2001 Yukon Xl 5.3l

grogman45459 · October 16, 2009

When I had almost 94 K miles on my truck, I was 4700 miles between oil changes and I got the "check oil level" message on the DIC. I then took it to the dealer for an oil change and the guy working on it only said that it was 2 qts low and the problem could be the pcv valve acting up, but after pulling it out and shaking it, he heard the marble moving around and dismissed it as being the culprit. I got on-line and found a TSB(01-06-01029A) that called for a fixed orriface pcv, so I switched it out for the new one, right after the oil change.

Well, 4100 miles after that, yesterday, I check my oil level and see that it's dropped again, and appears to be almost 2 quarts low, no message on the dic though. Nothing on the driveway, engine and bay is clean - no blow back underneath that I can find, not seeing anything, anywhere. Exhaust is white colored on startup, and for the first few miles of driving. So I take it back for an oil change and the senior mechanic there is "almost sure" the problem is with the valve cover on the drivers side. He says they are prone to leaking, there's a TSB for it, and they are replacing the covers with a newly designed one under warranty on the newer models. He wants to replace it with part number 12570427 - says it's a new design.

Can I get your thoughts and are there any other tips that you can provide to help me narrow the problem down any further? Thank you, I sincerely appreciate your help.

gmtech4 · October 16, 2009

I remember a fix for that as I recall to glue a dime with a hole drilled in it to the PCV valve ,

any other techs here can chime in on it ,maybe the valve cover came later

txab · October 16, 2009

Ask him for the TSB number for the valve cover replacement.

After reading this post. I'd look into the possibility that along with wear, that maybe a poor quality oil might be part of the problem. Even it's being installed at a GM dealership, the oil may not be what you think it is. The quick oil change service can use whatever filter brand and oil brand they like.

Of course if the new covers fix you up then all is good.

grogman45459 · October 16, 2009

I remember a fix for that as I recall to glue a dime with a hole drilled in it to the PCV valve ,

any other techs here can chime in on it ,maybe the valve cover came later

Anyone have any additional thoughts? Man, I'd like to get this figured out..............

gmtech4 · October 17, 2009

I would call a service manager and ask him,have a sit down with him ,if I used to do this fix ,alot of others have ,or get a cover and see the difference,do it man ,lol

grogman45459 · October 17, 2009

I would call a service manager and ask him,have a sit down with him ,if I used to do this fix ,alot of others have ,or get a cover and see the difference,do it man ,lol

I don't follow - ask the service manager to try to provide me with some certainty that this will fix the problem? Btw - I had a friend locally tell me to pull each of the plugs & inspect to see if any are oil fouled. That would tell us if it's internal, ie, the valve guide seal(s) or valve(s) or if it's something else.

txab · October 17, 2009

I remember a fix for that as I recall to glue a dime with a hole drilled in it to the PCV valve ,

any other techs here can chime in on it ,maybe the valve cover came later

Are you talking about putting this "dime with a hole in it" on the old style pcv? The new style that he has already installed has the smaller fixed orifice, I believe.

grogman45459 · October 17, 2009

I remember a fix for that as I recall to glue a dime with a hole drilled in it to the PCV valve ,

any other techs here can chime in on it ,maybe the valve cover came later

Are you talking about putting this "dime with a hole in it" on the old style pcv? The new style that he has already installed has the smaller fixed orifice, I believe.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing- you're correct, the new one has the smaller hole and it's basically an empty barrel, with nothing in it.

txab · October 17, 2009

I would call a service manager and ask him,have a sit down with him ,if I used to do this fix ,alot of others have ,or get a cover and see the difference,do it man ,lol

I don't follow - ask the service manager to try to provide me with some certainty that this will fix the problem? Btw - I had a friend locally tell me to pull each of the plugs & inspect to see if any are oil fouled. That would tell us if it's internal, ie, the valve guide seal(s) or valve(s) or if it's something else.

Does your engine look dirty and oily? I've got 76k on mine and still as clean as can be. I've never washed anything under the hood. I'd for sure be able to spot a 2 qt or even a 1 qt valve cover leak. Your plugs might not be as fouled as you'd think. 2 qts over 4100 miles, the plugs would be fairly clean. They might have deposits built up from burned oil, but I wouldn't think they would be soaking wet with oil.

You can take this for what it's worth. I haven't seen your engine. But if it were me, before I spent $250 for one valve cover replacement, I'd clean the engine around the valve covers and anywhere else I thought it might leak from. Then I'd keep my eye on things. I'd check my oil frequently and keep track of the rate of loss. You can add dye to the oil to help find leaks. You use a black light to pinpoint the area. I'd probably change brands of oil, That's what I do. You're there I'm not so you have to decide based on what you know.

So far my TSB searches haven't shown a valve cover TSB, but I don't have access to the TSBs on the newest trucks right now

I'm checking with someone to see if they have heard of this scenario.

minibike132 · October 17, 2009

When I had almost 94 K miles on my truck, I was 4700 miles between oil changes and ....2 qts low
Well, 4100 miles after that, yesterday, I check my oil level and see that it's dropped again, and appears to be almost 2 quarts low,

Can I get your thoughts and are there any other tips that you can provide to help me narrow the problem down any further?

The oil consumption spec for that engine is 1 quart or more in 2,000 miles is excessive. It looks like you are coming in under that spec. To be sure I would check it at the 2,000 mile mark.

On a side note I'm sure someone here (probably many here) will disagree with me on this but it is pretty accepted among technicians that the oil life monitor is going to give us engine rebuild buisness in the long run. What I mean by that is that we still change ours at 3,000 and that is what I suggest to my customers if you like your engine. Trust me I hate doing oil changes so I don't recommend it because I like to see your vehicle every 3 months, it's because I think that is what it takes. I have seen the oil life monitor cause alot of problems that would never have happened with the 3K oil change.

grogman45459 · October 18, 2009

I would call a service manager and ask him,have a sit down with him ,if I used to do this fix ,alot of others have ,or get a cover and see the difference,do it man ,lol

I don't follow - ask the service manager to try to provide me with some certainty that this will fix the problem? Btw - I had a friend locally tell me to pull each of the plugs & inspect to see if any are oil fouled. That would tell us if it's internal, ie, the valve guide seal(s) or valve(s) or if it's something else.

Does your engine look dirty and oily? I've got 76k on mine and still as clean as can be. I've never washed anything under the hood. I'd for sure be able to spot a 2 qt or even a 1 qt valve cover leak. Your plugs might not be as fouled as you'd think. 2 qts over 4100 miles, the plugs would be fairly clean. They might have deposits built up from burned oil, but I wouldn't think they would be soaking wet with oil.

You can take this for what it's worth. I haven't seen your engine. But if it were me, before I spent $250 for one valve cover replacement, I'd clean the engine around the valve covers and anywhere else I thought it might leak from. Then I'd keep my eye on things. I'd check my oil frequently and keep track of the rate of loss. You can add dye to the oil to help find leaks. You use a black light to pinpoint the area. I'd probably change brands of oil, That's what I do. You're there I'm not so you have to decide based on what you know.

So far my TSB searches haven't shown a valve cover TSB, but I don't have access to the TSBs on the newest trucks right now

I'm checking with someone to see if they have heard of this scenario.

Mine is pretty clean as well and I did the spray and rinse with the Simply Green a few months ago, really just to get dust & dirt off of it, as the extent of oil that I saw was minor spillage. Really cleaned up. Good point with the plugs, but I did have them replaced with the wires at around 79K miles so they might show something. I plan on checking it more closely with this recent oil change.

Yeah, I looked around quite a bit for the TSB as well, found nothing.

grogman45459 · October 18, 2009

When I had almost 94 K miles on my truck, I was 4700 miles between oil changes and ....2 qts low
Well, 4100 miles after that, yesterday, I check my oil level and see that it's dropped again, and appears to be almost 2 quarts low,

Can I get your thoughts and are there any other tips that you can provide to help me narrow the problem down any further?

The oil consumption spec for that engine is 1 quart or more in 2,000 miles is excessive. It looks like you are coming in under that spec. To be sure I would check it at the 2,000 mile mark.

On a side note I'm sure someone here (probably many here) will disagree with me on this but it is pretty accepted among technicians that the oil life monitor is going to give us engine rebuild buisness in the long run. What I mean by that is that we still change ours at 3,000 and that is what I suggest to my customers if you like your engine. Trust me I hate doing oil changes so I don't recommend it because I like to see your vehicle every 3 months, it's because I think that is what it takes. I have seen the oil life monitor cause alot of problems that would never have happened with the 3K oil change.

Thanks - on the OLM, I really just started using it in the last year or so and if for nothing else but cheap insurance, I think I'll just go back to the 3month/3K mile school, especially since I haven't figured this out yet.

Nytemare · October 18, 2009

I run full synthetic in my engine, and I still change it every 3K with a new filter every time.

I get damn near the full 6 quarts back when I drain the engine too.

If you checked your oil yesterday, and you seen oil on your dipstick there is no way its 2 quarts low....the add mark is add 1 quart...anything below that is not visible on the stick. If there's oil between the hash marked area, than its in the normal operating zone.

grogman45459 · October 18, 2009

I run full synthetic in my engine, and I still change it every 3K with a new filter every time.

I get damn near the full 6 quarts back when I drain the engine too.

If you checked your oil yesterday, and you seen oil on your dipstick there is no way its 2 quarts low....the add mark is add 1 quart...anything below that is not visible on the stick. If there's oil between the hash marked area, than its in the normal operating zone.

So maybe I'm not as bad off as i was told - when it was low, the oil level was at the first punched circle on the dipstick............and that's were it was at between the second change as well(4700 miles first, then 4100 miles). I'll grab the book and look closer...............thanks