sfergson727

I guess on the plus side, you'll never have to worry about an oil change again with that engine. Sounds like it's flushing enough through on its own.

tech2

there is no valve, it uses an orfice

magician

??
Well it certainly looks like an older style PCV. I will take some photos when I replace mine and see exactly what differences are.

Lodestar

Hello all. Unfortunately, my 2007 Suburban LT 4x4 5.3L AFM engine can be added to the oil gulping list as well. It never burned oil (1/4 qt or so every oil change) until it started puffing smoke at 102,000 miles. Go figure.
I turn wrenches for a living and I can say with certainty this vehicle was well maintained.

ROCKER COVERS:
Out of curiosity and hopefulness, I ordered the Dorman Rocker Cover, P/N 264-965. Most aftermarket websites list this cover as a direct replacement for the original and updated GM rocker cover P/N's.

The Dorman part I received does NOT have the updated design of the PCV vent/drain system inside the cover so, don't go out and buy the Dorman part to save money thinking it will resolve the PCV oil inhalation concern....it won't.

I ordered my GM parts from Cheapestgmparts.com

The first two pics show the Dorman valve cover. The last two pics show the UPDATED GM valve cover.

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</td> <td style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; VERTICAL-ALIGN: top; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; TEXT-ALIGN: left; PADDING-TOP: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; MARGIN: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px"> (S)DEFLECTOR
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jackstraw

Do you think that will fix it? I think your headed down the same road I am unfortunatley.

Lodestar

I am not entirely sure it will cure the consumption problem of course, but based on the the symptoms and relying solely on the facts at hand for my particular vehicle, there is a very good chance it will resolve most if not all of the issue.

I have documented my driving conditions to identify any sort of pattern as to when the smoke is visible at start-up and how much oil is consumed over the course of driving. Simply put, the only time my burb billows smoke is after driving at highway speeds for a few miles or more. During slow/city driving and long periods of idling, there has been no visible smoke during start-ups and consumption appears to be minimal. I counted only a couple of occasions when I could see some smoke on start-up after city driving which could be from oil pooled up in the intake or an occasionally sticky scraper ring. I have noticed whenever the vehicle is under heavy load, decelerating downhill or coasting (active AFM mode) under high speeds, the smoking is consistently visible during subsequent start-up.

I have ruled out valve stem seals as the primary cause. The symptoms have not been consistent with that type of failure.

Sticky piston rings due to oil spray from the AFM relief valve is still a definite possibility. I will be soaking the piston tops with GM Top Cylinder Cleaner as well to help free up any sticky oil scraper rings.

Also, I will know more about the valve cover issue when I remove and inspect it, and whether or not that is a major concern for letting oil get drawn in through the PCV system and pooling up in the intake system.

The long and short of it......it is much cheaper to take this route first before considering a rebuild.

jackstraw

Keep me posted on your results, your blue smoke symptoms are identical to mine. I'll be taking it back upstate this morning and will see how much oil she uses. Soaking the cylinders does not seem to have helped.

Lodestar

Installed the new design valve cover and the oil deflector shield in the oil pan, with a fresh oil change. No excessive wear on the cam lobes or cylinder walls that I was able to visually inspect while oil pan was off. No metal in the pan - just a small bit of sludge at the rear of the pan that got cleaned out.

Drove the Suburban 750 miles to Orlando.
Oil level was at the full mark when I embarked on the trip and was still at the full mark when I arrived at the Orlando destination. I watched closely for any blue smoke on each start up during refueling or rest stops....NONE whatsoever. Engine is running much smoother than before which I can only assume is lack of plug fouling.

I did NOT soak the pistons with the GM Upper Cylinder Cleaner. I wanted to take note on how the engine responded with only the parts installed.

SO FAR SO GOOD....keeping notes for the trip back after Christmas.

in2pro

Lodestar Welcome to the forum and thanks for the updates as well as the picture of the valve cover you received, pictures can really help in understanding what is involved....
Any pointers you have on the deflector you installed in the oil pan?

94burbin

I assume this new valve cover with a oil deflector shield is not a recall item???

I bought my 07 Suburban used and it is running pretty dam good at a current 110k. Maybe uses 1 or less quarts of oil before needing an oil change. No smoke whatsoever.

Is there a way to find out what work has been done to a vehicle by a Chevy/GM dealer without buying a carfax report? Curious to see if any work has been done to my engine.