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oil consumption

2507 Views 19 Replies 16 Participants Last post by  Hib Halverson, 
S
I've used 7 qt's of oil in 3250 miles, this doesn't seem normal, but my chevy service manager insists it is. Im I nuts or is he ?
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P
That is roughly 1qt. per 500 miles. Just a bit excessive. Sounds like you might want to start an oil consumption test at your dealer,
but I think there is a minimun mileage to start the test. c4c5 can probably provide better info than I.
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J
My dealer did an oil consumption test from 500 to 1,000 miles (2 quarts) and pulled the spark plugs..very black. Conclusion: I need new rings. What I want is another story...

I say it's a waste of time on a 'test' if you used that much oil...either they don't believe you or are, God for fuckin' bid, blowing you off for a while hoping you will go away.
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D
That's way too much oil! Mine has used 1.5 quarts in 2300 plus hard miles.

the C5 Registry newsletter mentions that oil consumption should stabilize around 5K miles. Not sure what "stabilize" means in that context, but several guys have reported oil consumption dropping off around this mark. However, you do need to make your dealer aware of the problem NOW, and get it on record.

Unless you are seriously flogging the car, you may have one of the problem engines. Others with the same condition can advise you what they did or are doing.
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I
SEANH1978
Definitly get this registered w/your dealer on paper and in the system......
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D
It's suck to be in your shoes man..... 1450 total miles on mine, haven't shown any sign of oil burn yet. I just hope it doesn't happen. Seeing you guys going through all the hassles, it really suck the big one.... If it would happen to me, I would probably go nuts. I would probably go in to the dealer's show room and make a big deal out of it, where all the potential buyers would all stopped and stare at me. I think they will do something about it then....

I had a guy at work, who sat next to my cubicle, he bought a Honda prelude (4 banger) and that thing burns 1 quart of oil every 1k miles. He was on the phone constantly everyday bitching at somebody. The dealer pull the same trick on him (it is normal for the car to burn 1qt of oil every 1k miles). He told them that was F..king bulls..t.... Finally, the dealer agreed to replace the engine in his car. He had to go through some type of mediator to resolve his issue. I'll ask him for more info...

hang in there guys.........
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M
I've used less than a quart in 1500 miles. Very early production (2nd week). I don't visit the dragstrip.
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C
This is a well known problem. The only thing GM will do is replace the oil ring(s) in the engine, at no charge, which requires a major engine overhaul. You need to have an oil consumption test, you need to be burning more than one quart every 500 miles (that's the actual limit), and you need to have at least 4000 (some say 5000) miles on your car. The parts are very scarce. I've been waiting about 6 weeks for the parts, which are supposedly due in at my dealer in another 2 weeks or so (but they've already missed two promised dates for delivering the parts).
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2k Cobra

On 2001-05-24 22:17, C5David spewed forth this drivel:
This is a well known problem. The only thing GM will do is replace the oil ring(s) in the engine, at no charge, which requires a major engine overhaul. You need to have an oil consumption test, you need to be burning more than one quart every 500 miles (that's the actual limit), and you need to have at least 4000 (some say 5000) miles on your car. The parts are very scarce. I've been waiting about 6 weeks for the parts, which are supposedly due in at my dealer in another 2 weeks or so (but they've already missed two promised dates for delivering the parts).
Click to expand...
If I read his post correctly. Dealer said " this is normal". Why would they want to rebuild it??? His dealer sucks, Big time.

My .02

2k
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2k Cobra
Sean,

No car in the World uses that much oil, not even during break-in. Kick his a$$.

That type of consumption will mess alot of other things up.

The best,

2k
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C

On 2001-05-24 23:53, 2k Cobra spewed forth this drivel:

If I read his post correctly. Dealer said " this is normal". Why would they want to rebuild it??? His dealer sucks, Big time.

My .02

2k
Click to expand...
Reason is simple: Escalate the issue to the district manager, threaten to force them to buy back your car (by suing if necessary). They will contact GM. GM should authorize the parts. The dealer doesn't pay anything, and in fact gets paid to do a repair.
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O
Well, for starters, sounds like your dealer sucks. I had the SAME problem with my dealer (stay FAR away from Woodfield Chevy in Schaumburg IL!!) He should have at least acknowledged to you that they tend to consume oil, and told you how/when to come in for an oil consumption test.

My car went through over 1 quart every 500 miles, up through 4000 miles on it. Now the car has a little over 8000 miles on it, and the consumption has slowed to about a quart in almost 2000 miles.

Seems like these cars just take a LONG time to break in. So you can either find a dealer to take the motor apart on your brand new car (no WAY I'd do that.. I'd sooner sell it and buy something else), or just drive it and keep an eye on the oil level. I would assume (based on my car) that the consumption will go down once the car really breaks in.
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C
Hi there,
It is definately possible that you have an issue where the rings are required, however, it is very common that the engine will use oil at a substantial rate before the 5000 mark.
Also, if you spend more time above 3000rpm, then you will use more oil. Breakin on these engines are definately longer than most, and you should register with your reputable dealer for an oil consumption test, AFTER the 5000 mile mark.
Once this is started, you can proceed.
Due to intricate design specs within this particular engine, there is no comparison to any other engine out in the automotive industry, and this also must be considered.
Best to all, c4c5
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V
I hope that this problem is resolved for 2002 model year. I would hate to go throug this hassle with any dealer. Good luck, to all of you.
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C
Hi there all,
I can absolutely confirm that the oil consumption issues will be fixed for the 02 model year, as was announced by senior engineers at the plant.
Best to all, c4c5
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M
How? New rings? I just changed oil yesterday: 1/2 quart in 3000 miles /phpBB/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif. I was real gentle during break-in and do not spend that much time above 3000 rpm. I just receieved mine a month ago- do you think the "fix" was incorporated into my engine C4C5?
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C
HI MDZO6,
I cannot say if your engine has the newer rings, however, my guess is that you are being careful on the breakin, and will not have any issues on oil usage above what you have right now.
Yes, the new rings are installed in the 02 engines.
Best to ya, c4c5
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A
At the Cruise-In Jim Minneker of GM claimed that new ring designs were being field tested at this moment, but are not availible to the general public. He said that the newly engineered rings to fix the oil consumption problem should be ready by late June. He also said the newly designed rings would be the ones to be put into the 02 LS6 engines.

If you are getting new rings put on now, you are getting the SAME ring design you had before and there is no garuntee your oil problems will be solved.

My Z06 is burning about a quart every 1500 miles. I don't drive the hell out of it every day but I don't baby it either. I'm going to wait for the new rings to be released and then demand my dealer put them in.
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S
I have used no oil at all and my car has 4,300+ miles so I would say your situation needs attention
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H

On 2001-05-27 21:05, c4c5specialist states:
Hi there all,
I can absolutely confirm that the oil consumption issues will be fixed for the 02 model year, as was announced by senior engineers at the plant.
Best to all, c4c5
Click to expand...
c4c5 is correct. Allow me to elaborate a bit.

*Some* of the oil consumption problems experienced by LS1/6 engines are caused by ring-flutter during high-rpm/light-load operation (such as cruising around town in low gears at 4000 or more rpm). This is an abnormal driving cycle and in many cases the oil consumption problem goes away if driving habits are modified somewhat. This doesn't mean you can't run your C5 hard. Under high-rpm/high-load operation, ie: wide-open throttle hard driving, oil consumption will be somewhat higher than normal driving but *not* near as high as it can be under high-rpm/light-load conditions.

A fix is currently available for this high-rpm/light-load, ring-flutter-driven, oil use problem, but not through the ordinary service channels. Right now, it's avaiable on a case-by-case basis though Chevrolet's technical assistance network.

A service-level fix is under development and I suspect release is to be soon. A production fix is, also, under development, either for start-of-production MY02 or shortly afterwards.

The fix is higher tension rings and a different oil scraper profile.

More details of this fix will be posted on the C5 Registry web site sometime in the middle of next week.
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