Oil Pullover repair tracking

[slufkin]

My son is looking at a used '09 chevy with the 5.3. I owned an '11 and had the oil pullover issue (so I traded for a '15) so I am leery of that engine. Is there a way to check the VIN# and see if the repairs have been made or if that engine was not involved with that whole mess?? He likes the truck and everything looks good, but this one issue is holding me back.. Anyone have any insight on this??

[MaverickZ71]

All '09 GM 5.3L Silverado and Sierra engines had AFM (active fuel management--switches from V8 to V4 mode; most eat oil).  After dragging their feet for as long as possible to avoid warranty claims, GM finally did a series of TSB's (Technical Service Bulletins) on the matter.  You need a service history for the truck your son is looking at to see if the driver's side valve cover was replaced (replacement part has a revised PCV orifice) and to see if the oil deflector was installed in the oilpan.  But the work would have to be performed at a GM dealer for it to show up in their vehicle service log.  And the long-term effects of those 'fixes' are questionable at best.  My truck had them and it doesn't eat as much oil, but it still eats too much. 

 

Some dealer service managers will smile and print out a vehicle service log for you.  Others act like you need to hand them a $25,000 check made out personally to them before they'd even think about it.  I don't think any of that info would show up in a Carfax.  Good luck.  

 

 

[swathdiver]

My 2009 does not lose oil, as long as my foot keeps the rpms below 3,500.  Start driving it like I stole it, and yeah, it loses oil.