Burning Oil
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 621
Likes: 2
From: Stillwater Minnesota
Burning Oil
How much oil is typical to go through on a 1999 Vette? I had heard there was some issue with the piston rings for a couple years that cause the LS1 to use a little more oil than normal. Is this right?
I just got my car and have maybe went through 3/4 of the oil life. I had to add a full quart of oil. No leaks what so ever. It burnt it all.
I just got my car and have maybe went through 3/4 of the oil life. I had to add a full quart of oil. No leaks what so ever. It burnt it all.
Former Vendor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 718
Likes: 1
From: Riviera Beach FL
99-113,000 miles: I have only had to add a quart between oil changes 3 to 4 times. The times that I did were when I was running close to the max rpm for extended periods of time. I change my oil when the dic reads "change oil now" , about 6000 miles.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 866
Likes: 0
From: Madison Wisconsin
How much oil is typical to go through on a 1999 Vette? I had heard there was some issue with the piston rings for a couple years that cause the LS1 to use a little more oil than normal. Is this right?
I just got my car and have maybe went through 3/4 of the oil life. I had to add a full quart of oil. No leaks what so ever. It burnt it all.
I just got my car and have maybe went through 3/4 of the oil life. I had to add a full quart of oil. No leaks what so ever. It burnt it all.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 220
Likes: 8
From: A little place called Macungie PA
I have an '01 that used to be an oil burner. Before the engine was rebuilt (GM paid for it) I would get between 700 - 900 miles per quart of oil. I shopped around and found a great chevy service tech in my area who only worked on Corvettes. He rebuilt the bottom end using the new rings and now I go around 3000+ miles without needing a quart. Also while he was in there he found three pistons where the ring gaps lined up which for those who don't know is a no-no when building engines. Anyway I'm happy now it's been a few years and about 15,000 miles since the rebuild and it's still running great.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 219
Likes: 0
From: exeter CA
My 2000 A4 coupe sometimes needs no oil added between the 4-5k oil change intervels. I usually change when the DIC shows 50% life left.
Turns out, oil consumption depends a lot on my driving. Most oil is consumed when using engine for braking purposes.
As an examlpe, the long road downhill from Yosemite Nat Park, does use oil, because the car is in 2 or 3rd gear most of the time, for engine braking.
Last time, the DIC even gave me a "low engine oil" warning, even thou it was only 1 qt low.
If I drive mainy at highway conditions with very little engine braking, the car uses very little oil.
The tech info I found said it is a piston ring flutter, which causes no other conditions other than occasional higher oil consumption.
Generally an extremely solid car, with better service history than my bride's MercedesBenz E class.
Guess I continue to be a Chevy man, like my father, uncle, and grandfather, all former Chevy Tonowanda engine plant employees.
Turns out, oil consumption depends a lot on my driving. Most oil is consumed when using engine for braking purposes.
As an examlpe, the long road downhill from Yosemite Nat Park, does use oil, because the car is in 2 or 3rd gear most of the time, for engine braking.
Last time, the DIC even gave me a "low engine oil" warning, even thou it was only 1 qt low.
If I drive mainy at highway conditions with very little engine braking, the car uses very little oil.
The tech info I found said it is a piston ring flutter, which causes no other conditions other than occasional higher oil consumption.
Generally an extremely solid car, with better service history than my bride's MercedesBenz E class.
Guess I continue to be a Chevy man, like my father, uncle, and grandfather, all former Chevy Tonowanda engine plant employees.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,251
Likes: 16
From: Phoenix Arizona
I have an '01 that used to be an oil burner. Before the engine was rebuilt (GM paid for it) I would get between 700 - 900 miles per quart of oil. I shopped around and found a great chevy service tech in my area who only worked on Corvettes. He rebuilt the bottom end using the new rings and now I go around 3000+ miles without needing a quart. Also while he was in there he found three pistons where the ring gaps lined up which for those who don't know is a no-no when building engines. Anyway I'm happy now it's been a few years and about 15,000 miles since the rebuild and it's still running great.
Cardinal rebuild Sin!! 
i am suprised it only used one quart in 700 miles
..shoulda been less than 500 with bad ring alignment!
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 21
From: Waldorf MD
The poster who said LS1's use oil when the engine is used for braking is correct. The PCV system on LS1's stink! My 1998 C5 with 109,000+ miles uses NO oil between 6,500 mile oil changes. BUT, when my oil pressure sensor went bad, I could not believe the oil in the intake manifold. After some research, I found that GM had a special, small hole, no ball PCV valve for use on V8 Trucks that use a lot of oil. A lot of people use these on LS1's. I switched to this on mine, and after an oil analysis saw no problems. One person switched to this PCV valve with a catch can and it reduced his oil to one third of that with a normal PCV valve.