Oil Consuption On Gmt900 5.3 Liter

[jerseydrew]

well since making the switch to synthetic i have seen a reduction in oil consumption but that could also be due to doing two 1k mile trips since the switch. on dino oil i was adding about a quart per 3k mile oil change and now with synthetic oil i just had to add a half quart at the 4k mile mark cause the DIC said it was low. i am not sure f it is the better oil or the long highway trips. i know these motors are known for eating oil but this is the first vehicle i have ever owned that has had an oil consumption issue. i hope it is the oil that helped and not the long highway trips.

[ken1mod]

Sir,

 

I beg your pardon. These engines do not eat oil. They are among the finest engines on the planet.

 

Ken

[Z45]

I have never had to add oil to a GM engine I have owned. I go at least 10,000 miles on synthetic oil.

 

Keep trying brands of oil. There is common phenomenon with engine oil called volatility. Volatility is a measurement of the amount of oil which is lost during engine operation because of burn-off.

 

There are several concerns associated with oil volatility. First, engine oil is lost and must be replaced. Additionally, the viscosity of the remaining oil increases. Moreover, oil loss could change the effectiveness of the oil as a lubricant. The chemical properties and additive package ratio of the oil may also change as the volatile components are burned off. Finally, there is also evidence that the volatilized oil may damage the exhaust catalyst as it passes through.

 

Specifications set by ILSAC determine that the amount of engine oil lost through volatilization at 250°C for one hour should not exceed 22%.

 

Contrary to common perceptions, not all oil is the same. Just like there are different recipes to make a cake, there are different formulations for oils. The cheaper the oil, the cheaper the ingredients. People assume because they buy a synthetic oil its going to be better. Many of the so called synthetics on the discount store shelves are not better than the other common commodity oils. They are made cheap to sell cheap. I read on one major oil companies web page that although their oil is synthetic, it still must be changed every 3,000 miles.

[Quint]

2008 Silverado 5.3 with 11.5K miles and three oil changes (at 1000, 5000, 10500), using sythetic.

 

The oil is on the dipstick up to the same line every time.

[mdwarchichoke]

jersydrew - My 5.3 uses about 1/2 quart every 4,000 miles when I use Valvoline Synthetic, but using Pen. Platinum or Mobil One I have no noticeable lost. I have about 54k on the truck now. All oils have been 5-30w.

[Willshire]

My truck has 170k miles on it, 60psi oil pressure, havoline 5w-30 (thats what the garage uses) and never lose more than a few ounces. If you lose a half a quart or less between oil changes, why top up? If it's still in the cross hatches why waste the money on another 1/2 quart. The cross hatch is for "acceptable oil level". Engines are designed with 3 sets of piston rings to prevent burning in the combustion chamber from oil left on the cylinder walls. one of the only places to put oil into combustion is pcv, unless you have leaky valve seals or something. I don't know maybe I'm talking out of my ass

[mkelly]

well since making the switch to synthetic i have seen a reduction in oil consumption but that could also be due to doing two 1k mile trips since the switch. on dino oil i was adding about a quart per 3k mile oil change and now with synthetic oil i just had to add a half quart at the 4k mile mark cause the DIC said it was low. i am not sure f it is the better oil or the long highway trips. i know these motors are known for eating oil but this is the first vehicle i have ever owned that has had an oil consumption issue. i hope it is the oil that helped and not the long highway trips.

 

 

I would check with the dealer, that seems high.

 

Out of the 3 5.3's that I have experience with all of them show full on the dipstick between 3k oil changes.

[Graembo]

My '07 will also flash low oil on the DIC halfway to the 3k mile mark. 1/2-3/4 qt needed to top it up each period. Whatcha gonna do? NOT add it! Its gotta be done i guess...haha...stupid Guverment Motors

[Zembonez]

It is a known issue for SOME AFM equipped 5.3 to consume oil. Some of them are burning a LOT! It's not my opinion. Ask around... or do a search in here. It has been much discussed.

[C. Charles Hahn]

It is a known issue for SOME AFM equipped 5.3 to consume oil. Some of them are burning a LOT! It's not my opinion. Ask around... or do a search in here. It has been much discussed.

 

Pretty much, yeah.

 

The key word there is SOME, though. Not ALL, and I would venture to say it's a fairly rare problem in the grand scheme of things. Remember that when you come onto a forum like this one, what you're seeing is either people who are very happy with their trucks, or very unhappy with their trucks.

 

Those who are unhappy tend to come in, post a bitch-fit thread about it (mistakenly believing that GM themselves run the forum or are watching them actively and will make changes based on the irrational rants posted here), and subsequently leave before their post count even hits the double digits.

 

Lesson to learn? Don't trust everything you read online, because clearly, your mileage may vary.

[mkelly]

My '07 will also flash low oil on the DIC halfway to the 3k mile mark. 1/2-3/4 qt needed to top it up each period. Whatcha gonna do? NOT add it! Its gotta be done i guess...haha...stupid Guverment Motors

 

If It were my truck I would add the oil and then drive straight to the dealership to have it repaired. What good is a warranty if you dont use it?

[AirForceAngler]

Are you adding just because the DIC tells you to or are you actually checking the dipstick? Could be a bad sensor.

[ken1mod]

Gentlemen,

 

I do not know where zero oil consumption between changes is considered necessary for the engine to be healthy. I have been blessed with many engines not needing any between changes. I have had many that used a quart between 7000 mile changes. This amount of oil consumption is not an indication of anything bad.

 

I do not agree with the gm standard of 1 qt per thousand miles however. This is a nuisance. Even Mercedes Benz allows a qt per thousand before they fix it.

 

So then, simply consider a qt every couple of months just loving maintenance, you are after all, refortifying the additive package for the oil.

 

Aircraft engines use a qt every few hours of operation and most do not recommend even filling the crankcase to the full mark because the first qt gets burned off quickly. Personally, I run them to the full mark.

 

Ken

[jerseydrew]

wow some of you guys are really in the dark.

 

first off i would like to know what the acronym AFM stands for so i can tell you if i have an AFM truck or not. second there are plenty of motors that burn oil and are not broken or dying. i don't mind the occasional top off. as long as it is within reason, as i think i am now. 1/2 quart for 4k miles isn't terrible.

 

and to the guy that asked if i checked the dipstick, obviously i did otherwise how would i know how much to add?

[FargoZ71]

You shouldn't be eating any oil, I'd have the dealership check it out, i've also heard of some of our trucks engines eatn a little oil, but im at 77k in a 03 and she still never drinks a drop. It's something to investigate if your under warranty

well since making the switch to synthetic i have seen a reduction in oil consumption but that could also be due to doing two 1k mile trips since the switch. on dino oil i was adding about a quart per 3k mile oil change and now with synthetic oil i just had to add a half quart at the 4k mile mark cause the DIC said it was low. i am not sure f it is the better oil or the long highway trips. i know these motors are known for eating oil but this is the first vehicle i have ever owned that has had an oil consumption issue. i hope it is the oil that helped and not the long highway trips.