Chris Bert

Oil life on my DIC tells me I have about 50% left. Just checked my oil and I'm at least a quart low. Is this normal for the ls7?

This is an '08 btw if it matters

Dirty Howie

How many miles?

I use about 1/8 of a quart 2K miles.


DH

Chris Bert

57,000 miles. Oil was changed just shy of 55,000 miles

MTPZ06

Provided it was filled properly, a full quart in ~2,000 miles seems quite excessive to me.

Les

I'll bet that usage is within factory specs, not that I put any faith in that. As low as their minimum warm idle oil pressure spec is, your engine could be about to grenade and they'd say all was good. I think i'm around 36K miles and mine has never used oil between changes.

Chris Bert

Good thoughts, guys. Guess i'll fill it to the top of the full line? Or just halfway?

smitty1966

Assuming no leaks?
Most likely your valve guides are worn and the valve seals can't do their job because the valve is moving around too much. LS7 are not known for having piston ring sealing issues, so the only other place the oil can go is through the valve seal.

Chris Bert

No leaks that I know of. I always check when I leave a parking spot to make sure. Let me guess, this means I'm about to drop a valve? lol
I laugh cause I don't want to cry

Too-Fast

Are you getting any blue smoke on first start-up? If so, that is a sure sign the valve oil seals are leaking and you probably have bad guides also.

Chris Bert

Haven't paid attention but I will now. I know it smoked a little when it was cooler but I thought the outside temp might have had something to do with it

Too-Fast

No, if it is blue smoke, at any time on first start and then diminishes after start-up, that is the guides.

Chris Bert

Ok. Didn't see any when I left work but I was just looking out my mirrors. Might get a buddy to start my car and see if it can see any blue smoke. Thanks for the info

50 4Ever

Mine burned 5 quarts on a 10,000 mile trip. I found out my guides were out of spec. New heads and valve guides and now it burns about 1/2 quart in about 7,000 miles. I kept relling the dealer about the oil consumption and was told it was within range.

Good luck

MTPZ06

Wow...

Gary '09 C6

at start-up:

blue smoke usually means burning oil;
white smoke usually means burning coolant;
black smoke usually means burning fuel with a too-rich mixture;
gray smoke = normal

Bill Dearborn

Have you been doing any high rpm wide open driving (not quarter mile stuff or stop light to stop light blasts). Long periods of high rpm wide open throttle operation will bring some oil consumption. LS engines can use a quart per day at a track event and that amount isn't considered unusual.

Bill

DaOtherOne

Chris Bert

No driving like that. I'm hoping it just wasn't filled all the way full. I ended up putting a quart and a half in it this evening

meanjoe

Sounds like you still have the stock valve guides. Mine were toast at 3500 miles. Better park the car and do some checking. It's still not too late.

spy2520

Dont rule out the pcv system. This is my 3rd LS car and all have had some oil consumption through the pcv. Especially with higher rpm activities.