2001 oil consumption question
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Fort Worth Texas
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2001 oil consumption question
What was/is it about 2001 that caused the excessive oil consumption issue? Was it only part of the model year run?
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 298
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio Texas
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (kewlbrz)
Kewlbrz:
From what I've read, the issue appears to be rings. As far as which ones (part of the production run) are affected, your guess is as good as mine. I have an early 2001 Coupe and it's never burned oil (had a scare at about 9k miles, but it turned out to be a small leak above the oil filter). I've read here that there have been "oil burners" built about the same time as mine and well after mine, so I think it is a crap shoot.
The rings were revised during the 2001 production run, for the 2002 model. Don't know if any of the "new" rings made it into production cars - they were used for the repair of the "oil burners". Some here have reported that the new rings did not work for them and I remember seeing a post about an 02 burning oil.
Personally, I think break-in is critical for these engines; it is awful tempting to open it up as soon as you get behind the wheel (I know it was hard for me to avoid it ;) ), but this could cause problems down the road.
I know this really isn't an answer, but I hope I've helped some. BTW, I saw your other post... glad you are ok. Unfortunately, I've been there myself before and I know what you went through. Get yourself a new one and have fun :D :D
:cheers:
From what I've read, the issue appears to be rings. As far as which ones (part of the production run) are affected, your guess is as good as mine. I have an early 2001 Coupe and it's never burned oil (had a scare at about 9k miles, but it turned out to be a small leak above the oil filter). I've read here that there have been "oil burners" built about the same time as mine and well after mine, so I think it is a crap shoot.
The rings were revised during the 2001 production run, for the 2002 model. Don't know if any of the "new" rings made it into production cars - they were used for the repair of the "oil burners". Some here have reported that the new rings did not work for them and I remember seeing a post about an 02 burning oil.
Personally, I think break-in is critical for these engines; it is awful tempting to open it up as soon as you get behind the wheel (I know it was hard for me to avoid it ;) ), but this could cause problems down the road.
I know this really isn't an answer, but I hope I've helped some. BTW, I saw your other post... glad you are ok. Unfortunately, I've been there myself before and I know what you went through. Get yourself a new one and have fun :D :D
:cheers:
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,786
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From: God Bless America
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (John Nowak PE)
It was the rings, kewl-- they re-designed them mid-late 2001 mod. year incorporating the new design, after complaints of oil loss from a tiny amt. of owners...
It was only an issue on people who drove at high RPM at low load...like 3000+ RPM at 15 mph...
Never appeared to be a problem with people who didn't drive it in this unusual way.
(Guess they liked the sound of the engine revved up@ low speed, as that's the cause of the prob)...
:cheers:
It was only an issue on people who drove at high RPM at low load...like 3000+ RPM at 15 mph...
Never appeared to be a problem with people who didn't drive it in this unusual way.
(Guess they liked the sound of the engine revved up@ low speed, as that's the cause of the prob)...
:cheers:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,248
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Re: 2001 oil consumption question (MDL-01C5)
Most of the oil burnt in our cars goes out the PCV and into the TB causing detonation as well by lowering the octane & sucking in oil.
If you do the SMH mod with 2 inline fuel filters and a vertical PCV with an elbow, you can reduce consumption by 1 Qt every 2000 miles. Also improves performance and doesn't ping as much. All of our cars need this mod. I replace the 2 fuel filters on the PCV line every oil change.
The rest blows by the rings. ;)
I'd say 75% TB PCV, 25% rings.
[Modified by MelloYellow, 12:15 AM 1/20/2002]
If you do the SMH mod with 2 inline fuel filters and a vertical PCV with an elbow, you can reduce consumption by 1 Qt every 2000 miles. Also improves performance and doesn't ping as much. All of our cars need this mod. I replace the 2 fuel filters on the PCV line every oil change.
The rest blows by the rings. ;)
I'd say 75% TB PCV, 25% rings.
[Modified by MelloYellow, 12:15 AM 1/20/2002]
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 14,542
Likes: 5
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (MDL-01C5)
It was the rings, kewl-- they re-designed them mid-late 2001 mod. year incorporating the new design, after complaints of oil loss from a tiny amt. of owners...
It was only an issue on people who drove at high RPM at low load...like 3000+ RPM at 15 mph...
Never appeared to be a problem with people who didn't drive it in this unusual way.
(Guess they liked the sound of the engine revved up@ low speed, as that's the cause of the prob)...
:cheers:
It was only an issue on people who drove at high RPM at low load...like 3000+ RPM at 15 mph...
Never appeared to be a problem with people who didn't drive it in this unusual way.
(Guess they liked the sound of the engine revved up@ low speed, as that's the cause of the prob)...
:cheers:
I have a 2000 convertible with and MN6 and started out at 800 mpq. Bad enough to where even the dealer was ready to do an oil consumption test.
Then it went to around 1,700 mpq at 12,000 miles. Now, with 24,000 miles, I'm at almost 3,000 mpq. Haven't changed my driving style, and while I don't drive around town at 40 mph in first, I would say I drive the full RPM range most of the time.
Can't offer an explanation on the change, other than in speaking with guys like c4c5specialist, some of the C5s seem to have a longer break-in period than others (I followed the book on mine).
Don't know if this helps. :smash:
Racer
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 405
Likes: 1
From: Dallas
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (kewlbrz)
Based on a ring change as well as PCV consumption measurements, I believe that if you are burning any significant volume of oil, it is likely from rings rather than PCV. I see about a teaspoon per week through PCV at most.
My '98 had NO measurable consumption (but same PCV). My 2001 used 1 qt per 1K before the ring change.
I also believe the SMH mod is an inappropriate band aid with too much restriction. I have to smile when I read his justification for the oil results. He did not get 1.26% fuel in his oil from a bottle of fuel system cleaner unless he poured it in the crankcase. The octane theory is just as silly.
Hib has an excellent explanation for the rings, but I disagree with Juriga about the influence from driving style:
http://www.c5registry.com/2k2z06/page5.htm
[Modified by C5 Tweaker, 12:24 AM 1/20/2002]
My '98 had NO measurable consumption (but same PCV). My 2001 used 1 qt per 1K before the ring change.
I also believe the SMH mod is an inappropriate band aid with too much restriction. I have to smile when I read his justification for the oil results. He did not get 1.26% fuel in his oil from a bottle of fuel system cleaner unless he poured it in the crankcase. The octane theory is just as silly.
Hib has an excellent explanation for the rings, but I disagree with Juriga about the influence from driving style:
http://www.c5registry.com/2k2z06/page5.htm
[Modified by C5 Tweaker, 12:24 AM 1/20/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 21,374
Likes: 1,004
From: Various places in Southern California.
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (kewlbrz)
It was the rings--for the 2001 model year GM put in lower tension rings to reduce friction and improve fuel economy. Unfortunately, these rings have a tendency to "flutter" at higher RPMs under light loads. This is why most of the cars with oil usage problems are manual transmission cars--it's hard to get the automatics to stay at high RPMs under light loads.
GM developed the fix late in 2001, but I don't believe the new rings went into production until the 2002 model year. My understanding was that they went into the 2002 Z06s first, then about 2 weeks into 2002 production they went into all the cars.
GM developed the fix late in 2001, but I don't believe the new rings went into production until the 2002 model year. My understanding was that they went into the 2002 Z06s first, then about 2 weeks into 2002 production they went into all the cars.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,786
Likes: 0
From: God Bless America
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (EHS)
I understand the rings part, but then why wouldn't all the cars have the problem?
Still confused. :confused:
Still confused. :confused:
As was said earlier... most people don't(for example) keep it in first up to thirty MPH during long and slow acceleration...or second 'till 40 MPH..etc...---
Point being, it's the odd and abnormal behavior of the driver, (that the designers didn't have reason to think people would practice) not the design of the car, that causes the problem.
Make sense? :cheers:
[Modified by MDL-01C5, 2:00 AM 1/20/2002]
Race Director
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 14,542
Likes: 5
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (MDL-01C5)
Make sense?
Matt:
No, because at least in my case I haven't changed my driving style, but the oil consumption dropped from an initial 800 mpq to close to 3,000 mpq now. If anything, I babied the car more during the initial break in period, and drive it "harder" now. So, it sounds backward.
Any news on the HIDs. Are they back? in the car?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 25,002
Likes: 2,703
From: Far NW 'burbs of Chicago
St. Jude Donor '13
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (EHS)
Duck916 posted the correct info above, as to when the rings went into production engines.
My engine seemed like EHS, the oil consunption has gone down as the miles go up. Last check was at around 20,000 miles, got 4,000 per qt on a long, heavy-footed road trip. Since "Full" on the 2002 dipstick is actually 1/2 qt overfull, it seems like maybe I use that first 1/2 qt quicker than the second 1/2 qt.
[Modified by Gearhead Jim, 7:48 AM 1/20/2002]
My engine seemed like EHS, the oil consunption has gone down as the miles go up. Last check was at around 20,000 miles, got 4,000 per qt on a long, heavy-footed road trip. Since "Full" on the 2002 dipstick is actually 1/2 qt overfull, it seems like maybe I use that first 1/2 qt quicker than the second 1/2 qt.
[Modified by Gearhead Jim, 7:48 AM 1/20/2002]
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 885
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From: The Woodlands Texas
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (kewlbrz)
The rings are indeed the culprit. I have a 2001 droptop M6 and have noticed oil consupmtion exceeding my 1993 40th droptop - which worried me. I contacted MTI Motorsports in Houston and 3 dealerships (spoke with the vette mechanics at each) and general consensus was -
1. You should expect to burn ~ 1 qt per 1,000 miles if you are driving the car the way it was meant to be driven - right foot down, tires smokin'.
2. At 10:1 compression all cars burn a lot of oil. This is not your grandma's Lumina. Look at a Ferrari if you really want to see oil consumption. Buy a Lumina if you are concerned.
3. Drive the M6 and shift at less than 2500rpm always. Oil consumption will drop to near zero.
4. Dealer can replace the rings but the aggravation of dealing with all the other stuff they screw up is not worth the ordeal.
I tried the 2500 rpm bit for a month and my oil consumption dropped to near zero. I have since gone back to my usual driving tactics and oil consumption is back up to ~ 1/2 qt per 700 miles (when I can get an accurate read off the dip stick). Who cares! This engine will still be burning oil at 150,000 miles +. As long as she runs I'm happy.
1. You should expect to burn ~ 1 qt per 1,000 miles if you are driving the car the way it was meant to be driven - right foot down, tires smokin'.
2. At 10:1 compression all cars burn a lot of oil. This is not your grandma's Lumina. Look at a Ferrari if you really want to see oil consumption. Buy a Lumina if you are concerned.
3. Drive the M6 and shift at less than 2500rpm always. Oil consumption will drop to near zero.
4. Dealer can replace the rings but the aggravation of dealing with all the other stuff they screw up is not worth the ordeal.
I tried the 2500 rpm bit for a month and my oil consumption dropped to near zero. I have since gone back to my usual driving tactics and oil consumption is back up to ~ 1/2 qt per 700 miles (when I can get an accurate read off the dip stick). Who cares! This engine will still be burning oil at 150,000 miles +. As long as she runs I'm happy.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,848
Likes: 0
From: Corpus Christi, TX
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (MDL-01C5)
It was only an issue on people who drove at high RPM at low load...like 3000+ RPM at 15 mph...
Never appeared to be a problem with people who didn't drive it in this unusual way.
(Guess they liked the sound of the engine revved up@ low speed, as that's the cause of the prob)...
:cheers:
Never appeared to be a problem with people who didn't drive it in this unusual way.
(Guess they liked the sound of the engine revved up@ low speed, as that's the cause of the prob)...
:cheers:
NOPE!!!
That was just Chevy customer service's feeble attempt at shifting the blame to the owners. I had to add oil to my 2001 Z06 on the way home from the factory. At first I thought it was break in but I was adding a quart every 300-600 miles. The oil was pitch black and my exhaust tips would be covered in soot and oil specks within a few miles after a wash. Sure I drive fast but the consumption didn't change when I took it easy and drove around shifting at 2000 rpm either.
The problem was real and it was more than likely a combination of design and assembly problems, hence the low percentage of owners with the problem.
My car has been re-ringed without any hassles (other than Chevy's horrible customer service). Only have 400 miles on it since then but the oil level hasn't dropped a bit and it is still clear and gold/yellow in color.
Still a great car though!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,390
Likes: 35
From: INDIANA
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (EHS)
quote:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. At 10:1 compression all cars burn a lot of oil. This is not your grandma's Lumina. Look at a Ferrari if you really want to see oil consumption. Buy a Lumina if you are concerned.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, my 92 LT1 with stock short block, and 10.8 compression(thin head gasket and LT4 heads) can go 2000 miles to Vegas, run a 90 mile race at an average of 145mph, drive 2000 miles back to Indiana, ALL on the same oil, 1/2 qt used. Nome of the performance cars I've ever had used more than 1 qt per 2000 miles(except one, which had been bored to far over). This crap people feed about how performance cars ALL USE OIL is just that!! CRAP A highly refined and engineered engine like the LS1 or LS6 should NOT use oil unless something is wrong. Plain and simple.
:bs :bs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. At 10:1 compression all cars burn a lot of oil. This is not your grandma's Lumina. Look at a Ferrari if you really want to see oil consumption. Buy a Lumina if you are concerned.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Well, my 92 LT1 with stock short block, and 10.8 compression(thin head gasket and LT4 heads) can go 2000 miles to Vegas, run a 90 mile race at an average of 145mph, drive 2000 miles back to Indiana, ALL on the same oil, 1/2 qt used. Nome of the performance cars I've ever had used more than 1 qt per 2000 miles(except one, which had been bored to far over). This crap people feed about how performance cars ALL USE OIL is just that!! CRAP A highly refined and engineered engine like the LS1 or LS6 should NOT use oil unless something is wrong. Plain and simple.
:bs :bs
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,714
Likes: 344
From: Houston, TX
Re: 2001 oil consumption question (kewlbrz)
The cause and fix has been well explained. My 01 has a little over 7000 miles on it. It's so damn hard to check accurately that it is hard to tell exactly how much I burn, but I can pin it down to a quart about every 1500 - 2000 miles or so. I am super careful not to run the car hard until the oil temp is at least 170 - 180. But once warm it gets run through the gears regularly.
Don't forget that my car is Millenium Yellow. That makes a difference :lol:
Don't forget that my car is Millenium Yellow. That makes a difference :lol:
