Need help ASAP oil consumption

[Shed376]

2012 Chevy crew cab 5.3L, 29K miles.

 

Have heard of the oil consumption prob after I bought truck. I use amsoil 0W-30 synthetic. Noticed truck using oil. Estimated at a quart per 2500-3000 miles.

 

Last week took truck to dealer for stabilitrak/traction control warning lights coming on then off. While there I mentioned the oil usage and asked why it did it. No answer just the " Chevy says it's ok" run around. But they offered Chevy's fix which is to remove the heads and dump a detergent in the pistons then change the oil and give it back. They didn't know if this would stop the issue. I debated then said go ahead and try it. I get a call 2 hours later saying that the #1 piston has no compression, has heavy carbon build up and the spark plug is disintegrated. They tell me they'll have to replace the cylinder, rings and plug, clean it up. They were nice, seemed too nice and gave me a new car to drive and told me they'd have it done tomm.

 

My issues: should they replace all the pistons/rings/gaskets/plugs? Should I fight for a new engine? Should I dump this truck and find something else?

 

I'm feel pretty let down by a brand that I've been brought up to love and I've only bought GM! I also feel like I purchased a $40K truck it shouldn't have these problems at 30k miles and what happens if it does it again? I'm at the point where if Chevy screws with me I'll be forced to go elsewhere. Really wish Chevy would admit there's a problem and fix it for all these loyal customers dropping big bucks on trucks.

 

Please respond with any and all thoughts or opinions! Thank you!

[RyanbabZ71]

Is-Your-Gmt-900-Truck-Or-Suv-Using-Oil

http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?/topic/127812-Is-Your-Gmt-900-Truck-Or-Suv-Using-Oil

 

440 posts on this topic

 

 

Ryan

[Cowpie]

Did you delete the AFM function on the engine via either the Range module or a tuner? Seems like most never get rid of oil issues till they delete the AFM from functioning, and the engine then stays in 8 cylinder mode all the time. I did this to my new 2013 the day after I took possession of it from the dealer. My engine uses about 1/2 pint in 6000 miles. The level moves from full to the first notch below full in 6000 miles.

[mike94silverado]

Some oil use is normal 1qt per 1k is not uncommon

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cowpie]

I would contend that 1 qt in 1000 miles is horrendous! There is no call for an engine in good working condition to eat that much oil. When a 12.7L Detroit engine with 210,000 miles on it will only eat a full quart in 15,000 miles how does that compare to some 5.3L lawn mower engine in a pickup? Or how about my last engine, a Cummins ISX 15L that took 10,000 miles to eat a gallon of oil, and that was with the engine having over 900,000 miles on it. Yet GM seem to think that an engine with FAR less miles and a third the size (and no where near worked as hard) is fine burning a quart every 1000 miles. Or the 454 V8 in my '98 2500 that didn't use a full quart in 4000 miles and it had roughly 150,000 on it when I sold it. My ag tractor gets one oil change a year in the fall. And it doesn't need any make up oil all year long. It is only down slightly from full in one years time.

 

Nah, I am not going to buy the GM party line that a qt in 1000 miles is anything close to "normal". It is incompetence on their part. And GM is just playing games and not owning up to the fact that they screwed the pooch on this AFM nonsense. What is worse, when you see or hear the some of their engineers talk on radio or podcast car programs, they are just as proud about this AFM stuff as a new father holding his newly born son. They probably own a different brand of vehicle.

[Shed376]

I have not deleted the AFM. I got the truck back today. They only replaced the #1 piston and rings, and said that valve cover on one side needed replacing? Said the cylinder was good and that this should solve the problem. Uh huh.

 

I'm concerned with the "fixes" I've read about. Everything from turning off AFM to catch cans to adding tranny fluid to oil?!?!?! (I've heard of the tranny fluid fix before for diesel). Seems every fix either works a little or has a side effect to it.

 

I'm growing concerned the more reading I do. I'm frustrated that I bust my ass to buy a nice truck that I can take care of and keep for a long time only to have chevy drop the ball on their end. Right now I'm wishing I'd just kept my big dog (01' 2500 dura max).

 

Is there any word from Chevy talking about this problem?

[Cowpie]

I can guarantee you that the transmission fluid in oil thing you mentioned definitely has some side effect. With modern engines, that is non a very good methodology. ATF is one of the worse things you can do to an engine, unless you are just experimenting on an older engine on it's last legs. i know this was what some of us did "back in the day", but I wouldn't consider putting ATF in a modern engine.

 

The AFM shut off, not really sure what any side effect would be. And it seems to work fairly well for a lot of folks. I have never heard anyone regret they did it. The catch can the same thing. You check out threads where this is being discussed, and almost everyone who has done that wonders why they didn't think of it sooner.

 

And you have to keep in mind, these things are best viewed as preventative measures to help prevent the consumption problem in the first place. They are not always going to cure a problem that has already started. They sure won't contribute to the problem either. But side effects of doing them? I haven't heard of any and I did the AFM delete the day after I bought my 2013 new and the PCV catch can at about 1000 miles on the engine. Still haven't seen any side effect from doing it, and the engine is using about 1/2 pint of oil in 6000 miles.

[Shed376]

The ATF idea I had seen in diesel trucks, mostly chevy, to combat lifter issues and fuel pump lubrication due to ULSD fuel. I saw where a guy figured that something similar was going on in his 5.3L. My biggest issue with the AFL delete would be fuel mileage? What have you seen with yours? Can u explain the catch can thing? I'm definately not a mechanic but I know my way around an engine for minor stuff.

 

Coming from the diesel world where everything was modified and cost $ to get it where you wanted it, I was looking forward to a truck I bought stock, left it stock and just drove it the way it was. I figured a gasser was less hassle. Like I said I'm starting to miss my big truck with its 475HP and 20mpg. But it did cost me lots of $ to get it there...

 

Cowpie, thanks for the opinions and all the info.

[Cowpie]

Myself, and many others have experienced no negative change in mpg by deleting the AFM function on the 5.3L. Some, though not me, claim they are getting better mpg. Who knows. But the general consensus is that there is no negative effect.

 

The PCV catch can thing is somewhat bizarre to many folks. The crankcase gasses that go from the driver's side valve cover to the intake, also drag along some oil, condensation, etc. Not a lot, but enough that over time it can be a real issue on valves and the intake manifold. This quite possibly, could also be contributing to the problems with oil coking on rings and other things that are leading to big oil consumption issues with these engines. The jury is still out, but I decided to do a pre-emptive strike and address it. Regardless of baffles and OEM fixes, some oil is agitated enough internal to the engine that it can be in misted form and get caught up with the PCV gasses leaving the valve cover. You can read a rather lengthy discussion, complete with pics here.......

 

http://www.silveradosierra.com/vortec-5-3l-v8/pcv-catch-can-t92241.html

 

A PCV catch can is a simple, relatively inexpensive mod that keeps the oil and crud out of the intake and the combustion chamber. It is known, that oil will reduce the octane of the fuel in the combustion process, and can cause the ECM to revert to extreme low octane settings to prevent knock. That decreases mpg and performance. There are many good varieties of catch cans.

 

UPDATE:

 

The top choices are Saiku Michi, RevExtreme, Moroso, and Conceptual Polymer, but not necessarily in that order. I use the Conceptual Polymer one.

 

http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/High%20Efficiency%20Air.htm

 

And you can find a good read about this whole thing here....

 

http://www.conceptualpolymer.com/PCV%20Line%20Oil%20Removal%20102.pdf