"Check Engine Oil Level" Light

[dukbludvl]

Here's the situation. My 2000 Yukon has 87,000 miles on it. I change the oil roughly every 3,000-3,500 miles since new. Tonight while driving the "Check Engine Oil Level" light came on for the first time ever. I've NEVER had a problem with oil leakage at all, and in the past, I haven't noticed any significant oil burning at all -- it drains 5.5-6 quarts on every change.

 

So, I pulled into a gas station and checked the dipstick. It was fully coated on the first swipe, but when I stuck it in again and pulled it back out, there was only enough oil to go about a centimeter up on the bottom of the dipstick. The oil was fairly clear -- almost looked new. And it's actually been about 3,700 miles since the last change.

 

HOW MUCH OIL DO YOU THINK IT WAS DOWN IN ORDER TO TRIGGER THE WARNING LIGHT?

 

ANY IDEAS AS TO WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS SINCE I HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS IN THE PAST?

 

The only thing I can think of is that I drove it hard about 300 miles up to DC on Friday and hard (about 80-90 mpg) another 4.5 hours and 300 miles back today.

 

I added 1 qt. of oil tonight and I'll check it in the morning. I'm going to change the oil this week and I'll be able to see how much I actually lost. Please help!

[Shaners]

I don't know about the 5.3L, but on the 6.0L the light comes on when it's down about 2 quarts.

[Ape0r]

It will read low if you just pull over and check it without letting it sit =). Drive it to work or wherever and let it sit for three or four minutes and have a look a again, it could be a malfuncitoning sensor as easily as an oil leak. Oh, and calm down, you'll live longer

[dukbludvl]

Thanks for the replies, guys. Don't worry. I'm calm.

 

After I added a quart the light went off. I checked it this morning and I think it's still down about a quart, but there's oil showing about 2 inches or so up the dipstick. So, i'm guessing it was down about 2 quarts altogether. I was just surprised to have a problem with the oil at this point. I had an analysis done on the oil at the last change and it came back perfect -- no traces of anything bad... they said it was like a fairly new engine.

 

I also checked the PCV valve this morning (I had changed that within the last 10K miles probably) and the suction is working fine and the ball rattles inside it, but there was a drop of oil on the outside of it. Do you think I should change the PCV valve again? Maybe switch to the fixed orifice? Is it bad if there's oil on the PCV valve?

 

Also, would you all recommend switching from 5W-30 to 10W-30? I live in NC where it never get really cold.

 

Thanks again for the help guys!

[dewfpo]

High RPM driving like you were doing will suck the oil. 10W-30 will help some, but not as much as will slowing down.

 

DEWFPO

[dukbludvl]

Yeah, I figured it might be due in large part to the high speeds. I just wanted to see if you all thougth there might be a larger problem and what that might be... thanks!

 

I'll definitely slow down.

[ENIGMA206]

Just out of curiousity, did you replace your PCV valve with a direct GM replacement or one of the cheapies from Megalow Mart? The reason I ask is my nephew recently change the PCV valve in his truck with one from Autozone. His truck mysteriously started leaving oil droplets in my driveway when he came to visit. He replaced the PCV valve with an OEM valve. No more oil leaks at all. Sometimes those aftermarket valves don't work too good. Just a thought.

[dukbludvl]

Yeah, it was from Advance Auto Parts or AutoZone, don't remember which. I' think I'll just go ahead and order an OEM one from GM just to be safe. Thanks for the tip!

[redvett]

You might want to get the latest PCV valve its a fixed orfice and will help stop sucking oil from the crankcase. 04 up are fixed orfice.

[mmmikkke]

I had a sudden oil consumption problem at about 90,000 miles on my '95 5.7L K2500. Turned out to be the intake manifold gasket somehow.

 

From 90,000 to 95,000 miles, it used about 1 qt every thousand miles. (Before then it used about 1 quart every 5,000 miles.)

 

Then, at about 95,000 miles, I developed a coolant leak at the back of the intake manifold, so I had the gasket replaced.

 

That fixed the oil consumption problem too. From 95,000 miles up until I sold the truck earlier this year with 145,000 miles, it was back to using 1 quart every 5,000 miles.

 

I know it's a different engine, but it just might be the same kind of thing happening.

[dukbludvl]

OK. Thanks Mike. I'm going to change the oil tomorrow and keep an eye on it -- check it every day for a while just to make sure it's not consuming a bunch of oil.