Is Your Gmt-900 Truck Or Suv Using Oil

shortyb · March 12, 2013

I have 200k on my 04 and it uses a quart every 3k miles. I started using Lucas oil stabilizer each oil change, it helped.

frankycjr · March 13, 2013

@shortyb I had a 99 silverado extended cab with the 5.3 v8, 4spd and 3.73 rear. At around the 200000 mile mark it also started using a bit oil, probably about a quart every 6000 miles. I ran Mobil 1 in that truck from the first oil change. I change the only around every 10k miles, and I had almost no problems with the truck. It got 15mpg from the day I bought it new, till the day I sold it with a blown tranny. I would have fixed it but my little kids weren't so little anymore and a Crew Cab seemed a better fit for us.

I had expected slightly better mpg from the crew cab since it has the 6spd and 3.42 gears and the afm and it should just be more efficient. Seems to me the car makers are just making the engines more complicated without any real efficiency gains. The winners in all this are the lobbyists and politicians and parts suppliers who all get a cut of the action.

shortyb · March 13, 2013

@frankycjr Thanks I will have to try Mobile one. I have always used Valvoline in all of my trucks and I change it every 4k.

Michael Watson · April 9, 2013

I have a 2009 Silverado with approx. 47,000 miles on it. Initially it didn't use any oil and then it would be about 1- 1.5 quarts between oil changes. My oil changes are the 5000 mile mark not the 3000. Just recently I was due for my oil change but went on a small road trip for the day. I got the dreaded oil pressure drop and alarm going off. Scared the crap out of me. I had already added the usual 1-1.5 quarts of oil about 1000 miles prior. I looked at the dipstick and it was below the hash marks just registering on the dipstick. Luckily I had some oil with me and was able to get back on the road. I have just started the oil consumption test with my dealer. I must say so far my dealer is being outstanding about it. We will see how it goes. I really do like my truck and hope this can be remedied.

RAT-ON · April 10, 2013

Guys I'm not on here much, but just went through this with my truck, I did not read all 24 pages

Purchased my truck new (2008 5.3 Iron block, flex, AFM). Started using oil about 2 yrs ago, minor amounts between changes. I ran the truck about 1k miles then dumped that oil, then ran 5-30 dino valvoline for another 3k, then switched to mobil 1 syn up until 65k or so, changes about 50% OLM (maybe 4-4.5k). Once I started to notice it using more oil and before I knew of the issues (and TSB) I switched back to dino oil 5-30 valvoline and consumption went down some, but not much.

I noticed heavy oil consumption when towing and running in 3rd gear. My last trip from Indiana up to the UP of Michigan I ran 1250 miles pulling a 3 place snowmobile trailer running about 65-70 whole trip, nearly 2800-3k rpm generally. I used 1.5 quarts of oil, just like the same trip a year before. I took it to my dealer and they put in 8 new pistons and rings the TSB fix (oil tube, deflector, etc) no questions asked. I've only put on about 2k since then, but no oil usuage. I broke in the new rings just like I would on any new/rebuilt motor and I'm about ready to change the oil again. I don't have any towing trips planned, but I'll post again if I see any consumption.

Thanks-

Jason

Edit: Sorry truck has 82k on it, they did the fix around 80k IIRC.

Edited April 10, 2013 by RAT-ON

GuyGene · April 18, 2013

Rat, that's great! Did you have an extended warranty, or was it still under normal warranty?

Service1956 · May 11, 2013

At this point in time, I think GM has overcome the oil consumption issue with the 5.3 AFM built after February 1 2011. That would include almost all of the 2012, and all of the 2013. Based on my research on past problems, most early attempted repairs were done by soaking the pistons & rings in a cleaner, with the added oil shield installed on the ATM pressure relieve valve. Some times the repair worked, and some times it did not. The final phase was to replace pistons & rings, with the AFM shield. This drastic measure did work with faith on the problem not returning.

I believe that this oil issue involved only a few of the hundreds of thousands of these engines that were produced. I feel safe in saying that the 2012 & 2013 model years that have the 5.3 AFM engines will no longer fall into this problem. All of these engines are now equipped with the updated parts.......AFM shield, and updated valve cover. These parts were designed to prevent the problem, which did little to nothing to correct the problem once the pistons and rings were gummed up.

GuyGene · May 24, 2013

I hope that's true, service. I usually buy used, so now, I'll make sure my next truck is '13 or newer when I finally buy. Are all 5.3s aluminum blocks? I sure like iron better, but I'm old fashioned.

GMCDriver1 · May 24, 2013

All engines including for the HDs will have aluminum blocks. Nothing to worry about.

GuyGene · May 25, 2013

All engines including for the HDs will have aluminum blocks. Nothing to worry about.

Even the 6.2 (or is it 6.0 now?) has aluminum? I guess they all are that way now for weight.

RVJ · May 25, 2013

At this point in time, I think GM has overcome the oil consumption issue with the 5.3 AFM built after February 1 2011. That would include almost all of the 2012, and all of the 2013. Based on my research on past problems, most early attempted repairs were done by soaking the pistons & rings in a cleaner, with the added oil shield installed on the ATM pressure relieve valve. Some times the repair worked, and some times it did not. The final phase was to replace pistons & rings, with the AFM shield. This drastic measure did work with faith on the problem not returning.

I believe that this oil issue involved only a few of the hundreds of thousands of these engines that were produced. I feel safe in saying that the 2012 & 2013 model years that have the 5.3 AFM engines will no longer fall into this problem. All of these engines are now equipped with the updated parts.......AFM shield, and updated valve cover. These parts were designed to prevent the problem, which did little to nothing to correct the problem once the pistons and rings were gummed up.

I hope you are right. I've seen a couple people claiming they have 2012's and are burning oil. Our current 5.3 with AFM has been made for what, 6 years? It took that long to get to a place where we are thinking the problem is solved. Now we are getting all new engines with AFM in an all new truck again. Can you imagine the flak if they are starting out as oil burners again with their own set of problems all over again.

GMCDriver1 · May 25, 2013

Even the 6.2L. Remember, the new 4.3, 5.3, and 6.2L are completely new engines, new blocks, and what not, redesigned for direct injection.

dsmmace · May 27, 2013

I had the fixes that gm offers done to my 2009. Oil pan deflector, new lifters, and the valve cover replaced. I went from burning a liter per 1000kms to none. I am surprised at the results, but happy that I shouldn't have issues moving forward.

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