8.1 Oil Consumption

Zohigh · June 28, 2003

Has any one come up with a cure to the 1-2 quarts of oil consumption for every 3000 miles? I went to my local GM dealer and he told me 1 quart for every 1000 miles is with in GM tolerence is this correct? I have a 2001 GMC Sierra 2500HD 8.1 Allison 4X4

422 SS · June 28, 2003

My 2002HD 8.1 drinks a QT every 500-700 miles in town.I change ever 5,000 and avg 5-7 Qts of top off oil between changes too keep it full.I have tried all remedies and none have worked.It has 55,000 miles on it now and this is the only thing I don't like about the truck.My plan is to run till 100,00 miles and trade for Dmax.Iwill never buy another 8.1 thats for sure.

8.1Texan · June 28, 2003

it's a big block. it eats oil, that's what it does.

Dealers should mention this people are buying one since most are not aware of just how much it gobble down.

The valvoline place I go to tops off the oil for free up to 3,000 miles after my oil change. so, right at the 3,000 mark I get the oil topped off and then get it changed a 1,000 or so later when the truck tells me it's ready.

Zohigh · June 28, 2003

I heard something about getting new intake bolts and that solving the problem.

422 SS · June 29, 2003

New intake bolts did absolutely nothing to correct problem with my truck.

bummed-n-Md · June 30, 2003

This particular topic has caused few other threads to begin.

From my personal experience:

when new: 1 qt every 1200 miles.

at 18000, 1 qt every 23-2500 miles

at 23000 1 qt every 3000

Just rolled 32000 and I am down to 1 qt every 4500 (i.e., when my change oil light comes on (almost exactly every 4500 miles +/- 500), I am reading 1qt low.

These engines use oil, (as all engines do) and as CMX was want to say to me on many an occasion, "that's what big blocks. do". It just 'appears' that these use more than others, especailly when new.

I share your pain with regards to dealers not being more forth coming. The first time I took mine in (when the check oil level light came on at 3000 miles) there was no oil on the dipstick. The service counter people stated "that ani't right, if it happens again we will put you on an oil monitoring program to help ID the problem" A month and a half later (and another 3000 miles) same thing happend, this time the service counter person (same one) said "that's normal" with absolutely no other explaination. (hence my signature)

When I went to other dealers to help figure out what may be wrong, same story "that's normal with no more explaination.

I now know that this is a 'breaking issue'. At 32,000 and 1 qt every 4000 to 4500 miles, I am no longer concerned about usage. I am still pi$$ed at the dealers for not being more 'upfront'.

do a search on oil consumption here and you will see the many threads and the discussions. It did get heated for awhile.

bummed.