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GM 5.3L Oil Consumption

239466239466 Member Posts: 3
edited March 2014 in Chevrolet
I have a 2000 Suburban that is burning about 1
quart of oil per 2000 miles. I am not using
synthetic oil and it has only 12,000 miles on it.
I cannot get a straight answer from the dealer or
GM about whether this is normal or not.
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Comments

  • ryanbabryanbab Member Posts: 7,240
    My 2000 silverado after 8000 mls doesnt burn any oil. The level seems to stay the same (very slight change)

    Ryan
  • mgdvhmanmgdvhman Member Posts: 4,157
    a while for the rings to seat...but 12K should be set by now?.....

    what do they tell you?

    - Tim
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    is it leaking or burning?
  • ryanbabryanbab Member Posts: 7,240
    Dean its disapearing
  • mgdvhmanmgdvhman Member Posts: 4,157
    your brain cells!

    LOL

    - Tim
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    Poof! LOL!! It has to go somewhere in this universe...
  • ryanbabryanbab Member Posts: 7,240
    my brain cells??

    Tim you need to get going on your trip

    Ryan
  • markbuckmarkbuck Member Posts: 1,021
    greater than 1500 miles per qt is considered excessive by GM per their shop manual.

    There, your's is not excessive....
  • bltfordwhatbltfordwhat Member Posts: 3
    I need some help or a guiding light. I currently own a 99 F250 SuperDuty with a 5.4L. I have just over 36,000 miles on it and have run out, yes completely out, of oil in it twice! I have currently driven about 2000 miles since my last oil change. Last night I found out that I am missing about 3 1/2 to 4 more quarts of oil. It's not burning out the tailpipe, and it's not leaking in my driveway, but it is disappearing. The dealership has said that it's "normal" oil usage. They said it is stated in the owners manual, but once I confronted them and told them to show it to me, they couldn't produce it! Anyone else out there had this problem? Or does anyone have any suggestions?
  • ryanbabryanbab Member Posts: 7,240
    damn no oil at all? 4 quarts is a bit much

    Ryan
  • markbuckmarkbuck Member Posts: 1,021
    1. Check/replace PCV.
    2. You, like everybody, should check oil every time you gas up. Are you using this oil faster than a qt every 500 miles.

    Get the dealership to put you on a "oil program" where all oil added is added by dealership.

    Uh oh, you are past warranty. Never mind.
  • bltfordwhatbltfordwhat Member Posts: 3
    Ryan:
    Yes, no oil at all. The first time I knew it went dry was when the oil guage went bonkers. Needle wouldn't sit still to save it's life. Second time, same incident with the oil guage. Now I learn to check it myself very frequently.
    Markbuck:
    I have had this truck in twice for this problem. The first time, they argued with me. The second time, close to warranty expiration, they decided to put me on the "oil program" and that was only after I called Ford Motor Corp. and complained. I know they were just playing the waiting game with me. Now that the warranty is out, they will find a problem with the truck, and more than likely it will be a $2,000.00 or more problem. Good grief!
  • ryanbabryanbab Member Posts: 7,240
    Damn do you have it documented from the dealership about the oil problem?? Anything will help im not to up on it but i know if you have a preexisting condition and it goes out of warrenty you can still get it fixed for free.

    Thank god i have a message center that tells me if my oil is low or runs out

    Ryan
  • z71billz71bill Member Posts: 1,986
    The oil must be going some place. If it is not burning oil or leaking I would check your anti-freeze. I have heard of anti-freeze getting into the oil but never the other way around. I think this is caused by a blown head gasket. You may want to start checking your gas every time you fill up with oil!!
  • dlucierdlucier Member Posts: 19
    will sometimes cause oil in the antifreeze or antifreeze in the oil. Look for white or gray [non-permissible content removed] (emulsified oil/antifreeze)on the oil fill tube, on pcv valve, in coolant recovery tank, and under radiator cap. But I doubt it is the case because thats a lot of oil to lose, and you would have a white fog coming out of the exhaust if it was that bad.
    Is it possibly a blown oil pressure sensor? I have seen the housings crack and leak. Is any oil streaking present on the underbody? If your leak only occurs under high oil pressure condititions it could slow or stop when you idle into the driveway. As mentioned before a pcv valve can also cause oil consumption problems. Is engine idling or running rough? A bad cam lobe/follower/dropped pushrod on an intake valve can cause that cylinder to pump oil.Have the plugs been pulled and checked or a compression check done? Both should be checked to rule out a ring or piston failre.Last but not least a gallery plug could be leaking on the back of the engine under the bell housing. Its' rare, but I've seen it happen.
    I run a y2k e250 Van w/a 5.4 and lose a qt. between oil changes (4000 miles). Truck has 24k on it and the triton engine is the best part of the van (handling, brakes, etc. SUCK).
    Hope this helps.
  • dlucierdlucier Member Posts: 19
    Still thinking. What type of oil are you using?
    A multiviscosity oil with a 5w base will increase oil consumption if your normal driving includes high rpm operation, especially under hot conditions.
  • obyoneobyone Member Posts: 7,841
    oil weight is as Ford recommends 5w-20. That is a lot of oil to just evaporate.
  • k0hbk0hb Member Posts: 89
    Not even for a Ford! Lean on your dealer to replace that engine. If you've run it out of oil (a couple of times?) it is almost certainly damaged -- scored walls -- wiped bearings -- I don't even want to think about it!

    Hans
  • hunter98hunter98 Member Posts: 273
    I can't believe he ran it out of oil twice, no offense but that is REALLY bad on an engine. Bug the [non-permissible content removed] out of the dealer until he replaces the engine. This sounds definately like a pre-existing condition a quart per 500 miles is WAY!!! to excessive and I wouldn't put up with it. If the dealer won't fix it make him trade you trucks. The squeaky wheel gets greased, make yourself really squawk. I hope it turns out but I look for seriously premature engine failure on that engine. We had a 5.7 in a 90 GMC Van get 3 qts low and the top end went out. Motor still ran but sounded aweful and we had it changed out, a very costly mistake but it had 100k on it and was past due on the oil change (Used oil when past 2500 miles). Big mistake but [non-permissible content removed] happens.

    Best of luck

    Hunter
  • bltfordwhatbltfordwhat Member Posts: 3
    Thanks to all of you who have responded. You have really given me quite a few things that I can look for. As for what has been checked, I can honestly say, that I only know what the dealership has told me. And all they have done is put it on their machine and said they can't find any problems.
    The last time I had it in for this problem, I told them that I wanted my truck ripped apart bolt by bolt and I wanted them to tell me where the oil was going. They pacified me by saying okay, then wouldn't you know it, 3 days later, my truck was ready. They fixed 2 of about 7 problems I have with it, everything else was NPF, (No problem found). Needless to say, they didn't look very hard for the missing oil. Now, I am contemplating my next move with them.
    The oil I use is what the Manufacturer suggests I use, the 5w-20 I believe. Now, I am no mechanic by any means, I can fix a few things here and there (old shade tree), but I know that this is not normal for a vehicle. And the way they are being built these days, I don't know where to begin. My only other option is to pay a seperate mechanic to tell me what is and isn't wrong with it then go back to the dealership.
  • rayt2rayt2 Member Posts: 1,208
    Check in with your State Atorney Generals office regarding "Lemon Law" if the state has one (your profile doesn't say where you live) Hopefully you have the documentation from dealers about how often you reported this. Or try FORD Headquarters and tell them how the dealer has blown you off on this issue. Make sure you tell them this was reported long before truck warranty expired and how the dealer won't do anything under warranty now.
    The one down side I see is that your letting it run out of oil or 3-4 quarts low does NOT look good for YOU the owner on Preventive Maintenance issue. Shade Tree Mechanic even tells you to check more often if you suspect a problem so you can track the problem. You may not have solid ground to stand on here.

    Good Luck, you'll need it.

    Ever consider a Silverado? Maybe it's time.

    Ray T.
  • kit1404kit1404 Member Posts: 124
    I might have missed it, but how often have you changed the oil? Are you using a good filter - there are some out there supposedly made for Ford's new engines that do not work - mostly FRAM is what I hear that are very bad. And, these engines are very tight tolerance - the viscosity of the oil is extremely important. I know - before these new engines, you could use a certain type of oil for certain conditions - not any more. Use what Ford says to use and I would recommend using the Motorcraft filter. I guess all this doesn't matter anymore - you have run out of oil twice - the engine must be damaged. Can you document enough to force Ford to replace it? I have a 1999 F-150 4X4 with 22,000 miles and the Triton 5.4 - it uses about one-half a quart between 3,000 mile oil changes (at the dealer) and I drive the truck hard. Lastly - I would contact Ford and in the meantime take it to another dealer - the differences in dealers and their mechanics can truly be the difference.
  • joe3891joe3891 Member Posts: 759
    My GM owners hand book says check your oil when refueling,i bet Ford says the same.
  • pocahontaspocahontas Member Posts: 802
    ... here's a direct link to our new GMC Sierra Problems Topic.

    Pocahontas,
    Edmunds.com/Roving Host
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