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Oil Consumption Issue Seems To Be Getting Worse..

jerseydrew

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txab Senior Enthusiast

txab

Posted
Posted

Here's the other info he's posted about it.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

it's a good idea but since i am only burning 1/2 qt every 3k miles it's no big deal for me. it's like clock work too. so i oil change 3k miles later light comes on, add 1/2 quart repeat in 3k miles and then on the third time (total of 9k miles on oil) just change it again.
jerseydrew Enthusiast

jerseydrew

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Here's the other info he's posted about it.

 

 

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.

 

 

 

it's a good idea but since i am only burning 1/2 qt every 3k miles it's no big deal for me. it's like clock work too. so i oil change 3k miles later light comes on, add 1/2 quart repeat in 3k miles and then on the third time (total of 9k miles on oil) just change it again.

 

 

 

that was correct, till i posted that and then i have been burning oil much more frequently now. i just changed the oil and when i checked it was just below the second hash mark on the dip stick and now i am at the beginning of the hashed area after 500 miles. at this rate it looks like i will be at 1/2 a quart every 1k miles or so.

rodram Enthusiast

rodram

Posted
Posted

So.... another 2007 5.3L AFM engine is consuming lots of oil ... I am not surprised ...

 

1. if you will ever be looking for any warranty work or help from GM, then you need to get this truck to a dealer to start an official oil consumption log. This documents the problem with GM and will verify to the dealer what your oil consumption is.. and will get you on a list for warranty work if GM ever figures out how to fix the problem....

 

2. GM's recent attempted fix is some kind of a deflector (need to remove the oil pan for installation) to keep oil from spraying directly onto the deactivated cylinders when AFM is activated. I've only seen one report from a GM truck owner on this and his evaluation was 'thumbs down' ... no change in oil consumption.

 

3. this oil consumption seems to be a function of the AFM, so some people suggest that if the AFM is tuned-off then the problem might never start .. or if it is bad then it might improve ... BUT BEWARE.... GM WILL CHECK FOR NON-GM CALIBRATION IN YOUR PCM AND WILL VOID YOUR POWERTRAIN WARRANTY IF YOU HAVE ANY KIND OF AFTERMARKET TUNE..

 

4. some say that dealers don't check for a tune and/or that you can return your truck to custom tune before a dealer sees it.... ?????

 

5. my thoughts (and I don't own one of these oil burners...) are that you could trade it off to a GM dealer before they end up with parking lots full of trucks with 5.3AFM engines ... and get a GM truck with a non-AFM engine, like a 4.8L or 6.2L in a 1500 .. or a 6.0L in a 2500 ... or trade back to a pre-2007 truck with a non-AFM engine

 

You are not alone... many of your friends with their 2008 and newer 5.3L AFM engines will be joining the lineup to report oil consumption in their trucks too.

mtiffinal Enthusiast

mtiffinal

Posted
Posted

I am now starting my official 2nd oil consumption test. I had the valve cover/PCV replacement around 30k with issues starting about 22k. 22k later it's consuming more....what's next? Good luck.

jerseydrew Enthusiast

jerseydrew

Posted
  • Author
Posted

my issue were minor till the truck hit about 50k miles and the temp started to drop. i have been thinking of doing a tune do turn off the AFM but would like to see if anyone else did this and got results. i kick myself in the ass everyday for not getting the HD diesel. but this one was said to get such good gas mileage. i get 13-14 mpg anyway so i shoulda just gotten what i wanted. and now i have a bunch of money into this truck so i would hate to lose it all on a trade.

 

i am just going to keep driving it till it dies if i have to carry a case of oil with me i will cause it will still be cheaper in the long run for me. or maybe wait till it dies and put in a 6.2 when i replace this motor. i can't say with any certainty what i will do or what will happen but at 54k miles it looks like it's downhill from here. and the entire ownership experience with GM has now left a bad taste in my mouth.

mtiffinal Enthusiast

mtiffinal

Posted
Posted

With 50k it's not too late, get to the stealership to get it documented. I personally think all this crap is related to the AFM. When I'm out of warranty, it'll be turned off. I agree with you, it's a sad feeling and leaves a bad taste. When I had mine worked on the first time, the oil consumption was reduced. Still didn't like it, but it was better.

fbachman Senior Enthusiast

fbachman

Posted
Posted

Just curious. Those folks having excessive oil consumption:

 

Do you have an Aluminum Block, or an iron block?

 

I wonder if there is a correlation.

 

I know there is some TSB out there that covers oil/AFM and Aluminum blocks.

 

???

rodram Enthusiast

rodram

Posted
Posted

This is a good question on aluminum versus iron block...

... in order to help answer this question... what are the VIN 8th digit codes for 5.3 AFM aluminum and 5.3 AFM iron block??

 

 

if we get this information, then some of the '07 and newer 5.3L engines can jump in here with their experience on oil consumption..

 

Just curious. Those folks having excessive oil consumption:

 

Do you have an Aluminum Block, or an iron block?

 

I wonder if there is a correlation.

 

I know there is some TSB out there that covers oil/AFM and Aluminum blocks.

 

???

kdixer Enthusiast

kdixer

Posted
Posted
This is a good question on aluminum versus iron block...

... in order to help answer this question... what are the VIN 8th digit codes for 5.3 AFM aluminum and 5.3 AFM iron block??

 

 

There are various 8th digits for each block. My aluminum block is not flex fuel and the 8th digit is M. But the 8th is different for the flex fuel aluminum block.

rodram Enthusiast

rodram

Posted
Posted

... yes there are 7 codes for the 5.3L engine... (B, J, L, M, 3, 4, 0, that's zero) but I don't know which one is which

 

... so M is aluminum block, NON Flex-Fuel

 

... what is the 8th digit code for an iron block?

tonygxp Enthusiast

tonygxp

Posted
Posted

well i just changed my denali's oil at 6,5xx and 8 months old for the first time, before the change i checked the oil due to the oil loss threads (my 6.2 is AFM) level hasn't budged, glad but skeptical, hope they come up with a fix? Ps that was Dino oil, whatever thy put in from th factory and the oil life indicator read 18% when i changed it to the regular synthetic mobil 1 5w30..

RB`S Av Enthusiast

RB`S Av

Posted
Posted

Those folks having excessive oil consumption:

 

Do you have an Aluminum Block, or an iron block.

???

 

 

 

Im very interested in this subject..

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