Oil consumption ??
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Insane Diego Kalifonya Baby
Oil consumption ??
Is some oil use normal? I have a 2004 coupe 16000 miles. At a little under 8000 miles since last oil change she showed just a touch over 1/2 quart low. The 8000 miles included 2-3 hard mountain runs of 200-300 mile. When I drive her I do drive her with lots of WOT.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
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Originally Posted by VLVETTE
Is some oil use normal? I have a 2004 coupe 16000 miles. At a little under 8000 miles since last oil change she showed just a touch over 1/2 quart low. The 8000 miles included 2-3 hard mountain runs of 200-300 mile. When I drive her I do drive her with lots of WOT.
Either way, oil consumption is very very common in the LS1/LS6 world. Keep and eye on your oil level and keep an extra qt or two in the car. You'll be fine.
You can do certain modifications to decrease oil consumption or just learn to deal with it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
Likes: 1
From: Insane Diego Kalifonya Baby
Originally Posted by 00'Vette
I'm gathering from your post that you haven't changed your oil for 8000 miles? Is that true?
Either way, oil consumption is very very common in the LS1/LS6 world. Keep and eye on your oil level and keep an extra qt or two in the car. You'll be fine.
You can do certain modifications to decrease oil consumption or just learn to deal with it.
Either way, oil consumption is very very common in the LS1/LS6 world. Keep and eye on your oil level and keep an extra qt or two in the car. You'll be fine.
You can do certain modifications to decrease oil consumption or just learn to deal with it.
Last edited by VLVETTE; Sep 5, 2006 at 12:50 AM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,137
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From: Insane Diego Kalifonya Baby
Originally Posted by mdhmi
1/2 quart over 8,000 miles is nothing to be concerned about.
If you want to limit consumption you can install a PCV catch can and a valve cover breather.
If you want to limit consumption you can install a PCV catch can and a valve cover breather.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 290
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Originally Posted by VLVETTE
Yes that is correct oil life still shows 40% I go by that or 1 year which ever comes first. She is just about due. She doesn't smoke and there is no telltale residue on the rear end. I know alot of guys say there car doesn't use any oil but they change it at 3000 miles. Mine didn't either when I did the first 2 changes at around 3000.
I change my oil every 3000 miles. On occasion I'll let it ride a bit longer. The synthetic oil in our cars should be good up to 5000 miles, but I suggest you change it every 5000 miles or 6 months. Whichever comes first.
I race my car pretty heavily so I change my oil a bit more often for peace of mind.
Like mentioned above, you can incorperate a catch can which lots of guys do and there are some real clean looking catch cans available depending on how much you want to spend on one. But that will virtually eliminate oil getting into your intake manifold.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,661
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From: Ocean Springs MS
Originally Posted by VLVETTE
I didn't think so. I was just wondering if it was normal under hard driving.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: PNW
Originally Posted by mdhmi
1/2 quart over 8,000 miles is nothing to be concerned about.
My Z06 burns about a qt every 4,000 miles, and I consider that good.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: PNW
Originally Posted by 00'Vette
I change my oil every 3000 miles. On occasion I'll let it ride a bit longer. The synthetic oil in our cars should be good up to 5000 miles, but I suggest you change it every 5000 miles or 6 months. Whichever comes first.
Also, GM owner's manual (remember that book ??
) says you can leave the oil in for 1 year if the mileage is not surpassed.A cut and paste from the PDF version of the 2002 OM.
"Engine Oil Scheduled Maintenance
Change engine oil and filter as indicated by the
Engine Oil Life System (or every 12 months,
whichever occurs first). Reset the system."
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Lake Havasu City, AZ
1/2 qt in 8000 miles is no issue whatsoever. It is very good and could be reduced with an oil catch can.
You are probably losing that much from oil mist created in the rockers that gets carried over into the throttlebody.
You are probably losing that much from oil mist created in the rockers that gets carried over into the throttlebody.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 24,652
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From: NJ
St. Jude Donor '05-'08
My 01 burned 1.25+ every 800 miles - 8000 miles is great....
BTW - I dont think the oil will go bad in 8000 miles, but I would check the oil filter. Just watched a show and you need to get an extended oil filter that can last the amount of miles you plan to travel between oil changes.
the show also showed my BMW filter (15K between oil changes) and it was just a filter no casing. It had its own case on the car more like an air filter system then your typical oil filter.
BTW - I dont think the oil will go bad in 8000 miles, but I would check the oil filter. Just watched a show and you need to get an extended oil filter that can last the amount of miles you plan to travel between oil changes.
the show also showed my BMW filter (15K between oil changes) and it was just a filter no casing. It had its own case on the car more like an air filter system then your typical oil filter.
Team Owner
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From: .... NJ
Cruise-In VII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '19
Originally Posted by Wicked Weasel
My 01 burned 1.25+ every 800 miles - 8000 miles is great....
BTW - I dont think the oil will go bad in 8000 miles, but I would check the oil filter. Just watched a show and you need to get an extended oil filter that can last the amount of miles you plan to travel between oil changes.
the show also showed my BMW filter (15K between oil changes) and it was just a filter no casing. It had its own case on the car more like an air filter system then your typical oil filter.
BTW - I dont think the oil will go bad in 8000 miles, but I would check the oil filter. Just watched a show and you need to get an extended oil filter that can last the amount of miles you plan to travel between oil changes.
the show also showed my BMW filter (15K between oil changes) and it was just a filter no casing. It had its own case on the car more like an air filter system then your typical oil filter.
Did you watch Pat Goss on Motorweek
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Ohio
I also use the oil monitoring system to change my oil.
I have about 6,000 miles on my Vette since my last oil change in Nov '05. My oil life monitor still says 33% life left.
I meant to change my oil filter at 50% left, but just got around to changing it the other day.
I was down about 1/2 quart at that time.
I'll do my oil change with a new filter near the winter "put the Vette away" time.
I don't see how a catch can will reduce oil consumption. The Oil in my catch can is not in the engine any more, and I throw it away when I empty it.
I have about 6,000 miles on my Vette since my last oil change in Nov '05. My oil life monitor still says 33% life left.
I meant to change my oil filter at 50% left, but just got around to changing it the other day.
I was down about 1/2 quart at that time.
I'll do my oil change with a new filter near the winter "put the Vette away" time.
I don't see how a catch can will reduce oil consumption. The Oil in my catch can is not in the engine any more, and I throw it away when I empty it.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 9,891
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From: Hot Springs AR
I run my oil down to 0% on the OLM. With the autox and tracking I do, the mileage varies but is generally around 7-8K miles between changes. I use M1 10w-30, the standard AC Delco filter and have my oil analyzed by Blackstone labs. According to the analysis the metal wear is good, and the additive package in the oil still has 10-20% life left.
So, going with the OLM or 1 year between changes I think is a good policy. If you want to change your oil more often for peace of mind, that's fine; the cost (time and money) isn't that much anyway.
Have a good one,
Mike
So, going with the OLM or 1 year between changes I think is a good policy. If you want to change your oil more often for peace of mind, that's fine; the cost (time and money) isn't that much anyway.
Have a good one,
Mike
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
oil consumption
I got my 01 used, 20,000 miles, and in 1,000 miles it used a quart, then
1,300 miles another quart now I've put 4000 miles on it babying it, and the rings seem to have seated and in the last 1500 miles, no consumption at all.
So the theory goes, baby it for about 2500 miles, see if the rings seat, limit RPM to 3000 for 2500 miles, then nail it like always! but remember, the faster those piston rings slide on the cylinders, there's less time for them to scrape the oil (that is synthetic and 4 times slipperier) off.
1,300 miles another quart now I've put 4000 miles on it babying it, and the rings seem to have seated and in the last 1500 miles, no consumption at all.
So the theory goes, baby it for about 2500 miles, see if the rings seat, limit RPM to 3000 for 2500 miles, then nail it like always! but remember, the faster those piston rings slide on the cylinders, there's less time for them to scrape the oil (that is synthetic and 4 times slipperier) off.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Your oil consumption is minimal. All engines have to use some oil or they would not be lubricated properly. The 01s had some excessive oil consumption problems depending on how they were driven. People who did not buzz their engine under no-load conditions did not experience much oil consumption while people who did usually got pretty close to the 1 quart per 1000 limit. GM provided a fix for that condition.
I had a 97 for 6 years and now have an 03Z and I change the oil once per year on them. With 8 to 10 days of track use each year and multiple autocrosses plus city and highway driving my oil monitor will get down to about 40% just about when the year is up. I changed the oil last November and currently it reads 64% and I have two more track days and 10 autocrosses to go to.
Under track conditions the 97 would use about a quart a day of hard driving but never used any on the street while the Z uses about a quart every three track days.
Bill
I had a 97 for 6 years and now have an 03Z and I change the oil once per year on them. With 8 to 10 days of track use each year and multiple autocrosses plus city and highway driving my oil monitor will get down to about 40% just about when the year is up. I changed the oil last November and currently it reads 64% and I have two more track days and 10 autocrosses to go to.
Under track conditions the 97 would use about a quart a day of hard driving but never used any on the street while the Z uses about a quart every three track days.
Bill