01 oil burners.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Just had the LS6 replaced under warranty on my '01 Z06 at 14,200 miles because of the oil consumption issues. I was using a qt every 100-500 miles depending on driving style. Just picked her up today and so I get to drive docile for the next 500-700 miles until I'm sure it is broken in properly.
Yes I was under the oil consumption test. Yes I took it in every time it got a qt or so low which took a lot of my time. It had eaten a camshaft during one afternoon of "spirited" driving by using 2.3 qts of oil in less than a tank of gas. That was replaced along with all the lifters under warranty. But GM did not want to fix the 'rings' at this time. Had not shown enough oil usage to warrant the work.
After using 8 qts in 2800 miles I took it in again for the PVC valley seal which is the next step in the procedures. Didn't make any difference. Car went through about 5 more qts before destroying the second cam shaft and spinning to rod bearings.
The techs determined that the engine had possible core shift because the cam bearings where all wearing in different places and the lifters did not sit squarely on the lobes any longer...
Yes I was under the oil consumption test. Yes I took it in every time it got a qt or so low which took a lot of my time. It had eaten a camshaft during one afternoon of "spirited" driving by using 2.3 qts of oil in less than a tank of gas. That was replaced along with all the lifters under warranty. But GM did not want to fix the 'rings' at this time. Had not shown enough oil usage to warrant the work.
After using 8 qts in 2800 miles I took it in again for the PVC valley seal which is the next step in the procedures. Didn't make any difference. Car went through about 5 more qts before destroying the second cam shaft and spinning to rod bearings.
The techs determined that the engine had possible core shift because the cam bearings where all wearing in different places and the lifters did not sit squarely on the lobes any longer...
Racer
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 312
Likes: 11
Cruise-In IV Veteran
I have 85K on the engine and only 1 quart every 7000 miles. I and doing oil testing and run down to 5% remaining and all is coming back 
. Not meaning to sidetrack the thread... I believe the dealers only get to charge back to GM, if allowed, 1 ea ring and associated removal and install items. If you drive it enough you will not have oil burning issues.
. Not meaning to sidetrack the thread... I believe the dealers only get to charge back to GM, if allowed, 1 ea ring and associated removal and install items. If you drive it enough you will not have oil burning issues.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 166
Likes: 58
From: Louisville KY
My 2001 uses 1qt. every 3000 miles. I gave up on the oil consumption test under warranty because it was a pain to get back there every 1000 miles. Mine is a daily driver and has 73,000 miles. I do drive it in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at times at higher RPMs and based upon what I have read I am sure that is why I have the consumption. I just keep a quart in the hatch in the storage bucket on the left. Works for me. The only thing that is a bit annoying is the piston slap sound at really high RPMs.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 392
Likes: 34
From: Spring Texas
I have an early 2001 that used a quart about every 1500 miles. It also had a noticable piston slap ( number one cylinder). At 6,000 miles I put up a stink. The dealership finally agreed to rebuild the engine. They must have known about this problem because they had a "fit" already available. They put in coated pistons and rings from a Z06. The noise and oil consumption was fixed!!! My car is now supercharged with heads, cam, etc amd it still doesn't use any oil. A rebuild is necessary but at least a lot of expensive parts are not required.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 499
Likes: 19
From: Oviedo Fl
Originally Posted by Goody
Just had the LS6 replaced under warranty on my '01 Z06 at 14,200 miles because of the oil consumption issues. I was using a qt every 100-500 miles depending on driving style. Just picked her up today and so I get to drive docile for the next 500-700 miles until I'm sure it is broken in properly.
Yes I was under the oil consumption test. Yes I took it in every time it got a qt or so low which took a lot of my time. It had eaten a camshaft during one afternoon of "spirited" driving by using 2.3 qts of oil in less than a tank of gas. That was replaced along with all the lifters under warranty. But GM did not want to fix the 'rings' at this time. Had not shown enough oil usage to warrant the work.
After using 8 qts in 2800 miles I took it in again for the PVC valley seal which is the next step in the procedures. Didn't make any difference. Car went through about 5 more qts before destroying the second cam shaft and spinning to rod bearings.
The techs determined that the engine had possible core shift because the cam bearings where all wearing in different places and the lifters did not sit squarely on the lobes any longer...
Yes I was under the oil consumption test. Yes I took it in every time it got a qt or so low which took a lot of my time. It had eaten a camshaft during one afternoon of "spirited" driving by using 2.3 qts of oil in less than a tank of gas. That was replaced along with all the lifters under warranty. But GM did not want to fix the 'rings' at this time. Had not shown enough oil usage to warrant the work.
After using 8 qts in 2800 miles I took it in again for the PVC valley seal which is the next step in the procedures. Didn't make any difference. Car went through about 5 more qts before destroying the second cam shaft and spinning to rod bearings.
The techs determined that the engine had possible core shift because the cam bearings where all wearing in different places and the lifters did not sit squarely on the lobes any longer...
Wow i guess mine isn't so bad.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 4
From: American Canyon Lethal Injection
Man-O-Man
My '97 uses no oil between the 3K mile oil chages. But I went on a 4700 mile round trip run and I'm down .5 qt. The car has 57K on it. I use 5W30 in winter and 10W30 in summer. For a first year production car, the '97s are solid..
My '97 uses no oil between the 3K mile oil chages. But I went on a 4700 mile round trip run and I'm down .5 qt. The car has 57K on it. I use 5W30 in winter and 10W30 in summer. For a first year production car, the '97s are solid..
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 3,630
Likes: 8
From: Virginia Beach Virginia
My '01 (with 12.5K miles on her) uses about a quart every 1,200 miles...and I'll just live with it since I put about 3.2K miles a year)...it's a bit of an inconvenience, but it could be a lot worse allowing the local dealership to rip apart the engine to put in new piston rings...
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No recall was issued, just a TSB. Mine had the oil consumption problem (was eating a quart of oil every 1200 miles) and my dealer fixed it under warranty. Did not have to go through much of a hassle since I had already documented the problem for them. If it is out of warranty, you'll probably have to eat the costs if you want it fixed.
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Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 17,541
Likes: 2
From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Our late-build (VIN 34xxx) 2001 Z06 used a quart every 1500-2000 miles, & we just lived with it. I have been told that running non-synthetic oil for a few thousand miles will help the rings to seat better, but never tried it.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Chesterfield Virginia
Corvette magazine had a write up on this problem, not sure what month but it was around april or may. They article stressed that, when you replace the rings, only replace the number one cylinder ring and not the rest. For some reason that ring is the only problem child.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Originally Posted by badblackc5
Was there a recall on these cars or is it something that was just fixed under warranty. Sold my 04 and picked up an 01 droptop with 4k on it. It was built late in the year so I thought that the problem might have been corrected on this car but I'm chugging down about a quart per thousand. 
The car was to nice to pass up . It is as new but I guess it was to good to be true. Its always somthing.
The car was to nice to pass up . It is as new but I guess it was to good to be true. Its always somthing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
Originally Posted by badblackc5
Was there a recall on these cars or is it something that was just fixed under warranty. Sold my 04 and picked up an 01 droptop with 4k on it. It was built late in the year so I thought that the problem might have been corrected on this car but I'm chugging down about a quart per thousand. The car was to nice to pass up . It is as new but I guess it was to good to be true. Its always somthing.
The car was to nice to pass up . It is as new but I guess it was to good to be true. Its always somthing.There was not a recall, but there is a bulletin, and your dealer *might* do the job N/C.
GM engineering determined there was an issue with some '01s that were driven in lower gears at RPM over 3000. This created an oil consumption issue.
The bulletin and parts kit required replacing a single piston ring on ...Cyl #1, I think...
Mine uses anywhere between 3 and 6 quarts between 100 and 10% "oil life remaining"
If I recall correctly, this was discussed at length on the forum in mid-late 2001 into early 2002 - might find something in the archives if they go back that far
AJ
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Plano Texas
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Originally Posted by GTC
Correct, no recall. Even to get it covered under warranty, people had to jump through hoops by showing the dealership the oil level, driving 1000 miles or so, and then taking it back to show them the lower oil level. If it is out of warranty, don't expect any sympathy from them. It is another GM cost cutting measure: don't do recalls when you know you have a problem.
Sorry to hear about it.
Sorry to hear about it.
Keep a stock of oil handy (as a note, the issue [1 per 1000] as you explain it doesn't seem to be much of an issue). JMO
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 11,522
Likes: 0
From: Sterling VA
I had to have my rings replaced, all of the oil/seal rings if I'm not mistaken. Fortunately for me, I got it done under warranty and got no hassle from my dealership. 
That stuff about the oil consumption being due to driving at higher rpm was a lot of crap. It was the rings. Mine was using 2qts/5000mi, and I seldom got it above 2500 rpm. Just GM trying to pass off their mistakes onto their customers. Kudos to my dealership, they did a great job, no thanks to GM.
That stuff about the oil consumption being due to driving at higher rpm was a lot of crap. It was the rings. Mine was using 2qts/5000mi, and I seldom got it above 2500 rpm. Just GM trying to pass off their mistakes onto their customers. Kudos to my dealership, they did a great job, no thanks to GM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 499
Likes: 19
From: Oviedo Fl
Originally Posted by bierbelly
I had to have my rings replaced, all of the oil/seal rings if I'm not mistaken. Fortunately for me, I got it done under warranty and got no hassle from my dealership.
That stuff about the oil consumption being due to driving at higher rpm was a lot of crap. It was the rings. Mine was using 2qts/5000mi, and I seldom got it above 2500 rpm. Just GM trying to pass off their mistakes onto their customers. Kudos to my dealership, they did a great job, no thanks to GM.
That stuff about the oil consumption being due to driving at higher rpm was a lot of crap. It was the rings. Mine was using 2qts/5000mi, and I seldom got it above 2500 rpm. Just GM trying to pass off their mistakes onto their customers. Kudos to my dealership, they did a great job, no thanks to GM.
I think your right because I haven't even hammered on this car yet. I have just been driving normal so far and still sucked down a Qt.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
You have to be willing to go the distance to get this issue fixed. I even provided them the TSB number so there wouldn't be any confusion as to the validity of the problem.
I'm happy now and enjoying my semi-new car.
I'm happy now and enjoying my semi-new car.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 20,933
Likes: 905
From: salem OR
Originally Posted by Goody
Just had the LS6 replaced under warranty on my '01 Z06 at 14,200 miles because of the oil consumption issues. I was using a qt every 100-500 miles depending on driving style. Just picked her up today and so I get to drive docile for the next 500-700 miles until I'm sure it is broken in properly.
Yes I was under the oil consumption test. Yes I took it in every time it got a qt or so low which took a lot of my time. It had eaten a camshaft during one afternoon of "spirited" driving by using 2.3 qts of oil in less than a tank of gas. That was replaced along with all the lifters under warranty. But GM did not want to fix the 'rings' at this time. Had not shown enough oil usage to warrant the work.
After using 8 qts in 2800 miles I took it in again for the PVC valley seal which is the next step in the procedures. Didn't make any difference. Car went through about 5 more qts before destroying the second cam shaft and spinning to rod bearings.
The techs determined that the engine had possible core shift because the cam bearings where all wearing in different places and the lifters did not sit squarely on the lobes any longer...
Yes I was under the oil consumption test. Yes I took it in every time it got a qt or so low which took a lot of my time. It had eaten a camshaft during one afternoon of "spirited" driving by using 2.3 qts of oil in less than a tank of gas. That was replaced along with all the lifters under warranty. But GM did not want to fix the 'rings' at this time. Had not shown enough oil usage to warrant the work.
After using 8 qts in 2800 miles I took it in again for the PVC valley seal which is the next step in the procedures. Didn't make any difference. Car went through about 5 more qts before destroying the second cam shaft and spinning to rod bearings.
The techs determined that the engine had possible core shift because the cam bearings where all wearing in different places and the lifters did not sit squarely on the lobes any longer...
