Ls 1 oil use
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Murrysville PA
I had the same issue with my 2001 coupe. Read GM's TSB (technical service bulletin) on the subject, it will help you understand what is taking place. Your driving style may be contributing to the excess consumption. Finally, switch to Mobil 1's 5w-30 high milage formulation, it contains an additive which lowers volatility resulting in reduced oil consumption. These two changes lowered the oil consumtion on my coupe to negligible levels.
Can't find a synthetic high mileage blend
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,295
Likes: 2
From: Surprise Arizona
This is what I would do, which is basically nothing. Check your spark plugs for signs of oil fouling. If the plugs look good, the car runs good, no smoke out the tail pipe, and no oil on the floor, Just enjoy it and fill with oil as needed. Some LS1's use oil, others dont. It is no secret. They ar just getting on in years now so it is not a topic much any more.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,367
Likes: 1,593
From: Western NY
I'm the original owner of the car, and this is how it's been since day one.....
This is what I would do, which is basically nothing. Check your spark plugs for signs of oil fouling. If the plugs look good, the car runs good, no smoke out the tail pipe, and no oil on the floor, Just enjoy it and fill with oil as needed. Some LS1's use oil, others dont. It is no secret. They are just getting on in years now so it is not a topic much any more.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
I had the same issue with my 2001 coupe. Read GM's TSB (technical service bulletin) on the subject, it will help you understand what is taking place. Your driving style may be contributing to the excess consumption. Finally, switch to Mobil 1's 5w-30 high milage formulation, it contains an additive which lowers volatility resulting in reduced oil consumption. These two changes lowered the oil consumtion on my coupe to negligible levels.
I spoke with the GM Power Train Engineer when I was at a C5/C6 Bash in Bowling Green way back when this oil compsuption thing first started and asked him how GM could build a modern day engine with an oil consumption issue.
He stated that they didn’t take driving styles into consideration when they added lighter pressure rings in the LS1 engine for better fuel economy.
SO,,,,,,,,,,,,,, instead of blaming the driver, they developed a program that "If your engine truly consumed more oil than normal; varfied by a GM Oil Compsuption test", they replaced the oil control rings in your engine with new rings with a higher wall pressure.
So,,, what does driving style have to do with oil composition?? When you drive your car in a gear that keeps the engine in a RPM range of (APPROX 3000-4000) with little or no load, the rings go into a float/flutter condition and no longer control oil on the cylinder wall properly.
OP Examine you driving style and see if your running in a higher RPM range at low loads. If you are, shift into a higher gear earlier and cruise in a higher gear before you go crazy trying other stuff.
Bill
