So I have a 2001 C5. I believe the intake is from the LS6 but the block is not the LS6 block; not sure if that even matters but I suppose it's worth mentioning as I am beginning to feel my motor may not have gotten the new seals and rings.

TLDR: Consuming possibly close to a qt every 1000 or so miles. Problem? Cost for solution?

Details:

I bought the car with 77k on the clock with the oil change already done. I drove it for ~2000 or so miles before the "Low Oil Level" light came on. I ended up putting about a half a quart and I think I did another half before changing it out at 82k. -- Please note these are rough estimates I didn't log it to memory as it didn't seem to be much of deal.

Now I have been paying pretty close attention since changing the oil. Did a complete drain and filter change with Mobil 1 5w30. I put 6.5 qts as most say to do and the oil still seemed too low for whatever reason, read up extensively on the subject and found that 7qts is also okay and most do it on the track - considering the level was low and unreadable and that trips to the mountains were planned to be frequent we decided to add just under 7qts, probably 6.8-7.

In about 1000 miles or less my "Low Oil" alert popped up, I was parked on a slight (and I mean seriously slight) incline so I cleared the code continued to work and checked to see if it popped up again; it did. Checked the dipstick, and it looked pretty much like I will show in photos. After a lot of deliberation on what the hell the dip stick was telling me I added 1/4 of a qt, not much of a change drove it around and still got the alert - so I added another 1/4 of a qt (1/2 now). Oil light cleared and we're on the way. Fast forward to another 500-1000 miles same thing so I added another half a qt as it cleared it the first time and from what I read when it gives the light that's how much it's short.

Now I'm pretty sure I just had 1qt in it total since the change. Now at 3k on the oil change I am starting to be curious. Just ~400-500 miles ago I added half a quart. Light came on this morning parked on the same slight incline but I cleared it drove to work and it didn't pop up there or on the way back. Came home parked it flat, counted down from 11m pulled the dipstick and started checking the oil (this thing is impossible to read).

Now I haven't added anything so far I want to see what you guys think. It feels like I'm putting in a half a quart or more every 500-1000 miles.

Here is what my dip stick looks like, let me know what you guys think. Sorry for the really scattered info, I am going to log and start being more direct from here on to compile a better picture. Also thinking about just changing all the oil again as on most performance vehicles I like to keep it clean and change out between 3-5k.

This was two separate dips. The holes do not appear filled with fluid (like one would see with a bubble wand). I read this really well when I added the first half a quart but since it's been nearly impossible.

Important Note: The time before last I added oil ~1000 or less miles ago I had a slight twitch of the hand causing some oil to go down the cover and onto some metal pieces. Following that day and until now I will smell oil at stops. Now it reminds me of the oil smell my bike would give if I didn't move all the hoses etc out of the way when doing a change and it was just burning that residual oil that was spilled. I want to mention it because it does seem it has been a while and the smell is still there.







HELP!

Thank you!

 

The dipstick on these cars is mildly useless unless you do it right. They say you have to let the oil get all the way up to temp, then check the oil between 5-15 minutes of shutdown. I have found that letting it sit overnight shows the exact same level, but others may disagree. For me I have also found that when checking the oil while hot you have to put the dipstick in so that it catches halfway down the tube, then force it in the rest of the way to get a clean reading. That doesn't make much sense, but if it goes in easy, take it out and flip it 180 degrees and see if it catches. For me when I do it that way one side looks smeared and useless to read, and the other shows a good clean line.

 

I tried flipping it but will try again when I get home. No light this morning and I was parked on the same incline last night.

I turned it every way imaginable, even got excited when I forced it the last bit. Still streaky

 

Might try just turning it 90 degrees and see what happens. Like I said, mine is super finicky but if I get it perfect then it's actually readable.

 

If I check my oil level after I do a change, the reading I get after it has sat cold overnight, say, is exactly the same. When the engine is cold you know all the oil has drained back into the sump. But do it the same every time. Between changes, mine (at nearly 80k) does not use any perceptible oil. I only bother to check it every month or so.

Your symptoms would have me checking the venting system for clogged tubes, etc., and looking for leaks. That can guess the crankcase to pressurize. The giveaway BTW, if you are burning significant amounts of oil would be puffs of blue smoke on gear shifts, on going from overrun to acceleration or on revving after a significant period of idling. No smoke = not burning it.

 

Manual or Auto?

If manual, how are you driving it?

If I continually drive mine hard it'll use oil.

 

I have a base 2001 and same problem...found out they have a history of oil consumption...don't remember the details but it may have been the piston rings. Anyway, try using Mobil 1 high mileage oil.

 

I don't remember if it was a recall or a TSB on '01s for Excessive oil consumption.
Solution was tear down the engine to replace a specific ring on one piston.

Mechanic recommended I not perform the fix b/c tearing down the engine was (in his opinion) worse than monitoring/adding a bit of oil once in a while.

I never had mine done. IIRC, it didn't use much....about quart between oil changes (as dicated by the computer).

After 20k miles or so, consumption stopped, and haven't had an issue since.

Since OPs car was bought used, perhaps previous owner(s) never had the fix performed, opting to add oil as needed?

 

The '00 coupe that I had (6 speed) was using a quart every 1200 miles and the dealer ended up replacing the #2 ring I believe on all pistons under warranty. Dealer did a great job and the oil consumption issue was fixed. I really do not know what the cost of the repair was since it was under warranty.

 

High RPM ring flutter. Worse on the pre-2000 models, but still an issue after that. Keep the RPM down, and oil consumption goes back to normal, unless there is something else wrong.

Michael

 

When I first got my 01 it would need about 1/2 qt every 1000 or so miles and after about 3-4,000 miles of this it just quit using any, go figure, car has 51,000. I have only put about 6,000 miles on the car since I bought it 19 months ago. I am fixing to change the oil for the second time and am curious if the no oil use will continue after the change.