipstick.

Step ahead a few months later, it developes an internal tick, louder than an exhaust leak. Take it to dealer, one bad lifter, and a flattened cam lobe. Replaced under warrenty, 2 oil changes later, and not one extra quart has been used. Problem solved. That could have been UGLY.

 

[sumo]

im doing the oil consump test right now.

 

[Kman]

I deal with these on a daily basis, and have never had a problem with the valve seals, The fix is adding a deflector shield insde the oil pan, and decarbing the pistons really really good. The dirvers side valve cover is another issue as well. If it is not taken care of in a timely manner we have to go to more invasive repairs that involve replacing the pistons and all rings. GM says no more than a quart every 2k miles, anyhting more is unacceptable

Decarbing the pistons? As in running Seafoam (or any top end cleaner) through the brake booster?

 

[sumo]

Decarbing the pistons? As in running Seafoam (or any top end cleaner) through the brake booster?

more like remove the spark plugs, Fill the cylinder with the Soultion, let it sit for a few hours. Remove the oil pan, install a shield around the AFm solenoid. Refer to bulletin 10-06-01-008b for the details

 

[Ripley]

more like remove the spark plugs, Fill the cylinder with the Soultion, let it sit for a few hours. Remove the oil pan, install a shield around the AFm solenoid. Refer to bulletin 10-06-01-008b for the details

Note - the bulletin refers to "Aluminum Block Engines "

 

[ShawnQ]

more like remove the spark plugs, Fill the cylinder with the Soultion, let it sit for a few hours. Remove the oil pan, install a shield around the AFm solenoid. Refer to bulletin 10-06-01-008b for the details

Any quick way to determine if you have an engine that fulls under this TSB?

I can go look to see if mine is aluminum or not...guess that may do it, but any other info?

I'm just now noticing oil consumption issues and trying to get all of my paperwork & ducks in a row before I visit the dealer. The truck is a 07, 49k miles, Certified Pre-Owned warranty.

Thanks,
SQ

 

[domin8]

Just take it in with a copy of the TSB that's been mentioned many times on this forum. You should be fine considering your low mileage.

Btw, it doesn't matter if your block is aluminum or cast iron. Both are covered.

I was also talking to my service department assistant manager about this last week. He came up with a new, and very interesting, speculation concerning this. It was focused on the oil itself. He wonders if the advancements in conventional oil are closing the gap between it and synthetic, this making the problem occur. He said people running synthetic seem to be having this problem more than conventional oil users. My truck didn't start having this problem until I went to full synthetic. Just something I'm thinking about right now.

 

[fife2001]

I have a relative that had an 07 Suburban and an 07 Silverado and both are having an issue where engine drinks the oil. BTW both vehicles have the 5.3 engine.

He mentioned he uses regular NAPA oil.

I thought I would post this to show that it seems to not be a rare issue.

 

[2011Tahoe]

Is this still a problem with the newer years? I have an 11' and wonder if this is something i should look out for. Only have 7400 miles on it but would lime to be prepared. I do check my oil and i have/will be changing it every 4000 miles. I dont see how some of you guys can go down to 12-20% oil life. That just seems like way too many miles in between oil changes IMO.

 

[domin8]

Last time I saw the TSB it had included 2010s, so I think it'll only be a matter of time before they include 2011. The same TSB also referred to higher mileage as more than 36k.

 

[domin8]

Note - the bulletin refers to "Aluminum Block Engines "

This isn't just an aluminum block issue. I have a cast iron block, and I'm affected. GM is covering it.

 

[lowexpo]

I just purchased an '07 with 82k. I noticed the oil level was high when i got it home and checked it. Wondering if dealer is trying to hide this issue??? Mine is a flex fuel Tahoe

 

[domin8]

It's not the dealer. They know about it. Try GM. Their just trying to throw a bandaid on a battle wound.