Is Your Gmt-900 Truck Or Suv Using Oil

flyboyron · August 2, 2016

I have a 09 with the 5.3L.

I have always had the dealer change the oil and hardly ever checked it between changes.

I checked the oil one day and it was a quart low. I looked at the mileage from time of service until that day and it was 4,000 miles. At first I thought the idiots at the dealer shorted me a quart.

I put in a quart and checked it 2,500 miles later, and it is 1/2 quart low.

The truck has 66,000 miles on it, and I drive it easy and don't load it up or tow with it, just driving back and forth to work.

Cowpie · August 6, 2016

Thought I would throw this experience in...

I recently picked up a 2006 Cadillac CTS 3.6L with 52,000 miles. Beautiful, immaculate car. Learned real quick though, it was an oil eater. about 1 qt to 1000 miles. Very disheartening.

Dealer had changed oil when I bought it, but at about two weeks of this, I did an Amsoil engine flush treatment on the engine, changed oil, and installed a Elite Engineering E2 catch can on the PCV. Still was "consuming" oil at a big rate, but a major portion was ending up in the catch can. About 1.5 oz every 100 miles. Obviously a lot of blow by occurring at the cylinders to force that much oil thru the PCV.

After about 2000 miles of this, I did another engine flush and changed oil. Now, after 2 weeks and a little over 400 miles, the oil level has remained at full, the oil captured by the catch can has slowed considerably and instead of 1.5 oz per 100 miles, is a bit over 1 oz in 400 miles. Rings must have gotten cleaned out pretty well and were sealing up better.

Might be worth a try if one is experiencing a oil consumption problem. I realize shutting down AFM and can help prevent a problem, and I recommend that, but if the problem is already here, then getting the internal stuff cleaned up of coked oil in rings and lifters can be a major solution to the problem. And of course, I recommend a good catch can setup on the PCV line.

Edited August 6, 2016 by Cowpie

Colossus · August 28, 2016

544 votes say yes, 397 say no. Hit or miss I guess.

KARNUT · August 28, 2016

O1, 04, 06 (6.0) 07, 14, no, never oil use 5.3.

MuhThugga · August 30, 2016

2008 Silverado, 5.3 iron block with AFM turned off, but not deleted to my knowledge. I burn about 2 quarts every 10,000 miles.

urbancowboy · August 31, 2016

Finally some satisfaction, The dealer called me yesterday, said they are going to change the pistons, rings and not sure what else. After the 4th oil consumption test in past 3 years, at 1800 kms down over a liter of oil this test, ( every oil test done engine was consuming oil and they brushed it off as normal, 5-7k oil barely touching dip stick) Is there anything I should get them to change besides this or ask?? 2011 Gmc Sierra SLT 5.3 lt aluminum block have 92,000 km on it. All I can say what a piece of junk.

Cowpie · August 31, 2016

Had a fuel issue with that Caddy that eats oil. Got it into the dealer to look at and was discussing the oil issue. Since the car is 10 years old, and the previous owner did lousy maintenance, I told them to go ahead the do tune-up on the car while they had it, and use some X66-P and do a major piston soak on the pistons while they had the plugs out to see if it that would help. Would have done it myself, but I have way too many irons in the fire that take up my time. Got it back today, wife picked it up, and she called and said it ran like a brand new car. Will see if the soak did a good job and monitor oil consumption.

Stex · September 3, 2016

Thought I would throw this experience in...

I recently picked up a 2006 Cadillac CTS 3.6L with 52,000 miles. Beautiful, immaculate car. Learned real quick though, it was an oil eater. about 1 qt to 1000 miles. Very disheartening.

Dealer had changed oil when I bought it, but at about two weeks of this, I did an Amsoil engine flush treatment on the engine, changed oil, and installed a Elite Engineering E2 catch can on the PCV. Still was "consuming" oil at a big rate, but a major portion was ending up in the catch can. About 1.5 oz every 100 miles. Obviously a lot of blow by occurring at the cylinders to force that much oil thru the PCV.

After about 2000 miles of this, I did another engine flush and changed oil. Now, after 2 weeks and a little over 400 miles, the oil level has remained at full, the oil captured by the catch can has slowed considerably and instead of 1.5 oz per 100 miles, is a bit over 1 oz in 400 miles. Rings must have gotten cleaned out pretty well and were sealing up better.

Might be worth a try if one is experiencing a oil consumption problem. I realize shutting down AFM and can help prevent a problem, and I recommend that, but if the problem is already here, then getting the internal stuff cleaned up of coked oil in rings and lifters can be a major solution to the problem. And of course, I recommend a good catch can setup on the PCV line.

Please tell me if this is still working for you. Did you use the newer Amsoil engine and trans flush? They did the pan, valve cover and ring soak on my 5.3. Running a CC for last 25,000. Still burns oil esp. on high effort driving.

Cowpie · September 3, 2016

Has indeed been a marked improvement over what the engine oil consumption was like when I got the car. Am hoping the piston soak I had the shop do along with the tuneup this last week will be of benefit for the remaining oil consumption that my stuff hadn't quite cleared up. I have no illusions that oil consumption will stop totally, but I have cut it down considerably.

Michael_92 · September 5, 2016

Lol no. If my new truck was eating up oil it'd go through the dealership window. I would not deal with that period.

I must have a very unique one. My oil pressure is 40PSI at idle after hours long trips. It is 40 driving down the road. It is always 40 lol. That's a lie..when you start it I think it's 55ish and slowly goes down.

I do oil chances every 7500ish miles and it never uses oil.

Engine makes no noise (after I fixed the broken transmission tube that sounds like a lifter tick)

It does however need a set of plugs. It's not as smooth as it should be IMO...although it could be because it's a 5.3 and all I've owned were 4.8s in the past. This truck has a ton of issues but overall the engine is sound.

diyer2 · September 6, 2016

For The Record.

Another oil user.

Bought my truck(Nov./4/15) with 41K miles. 2012, Sierra, 5.3, 6 speed.

A little history:

Driven in manual 5 until Range installed at 46K miles.

Quaker State, Dexos semi syn. 5W30

Changed the oil the first time after 2k miles due to oil was black.

Changed every 3k miles there after.

Just clocked 50, 500 miles.

I have added half a quart in the last 1k miles.

Dnt · September 7, 2016

Not sure if this is the second or third plug that my 2009 5.3 Aluminum block engine fouled out due to oil consumption. (see pic below) First one fouled out at around 65000 miles second at around 75000 miles it was using a quart of mobile1 every 1200 to 1500 miles. Took it to dealer went through the oil consumption test and it fouled out another one during the test. They replaced the valve cover and put a deflector inside the oil pan. Funny part is I never knew if it fixed it or not cuz as soon as I got it back I traded the silly thing in for a 2014 5.3 it never used very much oil as best I could tell. At least I never had to add any between my 7 to 8000 mile oil changes and I drove it 61000 miles before trading. I was carrying around a 5 quart container of mobile1 in the 2009 LOL it was a great truck other than the oil consumption problem. Just traded my 2014 for a 2016 Denali with the 6.2 I do not have enough miles on it to see how it is going to do YET, fingers crossed. Note: I miss the rain sensing wipers on my 2009

wehowardjr · September 7, 2016

After 1,990 miles since installing my Range AFM disabler I have not used any oil. Checked the oil yesterday morning before starting the truck and was pleasantly surprised that it showed full. I am using Mobil 1 Full Synthetic 5w-30. Before the Range I had to add about a 1/2 quart every 1000 to 1500 miles.

diyer2 · September 11, 2016

I keep forgetting to mention this:

Manual says 6 quarts with filter when doing an oil change.

My truck shows over filled on the dipstick doing this. Overfilled up to the writing on the dipstick above the full mark dot. Maybe 6 to 10 ounces I would guess.

Any ideas?

Thinking of doing an engine flush as mentioned by cowpie to clean it out and see if it helps with oil consumption.

MaverickZ71 · September 11, 2016

I keep forgetting to mention this:

Manual says 6 quarts with filter when doing an oil change.

My truck shows over filled on the dipstick doing this. Overfilled up to the writing on the dipstick above the full mark dot. Maybe 6 to 10 ounces I would guess.

Any ideas?

Thinking of doing an engine flush as mentioned by cowpie to clean it out and see if it helps with oil consumption.

If you check oil like owner's manual says, at normal operating temp (hot), 6 quarts comes out EXACTLY on the top "full" dipstick dot. I drive a few miles on freeway to get gas, let oil drain back into oilpan while fueling, and then check oil. Works great every time. If you check it cold, it shows 1/4 quart too much when properly full.