Oil Consumption

[carhauler]

I just experienced my first taste of oil consumption. 2500 towing miles miles with a little over 2 quarts of oil gone.

It was towing 14500lbs. Over variuos terrain including the entire P.A. turnpike. The truck is an 8.1/A with only 10k. I fear that my troubles are starting too soon. Any reccomendation on how to prevent this. I read that it is classified as "normal". I am not sure 2 quarts is normal, but I would like to deter it in the future if possible!

 

Thanx, Todd

[CMNTMXR81]

So, let me get this straight, you were pulling a 14,500lb trailer through the mountains of Pennsylvania I presume at highway speeds for a total 2,500 miles on an engine that is now approaching 10,000 miles total?  And you're surprised you consumed a little oil?

 

I will repeat again what I've posted here COUNTLESS times....BIG BLOCK V8's CONSUME OIL!!!!!!  They have since their inception 30+ years ago.  It's the nature of the beast.  During break in, which on these things is usually within the first 10,000 miles, oil consumption WILL be greater than normal.  Couple this with a 14,500lb trailer out back through the Appalachians, some oil consumption HAS to be expected.

 

Mine went through two quarts in the first 4,000 miles, now with 8,600 on it, it barely burns a half a quart.

 

Now, if you start noticing beyond the 10,000 mile mark that you are still burning this much oil when unloaded, there may be an issue, but otherwise, I don't really see a problem here.

[carhauler]

Thanks for the reply.

 

I did not experience any with the second oil change and pulled the same weight, although not in the mountians granted. So I was shocked to have gone through two quarts.

[DennisH]

I had a similar experience with my 2001 3500 Dooly 8.1/Allison, but after reading this forum sort of knew what to expect.  On it's first "long drive" from MI to IA this past February (nothing in tow), it burned 1.5 quarts on the first leg of 700 miles.  At the time it had about 1500 miles on it.  Did same on the return trip.  But that has been it!  Made a 1600 mile round trip from MI to MN in June, and just came back from a 1700 mile round trip to Arkansas, both towing a 8500# trailer.  Darned if the engine didn't use but 1/4 qt, that's right, one quarter of a quart, there and back, on both trips!  Engine now has 8000 miles on it.  On both trips it ran great, pulled uphill like a beast, especially through the Ozarks, transmission temp and coolant temp never ventured over 200 degF despite the outside air temp being over 100 degF.  Engine barely broke a sweat.  While I understand that big blocks are known for swilling oil, and the reasons why make sense, I'm simply happy that mine seems to be a "sipper" rather than a "swiller."  

[carhauler]

Did you switch to synthetic oil?

 

I have ran conventional 5w-30.

[CMNTMXR81]

It was also hot too wasn't it?  Just that all the factors added together, I can see some usage, especially with a new engine.

 

I did switch to Mobil 1 at about the 5k mark which may have something to do with lack of consumption.

[swl2126]

I asked the Service Department at my dealer about abnormal oil consumption on my 6.0L.  They said you should expect 1 quart every 3000 miles.  They said they would be glad to test it for me.  Bring the vehicle in for an oil change and during the next 3000 miles come in every time you need to add oil.

[walkerkd]

yea the big block loves that oil... i was going threw a quart every 800 miles hauling a load... you need and aux. tank in the bed one for fuel and one for oil.. haha.. nah they are great trucks i just couldnt handle the oil problem .. the dmax is paying for itself.. they are awesome loadded.. let me tell you!  oh yea i talked with the regonial guy here in ft worth and he said under a load 800-1000 miles you are ok at 1-1.5 quarts..  ive went threw this already...

[MarkD]

Sounds typical for a big block.

 

It makes one wonder though...Why is this acceptable?

[CMNTMXR81]

Actually any engine from the smallest 4 cyl to the biggest V10/12/16 can swallow oil.  GM whether you like their standards or not, says 1 quart of oil between changes IS acceptable.

 

Why does a Big Block consume more oil than smaller motors?  Because there is soo much surface area that it has to deliver oil to.  A 4.25" bores multiplied by 8 cylinders adds up to a lot more area to cover than a V6 that has 3.75" bore x 6 cylinders.  Believe it or not, in this case, the oil is spread a little more thinly over the parts it's protecting.  Thinner = a greater tendency to be burned due to normal combustion for oil coating the cylinder walls.

 

Old Big Blocks used to suffer from bad oil seals/sealing which would lead it to drip all over the place.  It was a personality trait that Big Blocks and Harley's shared alike.    With the 8100, they made great effort to ensure larger "flat" surfaces where gaskets and seals are used to help prohibit oil leakage.  Only time will tell if their efforts pay off.

 

In the end, with a Big Block, there is a lot of metal to lubricate and coat, which is why they tend to consume a little more oil.

[titlegod]

I'll cut to the chase...I also have a 8.1/A 2500HD truck it as well has been using alot of oil.... 11,000 miles so far and 9 quarts over this time period...first 3 quarts was at 2300 miles. Second 3 quarts at 7800...now just 3200 miles later another 2-3 quarts low. I complained to Dealer at first oil change and they told me this was "normal Break-in”. Stupid, but I believed them this time...Next time I did not and was under what they termed an "oil consumption test" which tracked the oil use over mileage.  Now two oil changes later they show me a bulletin from GM That says it was normal for it to use up to 2 quarts per 100 gallons of gas! (I asked for a copy they said sure...but when the gave me the copy "they had blacked out" the bottom portion which showed what GM termed as excessive consumption I asked again for a copy of the whole thing  and they said they couldn’t give it to me...I'm sorry but they are really, really jerking a lot of people around on this.). Further, that I would have to provide them with gas receipts to show the 100 gallons of gas instead of using the previous 9,000 miles of driving I had already done as proof of the oil consumption.  Now I have had virtually every small block as well as big block Chevy motor since I could drive. From 305,350,400,427, and 454 you name it and they have never burned oil. Other than the first few hundred miles...I get this 8.1 and now I’m burning it like a Kuwaiti Farmer...there is no excuse for this. I do not tow anything. To and from work.is all I do..to an office building. Its a joke and now matter what GM or any other party says its not "normal" for vehicles to burn oil...I think GM should  change their statement  from "It's Normal” to "it's the Norm" for their Vortec motor. What I would really like to here is from is the thousands of other new or newer Chevy truck owners that are happy with this oil problem...what's that.... there are none...Right, because they are surely just now finding out that buying a new GM Truck is a Eye-opening experience. and unfortunately not a good one...OIL BURNING IS NOT NORMAL GM.your vehicles didn’t do it before the Vortec to this degree..its not in your owners manuals...you do not tell anyone beforehand that they will be putting a lot (or any for that matter) of oil in there trucks(why do you think service stations are a rare breed now..because most vehicles dont need much in the way of servicing)..I'm going on and on...but  I can guarantee there is no one that would buy a GM Truck if they new in advance that it would use 1-2 quarts of oil every 1,000 miles..OH IF FORGOT ITS NOW EVERY 100 GALLONS OF GAS....Which if you know this truck its still a 1,000 miles....GM YOU LET ME DOWN...after 6-7 vehicle I have purchased from you. There will not be another...That I "WARRANTY" for a lifetime...

[bummed in Md]

I agree with titlegod.  I sold my last chevy truck because it started using this kind of oil.  

 

First, I have a 2002 silverado 4wd LS crew cab short bed 8.1L (w/ allison).  I purchased it in March 2002.

 

Silly me, but I read the owners manual cover to cover and followed the instructions about oil change intervals.  (yes I am a man and I did read the instructions, so banish me to a testosterone re-training camp!)  After paying 35K+, I wanted to make sure I didn't do anything to void my warrenty.  

 

I took the vehicle in @ 4500 miles when the change oil light came on.  The day before I took it to the deasler to do this all important first oil change, the check engine oil level light came on.  I immediately pulled into a gas station and checked it. No oil on the dipstick!  I added 2 qts and it came up to the middle of the hatched area.  the next morning, I drove to my dealer and told them of the incident.  I was told this was excessive, but because I added the oil, it could not be varified.  I was told explicitly that if it happened again NOT to add the oil but get to the nearest dealership (preferably them) to have it varified. At this time nothing was said about my oil changing 'intervals'.  The vague notion of 'breaking in" occured to me, but I have NEVER had a new (or rebuilt) engine of any kind (including British-leyland and old Jaguar) use this kind of oil this fast.

 

about 4300 miles later, again the check engine oil level light came on.  This time I, pulled over and checked, there was a drop onthe bottom of the dipstick (repeatable).  I was only 10 lmiles from my dealership, so I carefully drove it over there. When I report the problem, I was told very bluntly that thios was normal, and I was not properly changing my oil.  I was given a copy of what GM defines as excessive oil consumption, (GM Document ID 482294).  I was told in no uncertain terms that if I don't change my oil every 3K miles, I am not properly maintaining my engine.

 

WRONG!  If that interval is the recommended requirement, it is NOT, i repeat NOT in the users manual.  On my vehicle, the manual stats there is no predertmined interval. when I told the service writter that, I was told "the book is wrong".  surprise surprise, the sales people know nothing of the oil consumption problem, again not mention ANYWHERE in the users manual.

 

With 1 qt of oil per 100 gallons, that means even beforeI get to the 3K interval, I have already replaced more than half the oil in the engine (maybe that is why there is no prescribed interaval?).

 

I now check the oil at every fiil-up.  It has been about 500 miles since the last change and I am just starting to notice the level dropping.

 

One more thing, I have not towed or hauled anything with this truck yet.  Since March, it has been strictly used as a commuter.  I drive  30 miles one way to work, over back roads, (i.e., no interstates etc), only 6 stop lights/signs (all within 5 miles of the office).  during my commute I average a steady 45 to 50 miles per.  I do not hot foot it.  Except on a couple of real rare occasions where I had to pass a farm tractor, the RPMs rarely go above 3K.

 

I like everything about this truck EXCEPT this engine oil problem.  and I don't by the 'because it is a big block V8 it will use oil" excuse.  HE double hockey sticks, most deisels don't even use this kind of oil.

 

Over the last 30 years, I have had and rebuilt many an engine, including big block V8s, and whenever an engine started to use oil at this rate, it meant it was time for working on the internals (rings, valves etc).

 

I'm sorry, I don't buy the GM party line, and I am almost beginning to regret buying this truck.

 

let the backlash flames begin.

[JimWilson]

bummed in md and titlegod;

 

You're burning way too much oil, regardless of what the dealers are saying. And while big old (important word: old) American V8's burned oil today’s engines should not have that as a problem. Any of you ever work with big rigs? They have motors a lot larger then what we have, and there oil consumption is nowhere near 1-2 quarts per 1000 (Can you picture an OTR trucker having to carry a case of oil for one cross-country trek? Not likely).

 

Unfortunately, yours are not the first I've heard of this problem with GM motors. My 6.0 burns about 1-2 quarts per 3K, and I think that's too much, so I can't even image what you're feeling. Perhaps it's time to get a little louder, and make someone take notice.

[bummed in Md]

as I mentioned in my earlier post, my RPMs rarely go above 3000.  I keep my foot out of the accellerator to conserve fuel.  I average a consistant 12.3 to 12.5 miles per gallon, and that is since new right off the lot.

 

My dealership has told me nothing except 1 qt per 100 gallons is normal and change the oil every 3000.

 

[bummed in Md]

a side note:  if I changed my oil at the 3000 mile interval like the dealer is telling me, I never would have gotten the check engine oil level light so I would probably still be blissfully unaware of the oil consumption problem.  

 

How many other owners are there out there that might fall into this very 'trap'?  How many others out there actually are consuming the oil and just don't know it.  GM sure ain't gonna tell to look for it.

 

On a brand new truck, it never even remotely occured to me that I would need to be checking the oil at every fill-up.