Ls 1 oil use
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 707
Likes: 0
From: Murrysville PA
Ls 1 oil use
My engine on my 2000 vert seem to be consuming about a quart of oil every 750 to 1000 miles. Engine only has 18,000 miles on it.
Any suggestion for a best type oil and weight to use.
I did a search but didn't find a specific answer.
Thank you
Any suggestion for a best type oil and weight to use.
I did a search but didn't find a specific answer.
Thank you
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,757
Likes: 3,276
From: Phoenix area, AZ
Mobil 1 (a synthetic oil) is what most go with, and is what your owner's manual recommends. The weight depends on where you live, and since you live in PA you should stick with the 5/30 weight because of the cold winters. I use 10/30 because the temp here in TX doesn't drop below 20 degrees in the winter except for the once-every-hundred-years cold snap. I need the higher weight to deal with the heat here.
If you're burning through that much oil you should find out where it's going. An engine with that few miles should not be burning oil that fast, if at all. Mine has 70k miles on it now, and after changing out my valve cover gaskets & grommets I'm not losing a drop.
If you're burning through that much oil you should find out where it's going. An engine with that few miles should not be burning oil that fast, if at all. Mine has 70k miles on it now, and after changing out my valve cover gaskets & grommets I'm not losing a drop.
Last edited by Corvette_Ed; May 19, 2012 at 10:46 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
Mobil 1 (a synthetic oil) is what most go with, and is what your owner's manual recommends. The weight depends on where you live, and since you live in PA you should stick with the 5/30 weight because of the cold winters. I use 10/30 because the temp here in TX doesn't drop below 20 degrees in the winter except for the once-every-hundred-years cold snap. I need the higher weight to deal with the heat here.
If you're burning through that much oil you should find out where it's going. An engine with that few miles should not be burning oil that fast, if at all. Mine has 70k miles on it now, and after changing out my valve cover gaskets & grommets I'm not losing a drop.
If you're burning through that much oil you should find out where it's going. An engine with that few miles should not be burning oil that fast, if at all. Mine has 70k miles on it now, and after changing out my valve cover gaskets & grommets I'm not losing a drop.
I spoke to a Mobil 1 applications specialist and he told me that he lives in Texas AND uses Mobil 1 0W-40 for his truck. That protects better during high ambient temperature conditions and at startup.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,757
Likes: 3,276
From: Phoenix area, AZ
Not only does 10W-30 NOT protect better under hot weather conditions when compared to 5W-30, but the 10W-30 oil is more viscous at first startup, which is when most engine wear occurs.
I spoke to a Mobil 1 applications specialist and he told me that he lives in Texas AND uses Mobil 1 0W-40 for his truck. That protects better during high ambient temperature conditions and at startup.
I spoke to a Mobil 1 applications specialist and he told me that he lives in Texas AND uses Mobil 1 0W-40 for his truck. That protects better during high ambient temperature conditions and at startup.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,398
Likes: 407
From: Horseshoe Bend ID
That is very high oil consumption. Something is broke. My 03 with 88K miles uses none oil and I change when the DIC says 0% which is about 7500 miles with Mobil-1 0W30.
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
OP; just use any oil that meets or exceed GM Spec as it says in your owners manual. Factory fill is mobile 1.
The bigger issue is the consumption itself; that much consumption is not normal. My 01 doesn't even eat that much oil and it burns through a little more than I'd like. You need to figure out where that oil is going. If it's a leak and it gets worse you could damage your engine.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,722
Likes: 138
From: Florida
St. Jude Donor '09
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.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,315
Likes: 1,585
From: Western NY
That doesn't make sense to me. How would a thinner oil protect against high heat better? It seems to me the heat thins the oil enough by itself without going with thinner oil. I went with the 10/30 by recommendation from the owner's manual for areas that don't drop below 20 degrees.
Back on the topic, my '01 uses about a quart in 2000 miles, which I consider a bit much. However, it's a stick shift car, and downshifting for turns and street corners creates a bit of vacuum in the cylinders, which I'm assuming, is causing the oil loss...
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,757
Likes: 3,276
From: Phoenix area, AZ
No, it's not. "Most cars" should lose little to no oil, leaning more toward no oil loss. The only time any car I've ever owned had oil loss was when a gasket was leaking or the piston rings were worn. My 2000 hasn't lost a drop since I changed the leaky valve cover gaskets/grommets. If you're losing that much oil you have a serious problem.
Race Director
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 15,757
Likes: 3,276
From: Phoenix area, AZ
0W-40, really isn't a "thinner" oil. The chemical make up of it renders it a zero weight cold, but a 40 weight when it's hot, therefore it's actually a "thicker" oil. Isn't modern chemistry wonderful?
Back on the topic, my '01 uses about a quart in 2000 miles, which I consider a bit much. However, it's a stick shift car, and downshifting for turns and street corners creates a bit of vacuum in the cylinders, which I'm assuming, is causing the oil loss...
Back on the topic, my '01 uses about a quart in 2000 miles, which I consider a bit much. However, it's a stick shift car, and downshifting for turns and street corners creates a bit of vacuum in the cylinders, which I'm assuming, is causing the oil loss...
As far as oil type for my car, no offense, but I'll stick with the manufacturer's recommendation for my area's temperature range. What works for a pickup truck isn't necessarily the best for a high performance Corvette engine.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-English/...ge_5W-30.aspx#
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 5,955
Likes: 161
From: PNW
OP - nobody mentioned it, but you should check the PCV system to make sure it's working properly. Could be the oil is being sucked into the intake manifold if the PCV valve is stuck wide open for instance, or if someone messed with the PCV hoses and got them reversed somehow.