Add engine oil!!!

[Truston Gunter]

The truck alerted me that I needed to add engine oil! The oil life indicator is at 21%. Current mileage is 18,791. The last oil change was done at 13,217. Since the last oil change I have used 700 gallons of fuel. I read a bulletin that oil consumption is based on fuel use. There's no way 1 qt of oil per 100 gal of fuel is "normal" (service bulletin 03-06-01-023D). While I'm not overly concerned, I've just never had to add oil to a vehicle before as I'm pretty ****** about preventative maintenance. I assume my recent road trip pulling a camper is the cause but it took 2 quarts of oil to read full. Any thoughts and/or comments would be greatly appreciated. 

[diyer2]

I would suggest more frequent oil and filter changes. I have always done shorter changes. 

[shakenfake]

I disagree with the above statement. You drove we don't live in the 40s anymore 6k is nothing lol although I would go ahead and change the oil anyways since the OLM is pretty close to being to 0%

Unfortunately GM is gonna shaft you on this one if they already have a service bulletin out about it. You are certain that there are no leaks?

Edited December 15, 2021 by shakenfake

[Truston Gunter]

No visible leaks on the underbelly and driveway. 

[Black02Silverado]

At least take it in and get it documented. That way if something happens they have it in their system.

[Grumpy Bear]

7 hours ago, Truston Gunter said:

The truck alerted me that I needed to add engine oil! The oil life indicator is at 21%. Current mileage is 18,791. The last oil change was done at 13,217. Since the last oil change I have used 700 gallons of fuel. I read a bulletin that oil consumption is based on fuel use. There's no way 1 qt of oil per 100 gal of fuel is "normal" (service bulletin 03-06-01-023D). While I'm not overly concerned, I've just never had to add oil to a vehicle before as I'm pretty ****** about preventative maintenance. I assume my recent road trip pulling a camper is the cause but it took 2 quarts of oil to read full. Any thoughts and/or comments would be greatly appreciated. 

 

I read the bulletin. A quart per hundred gallons of fuel is .25%.

 

(Corrected text lower in this tread)

 

6 hours ago, Black02Silverado said:

At least take it in and get it documented. That way if something happens they have it in their system.

 

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Edited December 15, 2021 by Grumpy Bear

[Truston Gunter]

I can't say with any certainty that the oil consumption was due to my recent trip ( which was 2300 miles in 4 days). I keep a log for maintenance and fuel so my numbers are accurate. The camper I tow is a30 ft 7500 lbs so its not overly taxing. I thought about taking it in for documentation but after reading the service bulletin, 2 quarts over 700 gallons is far less than 1 quart per 100 gallons. By their logic I should have used 7 quarts of oil!!!!  This is my first "HD" truck, my other vehicles ( all 1/2 ton models) did consumer some oil but never had a warning light advising me to add engine oil. Just stuck me as odd and wanted other peoples thoughts. Thanks for taking the time to chime in 

[diyer2]

Oil is the life of a motor. I'm not cheap or lazy. More changes especially when towing. You do as you please. 

[shakenfake]

True, I am guessing it is just the towing causing it to go a little low. 

Just curious as I don't know, how many quarts does the 6.6L take/require?

[Truston Gunter]

27 minutes ago, shakenfake said:

True, I am guessing it is just the towing causing it to go a little low. 

Just curious as I don't know, how many quarts does the 6.6L take/require?

Owners manual says 8 qt

[shakenfake]

Cool thanks

[unit]

Seems like excessive oil use to me.  That might have been normal in an early 50's engine but not in any I've driven lately.  Doesn't mean that you'll get any satisfaction from the dealer but that's my take on it.  Some Ford 5.0 L engines have excessive oil use problems and Ford is fixing some of them.  I agree - have it documented while under warranty.

[Grumpy Bear]

Something didn't sound right. A quart in 100 gallons is .25% Sounds like they have a reasonable target for the application.

 

If you use a 2 quarts in 750 gallons that is only 0.07% Not much more than a modern passenger car. (I used the wrong units earlier) towing will make this number higher

 

Sorry I was still on my first cuppa coffee  

 

I've always used .03% to .05% per gallon of fuel as normal. Way I was taught.

 

https://www.ms-motorservice.com/en/technipedia/post/when-is-an-engine-consuming-too-much-oil/

 

[quote] Workshop manuals and operating instructions often provide information on the maximum permitted oil consumption for the engine. If the manufacturer's specification is not available, max. 0.25 to 0.3 % for utility vehicles and up to 0.5 % oil consumption for buses can be assumed.

Oil consumption in modern passenger car engines is usually less than 0.05 %; the maximum permissible oil consumption stands at 0.5 % (all percentage values relate to actual fuel consumption). [end quote]

 

GM in the light trucks and cars will not warranty work until consumption is a quart in 2,000 miles. In the case of a vehicle that is getting 25 mpg that is 1.2% or 240% of the industry maximum standard and 2400% over what most people experience normally. The fact they have this in writing at .25% is not normal for this company and even generous. 

 

Sounds like you don't have an issue...

 

 

 

 

Edited December 15, 2021 by Grumpy Bear

[customboss]

Fuels dilute of the engine oil is THE player for engine oil usage if all else is normal. 

 

Use a higher quality  oil, change out the air filter more often if you are dusty down there in Corpus. 

 

If you want to KNOW why,  take a oil sample using a good quality lab with GC fuels and FTIR  testing you'll know for sure whats going on.  

 

If you have never changed the air filter on that 6.6 yet that may be allowing too much fuels dilute of the oil by restricting air flow. ECM can only go so far to correct. 

 

 

[MORSNO]

Your occasional towing didn't cause an excessive oil consumption, I'll bet they didn't add the correct amount of oil at your last oil change.  Most V8's are 6 quarts, your engine is 8 quarts and your truck was shorted 2 quarts.