2007 excessive oil comsumption
12-06-2009, 08:41 PM
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Staging Lane
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2007 excessive oil comsumption
I know that the oil is coming from the pcv but it is not replaceable unless the whole valve cover is replaced. Where can I get the valve cover? I've done some searching on the internet and I am not sure if the pcv will be the fix or not. Anyone else on here have this problem? If so, what is the fix? Uses aleast 2 quarts between oil changes.
12-07-2009, 11:22 PM
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You have three options.
1.)Ditch the PCV valve.
2.)Run a catch can in series with the PCV valve.
3.)LS6 valve cover.
I never really had trouble with oil consumption but my Dad did on his 2001 (5.3). I installed a catch can on his truck and mine. He's no longer burning the oil and it's only a small inconvenience to drain the oil.
You could bring it back to the dealer but I'm sure they will consider that "normal".
1.)Ditch the PCV valve.
2.)Run a catch can in series with the PCV valve.
3.)LS6 valve cover.
I never really had trouble with oil consumption but my Dad did on his 2001 (5.3). I installed a catch can on his truck and mine. He's no longer burning the oil and it's only a small inconvenience to drain the oil.
You could bring it back to the dealer but I'm sure they will consider that "normal".
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02-28-2010, 10:12 PM
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There is a HUGE bulletin pertaining to oil consumption in the 07+ trucks. Especially a big issue with the vin code 3 5.3 I think. I'll double check and post up the bulletin in a few.
EDIT - its the LC9 and LH6. I know I've done one and others have done a few in the shop - replacing rings and pistons that is.
EDIT - its the LC9 and LH6. I know I've done one and others have done a few in the shop - replacing rings and pistons that is.
02-28-2010, 10:14 PM
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#PIP4574G: Excessive Oil Consumption And/Or Blue Exhaust Smoke - Under Investigation - (Jan 29, 2010)
Subject: Excessive Oil Consumption and/or Blue Exhaust Smoke - Under Investigation
Models: 2007 Buick Rainier
2007 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Trail Blazer
2007 GMC Envoy, Sierra, Yukon
2007 Saab 97x
with 5.3L Engine (Only RPOs LC9 or LH6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This PI was superseded to update engine RPOs. Please discard PIP4574F.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:
Some customers may complain that their vehicle has been using approximately 1 quart of oil every 500-1,000 miles. In most cases, the customer will advise that this did not start until the engine accumulated approximately 30,000 miles or more. In some cases, the customer may note that this is more apparent when driving at highway speed. In rare instances, a SES light and engine misfire may be encountered with a P0300 DTC.
Upon inspection, an oil fouled spark plug(s) may be noted. In most cases, static compression and cylinder leakage testing will appear normal. Excessive oil may or may not be found in the intake manifold.
In most cases, this is the result of stuck oil control rings. It appears that the stuck piston rings may be the result of excessive oil on the cylinder walls, which eventually leads to stuck oil control rings. The cause of this is still under investigation. In the meantime, this PI has been updated with some new recommendations that may help while this is being investigated.
Recommendation/Instructions:
If this concern is encountered, follow the steps below:
•Visually inspect the entire engine and the underside of the vehicle for any evidence of oil leaks and repair them as necessary.
•Inspect the fresh air hose/pipe that is attached to the RF (passenger side) valve cover and all related connections for restrictions, such as plastic casting flash or a pinched hose, and repair as necessary. A restriction in this area may cause excessive crankcase vacuum and oil consumption through the PCV vacuum tube.
•If the truck had an engine misfire and a spark plug that is obviously oil fouled, skip to step 4. If not, perform an oil consumption test as outlined in the latest version of oil consumption of 01-06-01-011 to verify the concern before proceeding to step 4. Allow the vehicle to sit on a level surface with the engine off for at least 10 minutes to allow the entire engine to drain back to the oil pan before checking the engine oil level and adding oil. Match the oil consumption test results to one of the outcomes below to determine further direction:
• If oil consumption is Less than 1 quart of oil every 2,000 miles and no low oil light has been experienced, no repairs should be performed as this should be considered acceptable oil consumption as outlined in the latest version of 01-06-01-011.
• If oil consumption is Less than 1 quart of oil every 2,000 miles but the customer has experienced a low oil light, refer to the latest version of PIP3959 for a potential low oil light sensor concern.
• If the dealership verifies that oil consumption is More than 1 quart every 2,000 miles, perform the steps below as necessary:
•Determine if the engine has been ingesting oil through the PCV system by removing the intake manifold and measuring how much oil can be poured out of the throttle body opening with the throttle body removed. It is normal to get a couple of teaspoons of oil out of the intake. If the engine has been ingesting oil through the PCV system, several ounces of oil will be measured, many times as much as a 1/4-1/2 quart. If the engine has NOT been ingesting oil through the PCV system, go to step 5. If the engine HAS been ingesting oil through the PCV system, go to step 6 to inspect the PCV baffle.
•If the engine has NOT been ingesting oil through the PCV system, the oil consumption is most likely the result of stuck oil control rings. The root cause of the stuck oil control rings is still under investigation. Until a permanent repair procedure is available, select one of the following options (5a or 5b) on a case by case basis. If necessary, review the following options with your FOM (Fixed Operations Manager - GM Rep.) if their feedback is needed for customer satisfaction, etc.:
• 5a. If the customer has not experienced a SES light and engine misfire due to an oil fouled spark plug, explain that the cause of this oil consumption concern is under investigation. As soon as a permanent repair procedure is developed, this PI will be updated accordingly. At this time, there is not an ETA for this update. If the customer has experienced a SES light and engine misfire due to an oil fouled spark plug, this option should not be used.
• 5b. If you decide to pursue repairs, inspect for stuck oil control rings. If stuck oil control rings are found, replace all 8 pistons and all 8 piston ring sets. Due to the great variation between equipment, machine shops, and technicians performing these repairs, we DO NOT recommend honing or deglazing the cylinder walls though. This is just because it is generally unnecessary and can induce unnecessary cylinder wall and/or piston ring damage if it is done incorrectly or not cleaned thoroughly. The cylinder walls just need to be cleaned thoroughly with brake cleaner before the new piston and ring sets are installed. As mentioned above, the root cause of the stuck rings is still under investigation so this may not be a permanent repair.
•If the engine HAS been ingesting oil through the PCV system, inspect the PCV baffle as outlined below in step 6:
• 6a. Remove the LH (driver's side) valve cover and inspect the PCV baffle drain holes shown below to see if they are plugged with hardened oil deposits. If they are plugged, replace the valve cover, ensure that the customer is changing their oil according to the maintenance schedule in their owner's manual, and re-evaluate the concern. Generally, this would not be a concern until several thousand miles have accumulated.
• 6b. With the LH (driver's side) valve cover removed, inspect the PCV baffle to ensure that it is properly sealed to the valve cover by flipping it over and adding a little oil to the corner of the valve cover as shown below. The oil should stay in place as shown on the 2 outer valve covers below. If the oil drains into the PCV baffle as pointed out on the middle valve cover below, replace the valve cover. Generally, if this is the cause of the concern, it would have been present early in the life of the vehicle or shortly after valve cover replacement.
•If the engine HAS been ingesting oil through the PCV system but the valve cover passed the tests outlined above in steps 6a and 6b, the engine may have an over-aggressive lifter that is causing the oil ingestion through the PCV system. Sometimes the lifter may be doing this intermittently so it is not always possible to isolate one by inspecting the lifter flow with the driver's valve cover removed. Additionally, the oil control rings may be stuck and contributing to the overall oil consumption concern as well. As a result, select one of the following repair options (7a or 7b) on a case by case basis. If necessary, review the following repair options with your FOM (Fixed Operations Manager - GM Rep.) to get their feedback for customer satisfaction, etc.:
• 7a. Replace all of the lifters due to the oil in the intake and re-evaluate the oil consumption concern. If the vehicle returns with excessive oil consumption but is no longer ingesting oil through the PCV system, it most likely has stuck oil control rings and you would have to start at step 5 again.
• 7b. Replace all of the lifters due to the oil in the intake but also remove all 8 pistons to inspect for stuck oil control rings since the heads are going to be off anyhow. There is a good chance the engine could also have stuck oil control rings that are contributing to the oil consumption as well. If stuck oil control rings are found, also replace all 8 pistons and all 8 piston ring sets at the same time as the lifters. Due to the great variation between equipment, machine shops, and technicians performing these repairs, we DO NOT recommend honing or deglazing the cylinder walls though. This is just because it is generally unnecessary and can induce unnecessary cylinder wall and/or piston ring damage if it is done incorrectly or not cleaned thoroughly. The cylinder walls just need to be cleaned thoroughly with brake cleaner before the new piston and ring sets are installed. As mentioned above, the root cause of the stuck rings is still under investigation so this may not be a permanent repair.
Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.
Subject: Excessive Oil Consumption and/or Blue Exhaust Smoke - Under Investigation
Models: 2007 Buick Rainier
2007 Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Trail Blazer
2007 GMC Envoy, Sierra, Yukon
2007 Saab 97x
with 5.3L Engine (Only RPOs LC9 or LH6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This PI was superseded to update engine RPOs. Please discard PIP4574F.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom(s) described in this PI.
Condition/Concern:
Some customers may complain that their vehicle has been using approximately 1 quart of oil every 500-1,000 miles. In most cases, the customer will advise that this did not start until the engine accumulated approximately 30,000 miles or more. In some cases, the customer may note that this is more apparent when driving at highway speed. In rare instances, a SES light and engine misfire may be encountered with a P0300 DTC.
Upon inspection, an oil fouled spark plug(s) may be noted. In most cases, static compression and cylinder leakage testing will appear normal. Excessive oil may or may not be found in the intake manifold.
In most cases, this is the result of stuck oil control rings. It appears that the stuck piston rings may be the result of excessive oil on the cylinder walls, which eventually leads to stuck oil control rings. The cause of this is still under investigation. In the meantime, this PI has been updated with some new recommendations that may help while this is being investigated.
Recommendation/Instructions:
If this concern is encountered, follow the steps below:
•Visually inspect the entire engine and the underside of the vehicle for any evidence of oil leaks and repair them as necessary.
•Inspect the fresh air hose/pipe that is attached to the RF (passenger side) valve cover and all related connections for restrictions, such as plastic casting flash or a pinched hose, and repair as necessary. A restriction in this area may cause excessive crankcase vacuum and oil consumption through the PCV vacuum tube.
•If the truck had an engine misfire and a spark plug that is obviously oil fouled, skip to step 4. If not, perform an oil consumption test as outlined in the latest version of oil consumption of 01-06-01-011 to verify the concern before proceeding to step 4. Allow the vehicle to sit on a level surface with the engine off for at least 10 minutes to allow the entire engine to drain back to the oil pan before checking the engine oil level and adding oil. Match the oil consumption test results to one of the outcomes below to determine further direction:
• If oil consumption is Less than 1 quart of oil every 2,000 miles and no low oil light has been experienced, no repairs should be performed as this should be considered acceptable oil consumption as outlined in the latest version of 01-06-01-011.
• If oil consumption is Less than 1 quart of oil every 2,000 miles but the customer has experienced a low oil light, refer to the latest version of PIP3959 for a potential low oil light sensor concern.
• If the dealership verifies that oil consumption is More than 1 quart every 2,000 miles, perform the steps below as necessary:
•Determine if the engine has been ingesting oil through the PCV system by removing the intake manifold and measuring how much oil can be poured out of the throttle body opening with the throttle body removed. It is normal to get a couple of teaspoons of oil out of the intake. If the engine has been ingesting oil through the PCV system, several ounces of oil will be measured, many times as much as a 1/4-1/2 quart. If the engine has NOT been ingesting oil through the PCV system, go to step 5. If the engine HAS been ingesting oil through the PCV system, go to step 6 to inspect the PCV baffle.
•If the engine has NOT been ingesting oil through the PCV system, the oil consumption is most likely the result of stuck oil control rings. The root cause of the stuck oil control rings is still under investigation. Until a permanent repair procedure is available, select one of the following options (5a or 5b) on a case by case basis. If necessary, review the following options with your FOM (Fixed Operations Manager - GM Rep.) if their feedback is needed for customer satisfaction, etc.:
• 5a. If the customer has not experienced a SES light and engine misfire due to an oil fouled spark plug, explain that the cause of this oil consumption concern is under investigation. As soon as a permanent repair procedure is developed, this PI will be updated accordingly. At this time, there is not an ETA for this update. If the customer has experienced a SES light and engine misfire due to an oil fouled spark plug, this option should not be used.
• 5b. If you decide to pursue repairs, inspect for stuck oil control rings. If stuck oil control rings are found, replace all 8 pistons and all 8 piston ring sets. Due to the great variation between equipment, machine shops, and technicians performing these repairs, we DO NOT recommend honing or deglazing the cylinder walls though. This is just because it is generally unnecessary and can induce unnecessary cylinder wall and/or piston ring damage if it is done incorrectly or not cleaned thoroughly. The cylinder walls just need to be cleaned thoroughly with brake cleaner before the new piston and ring sets are installed. As mentioned above, the root cause of the stuck rings is still under investigation so this may not be a permanent repair.
•If the engine HAS been ingesting oil through the PCV system, inspect the PCV baffle as outlined below in step 6:
• 6a. Remove the LH (driver's side) valve cover and inspect the PCV baffle drain holes shown below to see if they are plugged with hardened oil deposits. If they are plugged, replace the valve cover, ensure that the customer is changing their oil according to the maintenance schedule in their owner's manual, and re-evaluate the concern. Generally, this would not be a concern until several thousand miles have accumulated.
• 6b. With the LH (driver's side) valve cover removed, inspect the PCV baffle to ensure that it is properly sealed to the valve cover by flipping it over and adding a little oil to the corner of the valve cover as shown below. The oil should stay in place as shown on the 2 outer valve covers below. If the oil drains into the PCV baffle as pointed out on the middle valve cover below, replace the valve cover. Generally, if this is the cause of the concern, it would have been present early in the life of the vehicle or shortly after valve cover replacement.
•If the engine HAS been ingesting oil through the PCV system but the valve cover passed the tests outlined above in steps 6a and 6b, the engine may have an over-aggressive lifter that is causing the oil ingestion through the PCV system. Sometimes the lifter may be doing this intermittently so it is not always possible to isolate one by inspecting the lifter flow with the driver's valve cover removed. Additionally, the oil control rings may be stuck and contributing to the overall oil consumption concern as well. As a result, select one of the following repair options (7a or 7b) on a case by case basis. If necessary, review the following repair options with your FOM (Fixed Operations Manager - GM Rep.) to get their feedback for customer satisfaction, etc.:
• 7a. Replace all of the lifters due to the oil in the intake and re-evaluate the oil consumption concern. If the vehicle returns with excessive oil consumption but is no longer ingesting oil through the PCV system, it most likely has stuck oil control rings and you would have to start at step 5 again.
• 7b. Replace all of the lifters due to the oil in the intake but also remove all 8 pistons to inspect for stuck oil control rings since the heads are going to be off anyhow. There is a good chance the engine could also have stuck oil control rings that are contributing to the oil consumption as well. If stuck oil control rings are found, also replace all 8 pistons and all 8 piston ring sets at the same time as the lifters. Due to the great variation between equipment, machine shops, and technicians performing these repairs, we DO NOT recommend honing or deglazing the cylinder walls though. This is just because it is generally unnecessary and can induce unnecessary cylinder wall and/or piston ring damage if it is done incorrectly or not cleaned thoroughly. The cylinder walls just need to be cleaned thoroughly with brake cleaner before the new piston and ring sets are installed. As mentioned above, the root cause of the stuck rings is still under investigation so this may not be a permanent repair.
Please follow this diagnostic or repair process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed.