Excessive Oil Consumption 2010 Silverado
December 25th, 2011, 11:36 AM
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Excessive Oil Consumption 2010 Silverado
I was pretty shocked today to find that my oil level was almost below the tip of the dip stick. At least 1.5 qts low. My 2010 Silverado 4x4 has 19,xxx miles on it and there was about 4,300 miles since the last oil change. It has never used oil like this before.
Have I suddenly developed a problem or is this oil usage considered "normal"?? I've driven Chevy trucks all my life and this is the first time I've ever had this happen.
BTW, there are no leaks. I checked while changing the oil a few minutes ago.
Have I suddenly developed a problem or is this oil usage considered "normal"?? I've driven Chevy trucks all my life and this is the first time I've ever had this happen.
BTW, there are no leaks. I checked while changing the oil a few minutes ago.
December 25th, 2011, 11:58 AM
#2
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That sounds a bit excessive to me; but I guess everyone has a different concept of what "too much oil consumption" is supposed to be.
I have a 2004 Silverado with a 5.3L V8. I have just over 97,000 miles on it right now. It uses just under a quart of oil between changes, which I perform every 3,000 to 3,500 miles. It seems as though most every vehicle I have ever owned burns off half a quart to a full quart every 3,000 miles or so.
There are some GM techs who sometimes frequent this board, so one of them might be able to provide some insight.
Maybe you did some heavy towing with your truck or spent a lot of time idling; and perhaps that made a difference.
** MERRY CHRISTMAS!! **
December 25th, 2011, 2:31 PM
#3
was it put to the proper level at the last oil change? If your not sure; do a oil change now (it needs it at 4300miles) and make sure its level with the full mark. have the dealer do this so they can monitor the level and its documented for future warranty.
forget the oil life monitor and do your changes every 3000miles; if you plan to keep this truck after warranty. OLM are ment to sell people on no maintenace vehicles not long engine life.
I've seem oil from vehicles showing 5% oil life; its black and dirty.
forget the oil life monitor and do your changes every 3000miles; if you plan to keep this truck after warranty. OLM are ment to sell people on no maintenace vehicles not long engine life.
I've seem oil from vehicles showing 5% oil life; its black and dirty.
December 25th, 2011, 4:34 PM
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The oil level was correct at the last change. I did the oil change. Also I don't do any towing.
On all my old trucks I changed oil every 3000 miles. Looks like I am going to have to go back to that routine again.
As for the dealer, I don't trust them. The one and only oil change I let them do resulted in a loose oil filter. The oil spot on my driveway was the first clue.
On all my old trucks I changed oil every 3000 miles. Looks like I am going to have to go back to that routine again.
As for the dealer, I don't trust them. The one and only oil change I let them do resulted in a loose oil filter. The oil spot on my driveway was the first clue.
December 26th, 2011, 9:50 AM
#5
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Are you using regular or Synthetic? If your just using regular oil then it doesnt seem too extreme, regular oil breaks down and burns off alot quicker than Synthetic. Besides I wouldnt run conventional oil that long between changes anyway. Personally Ive specifically used Mobil 1 full synthetic for the last 200k miles in my last 3 vehicles changed every 8000 miles and every change the oil is still like new and hasnt lost a drop. IMO if your not already using synthetic, I recommend changing over and seeing if you lose any... I swear by the stuff
December 26th, 2011, 1:21 PM
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I use Valvolene 5w-30. Never thought about synthetic but may give it a try. I always thought the cost was more than the benefit. But I know others swear by the stuff.
December 26th, 2011, 5:12 PM
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<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w
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The average oil usage varies based on driving conditions. The vehicle has a computer system that indicates when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change is indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, the system must be reset every time the oil is changed. If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be changed at 3,000 miles since the last oil change. 5W-30 is the recommended oil for this vehicle.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.
Louis
GM Customer Service
ontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> JohnnyinKy,The average oil usage varies based on driving conditions. The vehicle has a computer system that indicates when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change is indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, the system must be reset every time the oil is changed. If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be changed at 3,000 miles since the last oil change. 5W-30 is the recommended oil for this vehicle.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.
Louis
GM Customer Service
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December 26th, 2011, 7:30 PM
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<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <wontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> JohnnyinKy,
The average oil usage varies based on driving conditions. The vehicle has a computer system that indicates when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change is indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, the system must be reset every time the oil is changed. If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be changed at 3,000 miles since the last oil change. 5W-30 is the recommended oil for this vehicle.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.
Louis
GM Customer Service
ontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> JohnnyinKy,The average oil usage varies based on driving conditions. The vehicle has a computer system that indicates when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change is indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, the system must be reset every time the oil is changed. If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be changed at 3,000 miles since the last oil change. 5W-30 is the recommended oil for this vehicle.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.
Louis
GM Customer Service
December 26th, 2011, 9:23 PM
#9
the olm system doesn't account for particulate build up in the oil for determining oil life. So if you have dirty oil; it can't tell...kinda big flaw.
I don't see how switching to synthetic oil will stop an existing oil consumption problem.
1.5 quarts seems high for a new engine but I don't know what is considered excessive. Some manufacuturer's have methods of determining what is excessive but i don't know for this case.
I've had 2 high mileage cars that use that amount in 3000miles. They never blew blue smoke out the exhaust, showed excessive blow-by gases through the pcv system, never had spark plug deposits or cat problems and both passed 5 gas emission testing.
I don't see how switching to synthetic oil will stop an existing oil consumption problem.
1.5 quarts seems high for a new engine but I don't know what is considered excessive. Some manufacuturer's have methods of determining what is excessive but i don't know for this case.
I've had 2 high mileage cars that use that amount in 3000miles. They never blew blue smoke out the exhaust, showed excessive blow-by gases through the pcv system, never had spark plug deposits or cat problems and both passed 5 gas emission testing.
Last edited by tech2; December 26th, 2011 at 9:25 PM.
December 27th, 2011, 6:31 AM
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The average oil usage varies based on driving conditions. The vehicle has a computer system that indicates when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change is indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, the system must be reset every time the oil is changed. If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be changed at 3,000 miles since the last oil change. 5W-30 is the recommended oil for this vehicle.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.
Louis
GM Customer Service
ontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> JohnnyinKy,The average oil usage varies based on driving conditions. The vehicle has a computer system that indicates when to change the engine oil and filter. This is based on engine revolutions and engine temperature, not on mileage. Based on driving conditions, the mileage at which an oil change is indicated can vary considerably. For the oil life system to work properly, the system must be reset every time the oil is changed. If the system is ever reset accidentally, the oil must be changed at 3,000 miles since the last oil change. 5W-30 is the recommended oil for this vehicle.
If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me.
Louis
GM Customer Service
Thank you for your reply. But what you stated is pretty much in the owners manual which I have read.
I reset the oil life system each time I change the oil. The oil life system showed 52% when I discovered the low oil on the dip stick. So that system really doesn't help much.
Now that I am aware that I "might" have a problem. I will monitor the oil level much more closely. I am still under warranty so hopefully Chevrolet will resolve the issue if it continues. I may have to find another dealer however as I have no confidence in the dealer's service department where I bought my truck.